The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1924-06-12
WHEN THE PIG GOES
OUT TO FORAGE

t"HE time for weaving pigs de
ponds considerably upon kind
= quality and quantity of supple
mental feeds available for them afte
they are weaned, says DR.. w. E.
Joseph, of the Montana Experiment
Station. Where good supplements
the kinds that the pigs will eat read
lily and which will put on flesh, are
not available, weaving time should
be deferred until the pigs are larger
than where the desired foods are on
hand.
In two trials with sows and filters
parts of feeding experiments carried
on at the Montana Experiment Sta
ton, it was found that the sows and
filters fed on alfalfa hay consumed
more hay per pound of pig from far
rowing to weaving time when the
pigs were weaned late, but consider
ing the amount of feed eaten by the
SOW during the following dry period
the feed consumed was greater for
the pigs weaned early.
Further discussing the results of
the feeding experiments, DR.. Joseph
continues:
"The chief advantage in growing
pigs to larger size before weaving
was gained in the better performance
of the pigs after weaving. A litter of
nine pigs weighing As pounds when
weaned did much better on a ration
of barley and tankage, most of the
pigs growing to practically market
weight and finish. A litter weaned
at 30.5 pounds on the same ration
was seriously off feed long before
the pigs reached suitable size and
condition for the market as fat hogs,
due to the deficiency of vitamines,
according to the results of some brief
with the affected pigs.
ION rations of barley and alfalfa
lay for sows and filters, both before
Ind after weaving, late weaving of
he pigs proved quite advantageous.
rhe late weaned litter (55 pounds)
a weight of 100 to 1876
pounds 81 days earlier and they re-
practically a half pound less
farley per pound of gain from wean-
ng time until sold as fat hogs than
he litter weaned at 35 pounds.
considering 5.5 months feed for
he SOW and all the feed for the lit
ers there was a saving of one-quar-
er pound of grain for each pound
f market hog by growing the pigs
So pounds before weaving rather
IAN weaving at a weight of 50
Ounds and in addition the late
eaned pigs were ready for market
even weeks earlier. The litter
eaned early had an apparent ad-
before weaving.
"The question may be raised as to
e possibility of raising two filters
year under such conditions. The
W whose litter was weaned late
rrowed another litter rs days after
the litter used in this trial.
other words she vas bred practi-
lily 40 days before the pigs were
eaned. This practice has been fol-
wed in many cases with apparent
,od results. The heat period was |
duced by separating the sows and
at night and running them
gether during the day. The sows
came into heat within a week
the pigs were at least five weeks
d, che sows not in too thin condi-
on and well fed during the time.
some cases a longer time was re-
Tired for this result.
3The practice of weaving the pigs
tie had little or no advantage if a
pply of skim milk or other supple
ents of approximately equal value
ere available. On rations that were
IT we'll balanced fuller develop
ent before weaving resulted in a !
ore rapid growth and more econo- :
lcal production according to these |: