The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1919-09-11
THE SPRING LITER
Careful Feeding and Manage
ment Spell Success.

clemson COIleSS.-"itn 1OS prices
at an unprecedented level. shortage
Of hogs IN the European countries,
and prospects for large export trade
with the Central powers upon the dec
Iaration of peace. the production OF
hogs should be one OF the most i'm
portant enterprises Of the farm in
1919. especially in the South with its
natural advantages for growing for
age. which is one of the most impor-
eant factors for economic pork pro-
duction
The first period in the feeding and
management Of litter Of pigs begins
when the SOW becomes pregnant and
ends when she farrows. The second
period begins with the birth Of the
pigs and continues until the pigs
reach maturity or are marketed. By
this time most Of the spring pigs have
heen farroxed. and the problem now
Is 10 push them rapidly and econom-
icaIty for the market. II the pregnant
sow'i 7ation has supplied sufficient
orHtAa for bone and muscle building
IT the pigs and she has been kept
ic good physical condition through ex-
a~r'sa the product should be strong
h thy litter that will make rapid
cheap gains.
For the first few weeks, when the
pigs will be nourished entirely by the
SOW, her ration should be Sufficient to
furnish an abundant flow OF milk.
However. il she is overfed, causing a
heavy flow Of milk. the pigs are likely
10 have scours II this occurs. the
feed of the SOW should be reduced i'm
mediately. and she should be fed Is
10 30 grains Of copperas in her slop
morning and night until securing
ceases. The ration for a SOW sucking
pig. IS lbout per cent Of her live
weight. when not on pasture. But for
the best results the sow and pigs
Should be on pasture When on q
non-leguminous pasture such as rape,
rye. and Bermuda grass, the SOW
should have a grain ration equivalent
to 8 per cent Of her live weight. On
Alfalfa. red clover. and other legumes.
the grain ration. need not be over Q
per cent Of her live weight. The sow's
grain ration should be we'll balanced.
Several balanced rations are given
later in this article.
The young pigs will begin to eat at
3 to 4 weeks Of age. II the litter IL
small and the SOW is on pasture and
has a liberal grain ration, the pigs
will need little additional feed. II the
litter is large and the mother light
m .lker. the pigs should be given
slop OF skim-milk and wheat shorts IN
a creep not accessible to the mother.
II milk is not available, the shorts
may be made into a thin slop with
water. At 7 or weeks OF age, corn
may be substituted for one-half the
shorts
The age OF weaving depends upon
whether or not two litters are to be
raised per year. In no case should
pigs be weaned under weeks OF age;
10 or l2 weeks is better. At weaving
time the feed Of the SOW is reduced
TO slack the milk flow, and the rations
Of the pigs should be increased so
that there will be little interruption in
the growth of the pigs. The weaning
should be abruptly. and under no cir
sumstances should the SOW be return
ed to the pigs The most critical
time in a pigs life is past when he
h weaned and is eating we'll. The
eeding from then on is matter OF
making the hest ration from the avail
able feed.
ror the cheapest gains pigs should
be on pasture at all times. Home pas
lures for summer grazing are alfalfa,
clover, cowpeas. soy beans. peanuts.
Bermuda grass, rape and velvet
beans. However. pastures should
not he relied u2on 70 make pork alone.
The most rapid and cheapest gains
are produced by supplementing the.
pastures with a grain ration. Tne
amount of grain TO feed when hogs
are on pasture is approximately per
cent Of their live weight. The follow
ing grain mixtures are recommended:
Corn 10 parts tankage part; corn
and middling equal parts; corn
parts. soybean meal part; or corn
parts, velvet bean meal part With
leguminous pasture, such as atHNa.
clover. cowpeas. soy beans. pea It's.
etc corn alone may composs the
grain ration.
There are other factors affecting the
physical condition Of the animal that
exert considerable influence upon the
rate and economy Of gains. There
should be clean drinking water md
a pool where they may wall1w. The
hog has very high body temperature
and requires considerable water and
10