The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-05-28
Raising Pure Bred Swine Demands Apprenticeship
. Phases Of Me

an equal distance from the floor. This
will prevent the sows from lying down
close to the wall and thus crushing the
pigs. Such tenders should be put in
temporarily, as they are only in the
way and take up great deal of room
after the pigs have attained scme size.
A good dry floor with light bedding
should be provided. Where there is too
much bedding the pigs are apt to get
tangled in it and crushed by the sow.
This is especially true of long, fresh
straw. 1t is often recommended to cut
the straw, but this is unnecessary if it
is put in few days prior to farrowing
so that the sow will have time to wear
it down little.
Dangers Are Told.
If the sow has been fed proper ra-
tion and is in comfortable quarters lit
tie or no trouble may bo expected; if
she has been fed on an unbalanced ra-
ton, or is excessively poor or exces-
sively fat or if she is unduly exposed
to the cold and wet, various troubles
may be expected.
Among these may be mentioned: diff.
Guilty in farrowing; weak or dead pigs;
pigs chilled to death; refusing to own
pigs; eating pigs, or crushing pigs BY
lying on them.
If the simple rules above outlined are
followed these troubles will be largely
0bviated However, if in addition
record of the date of narrowing be kept
and the attendant will be on hand when
the pigs are born, large number Of
pigs may be saved.
When it is quite cold and there is dan.
ger of the first pigs farrowed chilling
to death before the others are delivered,
the first may be put in a tub or keg
containing jug filled with hot water,
and with blanket over it, This will
keep them warm, and when all have
come they may be put back and allowed
to suck.
Sometimes it is necessary to place
them in the tub a few times before
meals. In ordinary cases such precau.
items are not necessary. Quite often
the scum and mucus covering the pig at
birth will close up the nostrils and
smother the pig, but wiping the nose at
once with wsp of straw will prevent
this.
Where the sow is extremely restless
and there is much danger that the pigs
will be trampled or crushed, in spite Of
the Tenders, they may be removed one
at time as fast as they come and put
into warmed tub, as previously de-
scribed.
Prevent From Eating Young.
Often by keeping them there for
few hours except when with the sow
for sucking, the sow will quiet down
and there will be no further danger.
There are many remedies proposed for
sows eating their pigs, but abont the
only real remedies are preyentives.
Sows usually start eating their pigs
because cf feverish condition of the
system. Sometimes this is due to hav-
ing been fed on feeds that were exces-
sively heat-producing, and lacking in
mineral matter and protein; sometimes
it is due to lack of exercise; often it
is due to cold, wet and general dscom-
fort at farrowing time.
After SOW has once learned to eat
her pigs she will very likely do the
same thing the next time, though the
condition which caused her to begin
the practice be no longer present. In
other cases the sow is apparently natur-
ally vicious and restless After the
habit is once formed the chances for its
cure are small The SOW should be sent
to the butcher and the pigs Pct with
other sows if possible. Feeding the
sow raw meat, salt pork and various
other remedies have been suggested, but
they are not reliable.
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