Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-06-05
Weaving Pigs

WEAVING time commences on our
best hog farms when the pigs are
two or three weeks old and begin to
crack kernels of corn and nibble at
other feed. The wise herdsman be-
gins right, ther. to help the pigs
develop an appetite for feed other
than their mothers milk, but as the
pigs grow, they tend to take more
and more of such feed until. at
eight or ten weeks of age they are
eating heartily and their mothers
milk IS serving as supplement to
the grain feed. When this condition
arises, it is time to separate the
sows from the pigs and the opera
ton can be done with very few
noticeable effects on either side of
the fence.
This installment plan of selling
the pigs a substitute for their
mothers milk allows the hogman to
take advantage of the fact that
young pigs are efficient growers.
More than that, it leaves the sows
in much better condition at wean-
ing time. If the sows are to be
sold on the market, they are then
in condition to go there on less feed.
If they are to be rebred for fall
litters, then their good condition is
q
rowing time.
The creep method of weaving
pigs brings the matter of feed mix
lures to the fore ground. 1t goes
without saying that the feed pro-
vided in the creep must be both
palatable to the young pigs as we'll
as OF such nature as to agree with
them and promote health and eff
Gent growth. For instance, whole
oats fed dry In a selffeeder to tiny
pigs would give poor results, not
because oats is poor feed, but for
the reason that when fed in this
form it is not well adapted to the
digestive system of young pigs.
They require concentrated ration
that is easily digested
A mixture of cracked corn, shorts.
and linseed oilmeal is good at the
start. These feeds might we'll be
mixed at the rate of four bushels
of cracked corn, a sack of shorts
and three gallons of oilmeal. Tank
age might be substituted for half
of the oilmeal., Rolled oats might
replace q part of the shorts. AS
the pigs become older a little more
bulk such as ground oats and Leafy
alfalfa may be fed with good re-
suits. At weaving age they may
well be receiving nearly a straight
ration OF corn and tankage in the
self-feeder along with green pas
ture. An exception to this would be
in the case of pigs being raised for
breeding purposes. They should re.
ceive less corn.
Castration Of the male pigs should
take place when the pigs are still
quite young If best results are to be
expected. This operation may be
performed with good results when
the pigs are about four weeks old.
At that time they are large enough
to handle nicely yet sufficiently
young that complete recovery Is
speedy and assured. Delaying this
operation beyound a certain point
makes 1t more serious one for the
reason that recovery cannot be COM
plete before vaccination or some
other activity which again taxes
the pigs strength. takes place.
More and more successful hog
men are vaccinating their pigs be-
lore weaving time. It is not a wise
practice to vaccinate pigs that are
less than five or six weeks old un-
less absolutely necessary. Pigs that
are six weeks old when serum and
virus are administered usually car
ny immunity for satisfactory length
OF time. What better time during
the lives of our pigs could such an
operation be performed They are
at that Gage receiving probably bet
ter feet5l than will ever be available
foliowinq weaving, and as a conse-