Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1914-01-23
CARE OF BROOD SOWS
AN Professor Thomas Shaw

which they VIII IdIION. IN TINS way
they will become reconciled to their
surroundings. For autumn filters
farrowed in warm weather this may
not be necessary, but it should be the
aim to have them in surroundings
where they may not get away beyond
reach. This they may do if allowed
tn choose their own narrowing place.
When the sows have been fed on
mitable foods and when they have
had ample opportunity for exercise,
the chances of trouble and loss at
such a time are much reduced. The
value of such care in the feeding and
exercising of the brood SOW as may
be necessary before she farrows that
is during the CESSATION period, can
not be overestimated. While it
should be the aim of the attendant to
he present at such a time, the SOW
should not be disturbed, unless aid
from him in same way become actu-
ally necessary.
For several days after narrowing
the SOW should be fed lightly. Es-
pecially is this true for the first two
DAYS. At such a time water with
little meal stirred into 4, will suf-
flee. The danger is that the mix
flow will be unduly stimulated be-
yond the needs of the young swine.
In such an event, which is uable to
come from heavy feeding at such a
time milk fever is much more liable
to result, and in many instances an
inflamed condition of the udder.
Soon, however, the litter will so tax
the milk production of the dam that
free and full feeding Will be neces-
sary to sustain the milk flow, and
this must be continued until the pigs
are weaned, otherwise the SOW will
not be able to properly nourish her
young. She will also become greatly
reduced in flesh.
Her food should be fed as slop. The
grains used should be ground and
soaked for say 2 hours before being
fed, but in warm weather six hours
may be ample. The foods most
largely fed should be such as will
produce milk abundantly, as for in
stance ground oats, wheat middlings
mangels and skim milk. Peas are
very suitable. But as the nursing
period advances it may be necessary
to feed increased quantities of such
carbonaceous foods as ground bar
ley, rye, speltZ or corn to maintain
flesh in the SOW. Where kale may
be added to the diet it will render
good service, but corn ensilage at
such a time should only be fed spar
ingly if fed at all Mangels are about
as good as kale.
Skim Milk for Pigs
1t is Of considerable Importance
that the young pigs should be given
ether food than that furnished by
the SOW as soon as they will take it..
For such feeding there is nothing
better to begin with than skim milk.
in its absence, a slop made OF ground
oats, with the coarse parts sifted out,
will suffice. 1t should be fed in a
low trough, placed where the dam
can not reach it. When the dam
occupies a pen, a corner of the same
may be fenced off by angling two or
three boards across one corner and
mailing them fast. The pigs gain
access by going under the bottom
board. They will begin to eat such
food when not more than three
weeks old. They should be fed all
that they will consume of it. AS
time goes on other meals may be
added.
The weaving may be plishec
IN various ways. 1t may be gradual.
This may be the best method when
the pigs are weaned at relatively
young age. But when only one lit
Ter year is reared it is not neces-
Sary to wean the pigs short of the
age OF 10 to IL weeks. When weaned
al so advanced an age the weaving
process consists of removing the pigs
quite away from the dam for time
or OF removing dam quite away from
the pigs, and putting the dam on a
low diet until the milk flow ceases.
when the young pigs have been fed
aS outlined, the check from weaving
that would otherwise follow will not
Oe 1elt. The wisdom of such man
agement will be at once apparent.
When young pigs are closely con
hned with dams in a small pen, as
"nen they come in cold weather, ii
the dam produces an abundant sup
ply OF milk the young pigs may be-
come affected more or less with a
trouble known as "thumps," This
trouble manifests itself by a painting
condition which evidences distress. 1t
comes from restricted heart action,