Norwich bulletin., 1918-03-13
AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS

his time, energy and feed on hogs that are so poorly bred that they do not do this.
 Utility First.
 Farmers and breeders should never lose sight of utility in attempting to establish or perpetuate fancy points. It should always be remembered that the most profitable hog must have strength, vigor. |. ,tling qualities, must gain rapidly Ind cheapiy from birth to maturity, and, if breeding stock, must reproduce rapidly. Al hog may he perfect in every respect except that his pasterns, are too weak for him to walk, in which case he will be valueless for breeding purposes. Nor should a SOW of perfect conformation be retained in the herd if she farrows only two or three pigs at 8 time, F. A SOW should not be bred to farrow before she is twelve months old. If she is well grown and proper care is given her she can farrow regularly every six months thereafter. thus cut ting down the overhead charges on each pig.It is; best to breed when both animals are gaining in flesh.
 Care and Management.
 Proper care given the SOW for few weeks before she farrows and the | SOW and litter until the pigs are weaned will give better returns than at any other time during the life of the hog. Improper care at this time will result in small weak pigs, many of which are apt to die and all of which will lack the ability to put on rapid and economical gains. In ex- trenne cases poor care may even re- suit in the loss of the SOW and the entire litter.
 In order to use forage crops as much as possible pigs should be farrowed about March i, and September i. The spring pigs are just ready to begin grazing when the early. rye comes on and the fall pigs are about I2 weeks old before the pasture is killed by the -cold weather. Though "a considerable bit of attention must be given the SOW and pigs during March there is little farm work. of other kinds to be done so there will be plenty oft time for At. The faal litter is farrowed l.during a very busy season but re- duiree almost no extra attention.
 Exercise for the SOW is indispen sable both before and after the pigs are farrowed. Lack of exercise tends to cause weak runty pigs subject ts thumps. The house should be warm dry, well ventilated, and with mod crate amount of fine bedding. sToS much bedding, especially when long will hinder the pig in it's movement causing losses from the SOW stepping or lying on them. { An. abundance oi sunlight should get into the bed.
 Plan to have the SOW gaining slight T ly when bred and keep her in good thrift until the pigs are farrowed but. do not allow her to become toc fat. Feed lightly for 2 days before farrowing time and be sure that ths SOW is not constipated. Regulate the bowels with laxative feeds such al l wheat bran, and dlnseed meal rather than medicines. A little tans<age oi meat meal given at this time may pre- T vent the sow from eating her pigs For z4 hours after farrowing do Yio feed but give plenty of water witt the chill taken off Give thin slof I sparingiy at first and gradually in, crease the amount until the SOW is or Il full feed in two weeks. The pigs vii begin to eat at about three weeks q ,j age. Provide a creep for them ant feed all they ewin <at. Gains mads : at this. age cost about .haf what .they