Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1922-11-23
DISEASE SUBJECT TO
CURIOUS V|S|TATI0MS
HAIRLEssNEss IN Pigs SEEMS TO
FOLLOW NO KNOWN PLAN OF
CARE OR FEEDING IN STATE
IODINE WILL PREVENT LOSS
stockrsen Who Feed Potassium lodids
To Pregnant Animals May Be
Sure OF Saving Youna-cost
10 Small

&AaiAASconCrN III VAc Is u tUdlNdf
subject to curious visitations, says DR..
Howard WEIGH, veterinarian OF the
Montana Experiment Station. A
rnncher one year may lose e5 per cent
of his pigs and the next year. with the
same breeding stock, the same ranch
conditions and feed ano water from the
same source, raise an entirely normal
bunch OF pigs. Pigs born in March
and April are much more frequently
affected than those born In May and
June and fall pigs are frequently nor
NAL In ever the badly affected districts.
The most puxzling feature is the
possible variation In a single pen of
pregnant rowsl II. for instance, six
sows are kept I'm the same pen, fed and
cared for under Identical conditions In
the affected area. the results at farrow-
ing time may be as follows: three
sows may produce normal, vigorous
filters two sow may produce pigs that
are hairless and weak, and which die
In a few hours the sixth SOW, produc-
ing nine pigs. MAJ have four hairless,
three normal and two partly haired
out These last nay live II cared for.
but Will hs slew to grow and develop.
In affected areas koxs viii producs
pigs under the widest range OF
when kept In pens or run
ming at large; fed on any combination
Of grain, hay or roots: ranging on al
kali land or land free from slkaIfs
fed alfalfa or not. The occurrence Of
pigs appears TO be independent
n any system Of feed, care or manage
nent yet practiced In this state.
Hairless pigs are not the result OF
abortion. The pregnant sow carries
he pigs to the full term OF the CESSATION
Many ranchers report that the
pregnant sow carry the pigs four to
days longer than the average
period and that many sows die at far
time. Some Of the pigs are
'orn dead, others die In an hour or
wo and very few affected pigs live
more than a day.
Investigators OF goitre In mar and
nlmals have demonstrated that iodine
: the chief physiological constituent OF
he normal thyroid and that Iodine IL
ither lacking or very low In an en-
lrged gland. II was found In our ex-
eriments that pigs with the least hair
thyroids with the lowest iodine
The natural conclusion wal
hat for some reason the sows were
OF getting the requisite amount OF
from their feed and water. Ex-
eriments showed that the iodine con-
of the thyroid gland was markedly
by feeding daily two grains
7 potassium iodide.
From Investigations at the Montana
Station II In determined
disturbance OF the thyroid gland
,pears to be the immediate cause OF
in pigs, lambs. and calves.
Id Of weakness In colts. The en-
rged thyroid glands are very de-
,icnt In iodine.
Iodine supplied to the female during
Q CESSATION period Is effective as "a
OF goltre In new born ami
ais. The feeding of iodine Il preg-
mt domestic animals In sections OF
e northwest where goitre Is prevalent
recommended by the Montana Ex-
Station.
DR.. Welch and II. II. Millin, extern
livestock specialist, have Joined In
campaign to get stockmen OF Mon
m to feed potassium iodide to preg-
Mt animals this winter. Last year
my stockmen who regularly had been
the potassium iodide got care
9 and failed to feed H. Last spring
big Increase In hairlessness In pigs
. reported from many sections OF
state. an increase that meant the
. of thousands of dollars 10 stock
n Of the state.
agents and druggists of the
te have been supplied with infor-
ton dealing with the feeding of
to pregnant animals. These
'nts or druggists VIII instruct any
concerning the use OF potas-
N iodide. The cost Of feeding a
grant sow during the CESSATION
Tod amounts to but a few cents, 1t
out, 30 there Ia no excuse
continued loss Of pigs through hair
ness.