Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-04-19
CARE OF SOW AND PIGS
How to Manage the Sow at Farrow-
inq Time.

How to Manage the Sow at Farrow.
ing Time.
As the time for farrowing approach
les, the sow should be watched care
fully, In order that assistance may
be given II necessary. The SOW
generally becomes nervous and rest
less as parturition approaches: she
makes a nest for her young; a swol-
len vagina and milk down In the
teats are other visible signs. One
can be quite certain that a sow Will
farrow late in the afternoon or the
following night when milk Is found
in the teats in the morning.
The feed at this time should be
sloppy and limited in amount. Moth
ing but lukewarm water should be
given the SOW during "a hours pre-
vious 10 narrowing. II she has already
farrowed a little and has been pro-
perly fed and cared for during preg-
nancy, little difficulty may be expect
ed. With young sows, particularly
those bred at an immature age, there
is considerable risk at this time. not
only to the pigs but to the SOW her
self.
There Is a difference Of opinion as
to the amount of bedding which
should be given to the SOW at this
time. An active SOW in comparative
ly thin condition can he trusted with
a liberal amount of bedding. but sows
which are in high condition or which
are at all clumsy. had better be given
only a moderate amount of bedding.
Leaves or short straw are preferred.
The farrowing pen should he dry
and we'll ventilated, but free from
drafts. Provide the pen with a guard
rail made Of by planks with their
edges against the sides Of the pen
about 10 inches above the bed. These
prevent the SOW from lying against
the partition, and lessen the dan
ger OF injury to the pigs. The little
fellows will soon learn to creep
under the guardrail when the SOW
lies down.
The management of the sow during
narrowing depends largely on the
animal and on the weather conditions
Assistance should be at hand II
needed, but the sow need not be
helped if she is getting along nicely.
When the pigs are born during
warm weather, they are less liable to
become chilled and will generally find
their way to the teats unaided. In
extremely cold weather the pigs will
re in danger OF being chilled, unless
the hog house is heated. To rem
eAy this, place a few heated bricks
EAthe hoftam- Of q basket OF small
box, covering them with chaff or
straw, and put q cloth over the top
to keep in the heat; unless the
sow objects too seriously. the pigs
may be rubbed dry with n soft cloth
and placed in the receptacle as fast
rs they arrive. If any Of the little
pigs appear to be lifeless when they
are born, first see that all mucus
is removed from the nose. then give
the pigs n few gentle slaps on the
side With the hand. This will start
the pig breathing If there Is any life
in the body. Give it suck OF the
sow's milk and place 1t In the re-
ceptaclc, as described previously. The
pigs will not suffer If they do not
suck for q few minutes after farrow-
ing.
Before placing the pigs with the
sow, cut out the eight small tusk-
like teeth. There are four Of these
on each jaw in the rear Of the mouth.
These teeth are very sharp. and II
left in the pigs mouth they will like
ly cause tearing of the sow's udder,
and the little pigs cut one anothers
mouths while fighting for a teat.
These teeth can be removed with
bone forccps. wire nippers or with
n knife. Never pull out the teeth.
Always cut or them break of. Az
ted this operation Is over. place the
pigs with the SOW. care being taken
that each one gets to a teat. When
the afterbirth Is passed 1t should
he removed from the pen at once and
buried or burned. There Is good rea-
son to believe that eating the after
births Is often the beginning OF the
habit of eating pigs.
AS a rule, the sow should have no
food the first "a hours after farrow-
ing, but should be given q nperai
drink OF warm water. If. however. she
shows signs Of hunger, q thin STOP
Of bran and middlings may be given.
The feeding for the first or days
should be light. and the time con-
sumed in getting the SOW on full
feed should be from a week to III
days, depending on the size and thrift
Of the litter.
Great care must be taken to feed
the sow properly. II she Is not being
properly fed. the little pigs will show
it. II the pigs follow the SOW around
very much and pull at her teats. 1t IL
a good sign that she Is not giving
enough milk. and more feed should
be given to stimulate the milk now.
When a SOW Is overfed, causing a
heavy flow of milk. securing Is gen.
orally produced in the pigs. II this
happens, cut down the sow's feed i'm
mediately. Give the sow is to 20
grains of sulphate Of iron (copperas)
in her slop morning and evening, and
II necessary increase the dose until
results have been obtained.
After the SOW has farrowed, It is
best for her to be In the open air.
OF course. II the pigs are farrowed
during the winter months, care Will
he needed, and It may be necessary
to let the pigs reach the age OF
two weeks before turning them out.
They can, however. get considerable
exercise In the pigery or In the lot
with the SOW, and there is often lot
adjoining q barn that b sunny and
hnr