The Monmouth inquirer., 1926-02-25
Management After
WEAVING


There Is considerable difference Of
opinion as to the best age at which
t. wean pigs. Some advocate leaving
the rigs with the SOW for ten or
twelve weeks-in fact, the SOW is al.
lowed practically to wsan her own
pigs. For producing show pigs this
method may answer very well, but it
means oaly ore litter a year; at any
rate, it does not admit Of two litters
a year. The average farmer will find
it more profitable to wean his pigs
early enough to permit two litters a
year to be raised. If the young pigs
have been taught to ea., and skim
milk is available, they may be weaned
successfully when six weeks old. It
Is true that many pigs are weaned be-
fore they are six weeks old, but it is
seldom advisable to do SO if they ap-
pear to be thriving with the SOW. If
skimmilk is not available, it is gener-
ally advisable to defer weaving for
two weeks more, and special pains
should be taken to have the pigs well
accustomed to their new feed, and
eating heartily before they are wean-
ed.
Skimmilk and middlfngs make about
the best feed for young pigs after
weaving. If the middlings are fine and
floury, which is not very likely to oc-
cur under p~resent-day methods Of
milling, which may show itself either
In the form of diarrhoea or constipa-
tion. Diluting the middlings with a
little bran or finely ground oats will
help prevent the trouble. Soaking or
scalding the middlings is especially
useful when no skimmilk is to be had,
as it makes the pigs like the feed bet
ter. To scald the middlings, it is best
to pour boiling water on them, cover
the vessel, and allow to stand several
hours, or from one time Of feeding un-
til the next. When the pigs are first
weaned it is better to feed four times
a day, giving only a small quantity of
feed each time, and taking care to
keep the trough clean. When we'll
started, they may be changed to three
feeds a day.
It is not well to be in a hurry to
commence grain. Generally speaking,
when pigs are about three months old
a little grain may be introduced into
their ration. Two parts of middlings
and one part of corn meal or ground
barley, mixed with skimmilk to form
a slop, make an excellent ration for
growing pigs. AS the pigs grow old
err the proportion of grain to mid
dlings may be increased, but at no
time should they be feed exclusively
or almost exclusively upon corn, be-
cause corn is a poor bone and mus
Gle former. The Importance of feed
ing supplementary feeds with corn
has been pretty fully established. Ths
need of such feeds is most important
during the early life. A few roots
will be found most helpful in keeping
young pigs healthy during the sum
mer. The feeder has a wide range of
feeds to choose from, and IL he under
stood something Of their nature he
should have no difficulty in compound
ing a ration which would give salts
faction.
The aim should be to develop bone
and muscle during the early stages Of
growth, and, while the pigs should be
thrifty and sleek in the hair, they
should not be fed in such a way as to
overload them with fat. This is espe-
cially true of pigs which are intend
ed for breeding purposes, and which
should be carried right through to
breeding age upon feeds which stimu-
late growth and general vigor rather
than fat. A reasonable amount of fat
Is hot Objectionable. but the develop
ment of the frame. the muscular sys-
tenn, and the vital organs must not be
neglected, if a satisfactory breeding
animal is to be produced. Variety in
feeds and plenty of exercise are very
essential features In raising an ami
NAL that will possess all-round devel-
opment.-Prof G. E. Day In Ontario
Department of Agriculture Bulletin
225.
-