Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1914-09-25

quiet, safe and comfortable place for
the SOW. Light, cleanliness and free
dom from dampness and drafts are es.
sential. A guard rail should be pro-
vided to keep the SOW from crushing
the pigs.
Feeding the sow so that she is prop.
erly nourished and not overfat is the
most important of the herdsmans
duties. She should have succulent
feeds, such as pasture or forage in
summer, and in winter bran or other
laxative feeds should be given, So
that constipation and fever may be
less likely to develop.
At narrowing time no feed except a
little bran or oatmeal cruel should be
given, and only moderately warm wa
; ter for a few days. A little bran or
green feed can then be offered, and
as the litter grows and all signs of
fever leave, more concentrated feeds
may be given. Corn and other heating
| feeds should be fed in limited quaint
ties for some time, but as the pigs
grow and there is more demand ON
the SOW she should be fed literally.
There is no place equal to good pas
ture for the brood SOW and her litter.
Alfalfa, clover, rape, oats, rye, vetch,
peas, or native pasture afford succu.
lent, nutritious feeds which keep both
SOW and pigs in good condition. Little
pigs will learn to eat the forage with
the SOW at ten days of age if they have
some palatable pasture.
Sun light and clean dry sleeping
pens aid materially in starting the
pigs off and in securing rapid, eco.
nomical growth. Feed the SOW well
and teach the little pigs to eat as soon
as possible. Cause both the SOW and
pigs to take plenty of exercise,
whether or not on forage or pasture
crops.
The dry SOW or bred SOW should be
| handled as economically as possible,
so they should have pasture and be
fed well balanced ration and just
enough Of it to keep them In good
condition without permitting them to
become fat. AS narrowing time ap
proaches the sows should be separated
in order to prevent their crowding or
injuring one another.
The herd boar is best handled by
giving him a pasture lot by himself.
His feed should be liberal enough to
keep him in good breeding condition
only. This will be very light when he
is not in use for breeding purposes,
but during the breeding his feed should
be increased. His ration should con-
sist of some high-protein feeds, along
with mill feeds and little corn. The
care of the boar is important because
Of his relative importance in the herd,
and his care, quarters, feed and water
ing should be carefully seen to and
provided.
The term shote is applied to all
swine from the time the pig reaches
weaving age until the fattening or
breeding age is reached. Pigs should
be weaned at from eight to twelve
weeks, depending on whether or not
the sows are to be bred again. 1t Is
always wise to have them taught to
eat well before weaving, in order that
the rate Of gain may not be checked.
Weaving should be done gradually,
the sow's feed being reduced to cause
her to dry up properly and at the
same time increasing the feed for the
pigs, The pig at this age should have
a ration rather high in protein and
low In carbohydrates.
The boar pigs should be castrated
after weaving, but before they reach
breeding age; usually week or two
after weaving is satisfactory time.
The loss in gains or by death is less If
done while the pig is young Spaying
the females is not advisable under
modern conditions and will not be
found profitable enough to justify the
risk of the operation.