Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1918-02-28

" %6NItb ifFe FOH
prepared by the United States Depart
fnent OF Agriculture.l
1t is Of the greatest importance
in producing pigs for, the market that
they gain In weight as rapidly as pos
sible. The modern hog Is q highly spe-
ciallzed and efficient machine for the
conversion Of grain and roughage into
edible meat; but TO obtain the great
est efficiency, to make the most pork
from given amount OF feed, to make
the best pork, and to make TINT pork
most economically the machine must
be kept running to capacity from birth
to the time OF marketing. Nothing IL
more important than this factor. The
question Of breeding, the kind OF feeds
fed, and the proportion Of the pro-
tein to the fattenIng elements In the
ration are all important and are all
means to the same end, but II the
greatest profit Is to be returned to the
feeder his pigs must make maximum
gains at all times.
supplement TO eow's MIX.
The first opportunity TO force the
pigs comes when they are a few weeks
old Up to this tine they have been
living solely on their dams milk; In
fact there Is no successful substitute,
MS has been demonstrated by repeated
failure TO raise newly born pigs on
cows milk. The milk Of the sow Is
much richer in protein. fat. and ash
than IL cows milk, and the latter
makes such poor substitute that pigs
under two weeks OF age usually die Of
digestive troubles following lia excln.
slye use. After growing for three
weeks the young pigs begin 20 have an
appetite for some feed 70 supplement
the sow's milk. and they should be fed,
for unless they are the strain on the
SOW wiz be very serious one. The
pigs win eat from the sow's trough,
especially II she Is being fed on thin,
sloppy feeds. A pen should be arranged
adjoining that Of the dam and sepa-
rated from II by a partition with suf.
hcient room at the bottom 20 allow
the pigs to run under. IN the Incios-
ure TO be used by the little plgs place
a low shallow trough 70 contain their
skim milk or mash.
The best feeds for pigs OF this age
are dairy by-producta. such as skim |
milk. These, mixed with mill feeds, a. |
middlings, shorts, and even cheap |
grade Of flour. or With q meal or |
sf0nna cots from which The hulis have
beeh removed. asvs excellent astlgfacs.a
tlnn. Some Feeders uss gte selffee
at silss time. placing Il inside 4 CREEP
that win admit the pigs 10 their gran.
az all times. This II best adapted for
pigs after SIX weeks old, where there /
Is a lack Of skim mslk and they mubt
be prepared for the period Following l
weaving without this feed.
cassfatlon.
Pigs should be castfated White they
are Young; the best time il between
six and eight weeks Of age. before
weaving. AZ ghls age there Il less
shock ~ the pig and possibly less check
n growth. II II Is still auekllng ~
iam, the chances are that Il viii be
more thrifty and In better condition
inmeuih fe. = ln .rserasian "a napfnrrned
seven or eight weeks old n Mnaii /
enough to be handled conveniently, (
and the testicIes are large enough 70
render the operation quite simple. Tor
detailed information ON this subject !
consult Farmers Bulletin $50. "Cas'
tratlan Of Young Pigs
WEAVING.
Breeders diffrs widely NJ TO the age
for weaving. The majority wean at
six to ten weeks. with a considerable
number at twelve weeks some wean
later than twelve weeks and few ear
lIer than six weeks. There should be
no hurry about It.; eight weeks IL
young enough II skim milk II avail
able. OF course. the size and develop |
ment OF the pigs have a great denl TO |
do with the weaving age. II skim
milk Is not obtainable, II IL better 70
let them nurse the SOW until ten weeks
old The weaving should be brought
about directly, and in all cnHes be
complete and decisive. The pigs should
be placed apart from the sows In quar-
tiers secure enough 10 prevent COM
munIcation. II the SOW IA still milk.
ing considerably, it il best to milk her
dry by hand rather than TO return the
pigs to her. The pigs win be no bet
ter of and the SOW Infinitely worse
than II weaving IL brought about do.
ciaively.
Wsanlna Ration.
Skim milk and corn or skim milk
and shorts, fed in the proportion Of
three 10 one, make an excellent ration
for weanings. II skim milk IL not
available, mixture Of Eve parts corn
meal, four parts middlings and one
part tanlxage fed as thin slop ~ very
good. Good, succulent pasture Is al
ways In order. It will aid wonderfully
In putting growth on the young pigs,
and the grain expense will be ieas-
ened. After the pigs have been weaned
Fsalses AlIlgaaora