The Delta independent., 1916-03-03
CARE OF BROOD SOW
HAS EFFECT ON PROFITS

AS February draws to a colse, hog
men look forward to one of the most
important times OF the year. in fact,
the most critical times, as concerns
the profits or losses from the years
work
Where the hogs are concerned,
large percentage of pigs farrowed in
the early spring means greater pros
poets for the market in the early fall.
Colorado breeders particularly must
look toward earlier farrowfng of spring
litters so that early fall shipments will
precede rather than compete with the
corn belt products on the open mari e,
in the fall.
Proper management of the brood
SOW before and after farrowing is very
important. Investigations show that
so to 80 per cent OF all the dry matter
Of the unborn litter are deposited in
the uterus during the last so days
OF pregnacy. SO that our care must in.
clude this period and feeding must be
done accordingly.
The rations must be increased at
least so per cent over the wintering
ration. and the nutrients of the feed
should include protein material such
as is found in alfalfa, skim milk and
tankage. Mineral matter. especially
phosphorus and lime are required. the
latter being plentiful in alfalfa. Ground
oats will help the ration both for
mineral and protein content. 1t is the
protein and mineral matter that is
highly essential to the development
of the young. Avoid constipating feeds
or feeds likely to produce internal fat.
Keep the ration moderately bulky and
avoid any radical changes late in the
pregnacy period.
No class OF animals suffers more
from extremes of heat an. cold than
hogs. For this reason, brood sows
should be provided with good shelter.
but this does not necessarily mean ex-
pensive equipment. An ideal shelter
must be warm. free from dampness,
well ventilated and with plenty OF sun
shine. Guard against damp. dark.
filthy stables and manue piles. also
crowding the sows in close quarters
where they can pile up. causing them
to lose their litters.
Exercise promotes healthy body ac-
tivities and as this is essential in preg.
nant sows we must devise some
means of compelling them to exercise.
especially the last few weeks before
narrowing. Lack of exercise causes in
ternal fat to accumulate. causes con-
stipation and retards normal body ac.
uvities. We can best exercise our
sows by placing at least part of the
feed at the far end of the pen or
lot, causing them to walk to and from
the trough. For the brood SOW, plenty
OF exercise is as essential as scien
tifically balanced ration The SOW
when exercising. picks up feeds and
mineral matter that she knows is nee
essary to her system
Proper care at farrowing time will
pay the highest dividends. The
number OF pigs raised to weaving time
is the basis of computing the value of
a sow. Sows should be fed Immediate
ly before farrowing the ration that she
will receive after farrowing. This will
prevent any indigestion due to sud
den change in diet
A few days before the calendar time
of farrowing put her in the pen where
she is to farrow and cut down on her
feed. II feed has been laxative. the
SOW will come to narrowing time with |
little fever and in good condition.
The pen must be warm enough for the
pigs. but not hot, as is sometimes the |
case, because this only tends to in.
crease the fcver and temper OF the
SOW.
After narrowing. do not feed for the
first twenty-four house. giving only
c'err wrter. Her first me., should he