The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-10-10

Care for the Brood Sow and YOuno
Pigs-tirazing Crops and EHttcnina
Feeds.

Clemson College, oct. G.-"Au|
breeding stock and young animals
need liberal amounts of nutritious
feeds that will develop and maintain
muscle and bone" said r. l.. Shilds.
head of the division of animal hus-
bandry and dairyinS of Clemson Col
!egc, making suggestions for the care
and feeding Of hogs, with special
reference to brood SOws and pigs.
Clemson College is receiving many
letters indicating unprecedented in
terest in hog raising in thi, State.
Prof Shields suggests the following
feeding practices 10 the average
South Carolina farmer who is es-
tablishing hog plant this autumn
or winter:
Inc brood SOW must receive care
full attention. She must be kept in
good condition during CESSATION, or
the period Of the development of
her pigs. but one should not allow
her to become fat. The SOW must
have exceptional care if she is to
produce two littlers a year. Suitable
rations for the brood SOW consist Of
CD equal parts by weight Of ground
corn, wheat middlings and ground
oats; or (2) equal parts by weight
of rice meal, wheat middlings and
ground oats; or, CD equals parts by
weight Of rice meal and ground oats
Either rice meal or wheat middlings
may be used as a part of ration of
feeds is preferable. Wheat bran
may be used as q part Of ration of
mature breeding hogs. Bran is too
bulky to constitute the entire ration.
Skim milk and buttermilk are ex-
cellent for both growing and mature
hogs and should be used when avail
able.
Rely on grazing crops to supply
the bulky portion of the ration, as
such feeds aid in keeping the hogs in
thrifty condition. They balance the
ration, reduce the cost of pork pro-
duction, generally compel exercise
ward off constipation and reduce dis
cases to minimum. Rape, wheat,
oats and rye, sown in the fall, fur
nish excellent winter grazing. Vetch
may be used to advantage with any
Of the grains. Bur and crimson
clover sOwn on Bermuda sod is es-
pecially recommended. When the
clover dies out the Bermuda grass
will replace it and can be graZed un-
til frost. Cow peas. SOY beans, pea
nuts and sorghum. sown in May, will
furnish grazing in late summer and
early fall.
If given an opportunity, pigs
will soon learn to eat. They should
be weaned when about Z weeks old
If skim milk can be given them and
it is desired to raise two litters Il
year. Otherwise they may be allow
ed to run with the SOW until 10 weeks
olu VI SNSIl lOuStI. Ilc SoW SIlOulU
have only dry feed for several days
if the pigs are taken from her, in
stead Of allowing her to wean them
herself.
The weaned pigs need good con-
centrates that are rich in muscle and
bone making material to insure
thrifty development but get them
on their feed gradually as overfecd-
ing will produce securing. etc. Take
from 10 to - days in getting them
adjusted to the change, feeding
them lightly three times daily during
this time. RatiOns recommended for
young pigs are: CD skim milk and
wheat middlings; or CD one part
ground grain of some kind to >
parts wheat middlings or rice meal.
Ground oats and rice meal make
splendid mixture. Feed pigs about
as much as they will clean up readily
and with appetite.
TO USE VITAL STATISTICS.