Milford chronicle., 1935-01-04
GOOD EXPERIENCE IN
FLUSHING BROOD SOWS
BY DR.. John VI. EVvard
Formerly Professor in Charge Ani-
NAL Husbandry, Iowa State
College

A great many pork producers
often complain because of the small
number of pigs farFowed by the
average sow of the herd, this aver
age often running as low as four or
five pigs per SOW. Usually when
such scanty pig crops are expert
enced the trouble may be traced di-
rectly back to the general nutri-
tional condition of the sOws at
breeding time. We have proven to
our satisfaction over and over again
that brood sOws which are confined
to poor ration. such as corn, or
corn and oats, in the late fall and
winter breeding season actually far
row lesser number Of pigs than do
similar sOws; their sisters for in
stance, which are literally fed upon
a good ration. Oftentimes one NAV
actually double the average number
OF newborn pigs per SOW by simply
adding a superior protein, vitamin.
and mineral carrying supplement,
feeding same literally along with a
plentiful supply of corn during the
breeding season. II is best to have
the sows started on the good ration
at least ten days to two weeks be-
fore the actual date of the first boar
service.
Now we are going to tell you a
very striking experience we had wi.h
the flushing of brood sOws. First.
please note that we fed a group of |
ten sOws on poor ratiOns for flush |
ing one half of these sows receiv-
ing corn only in dry lots and the
other half corn and oats, likewise
IN dry lots. These ten sows were
bred in the winter time during the
erdsslesS season. and at narrowing
thme they averaged only five new
Oorh pigs per SOW. Six of these ten
Sows farrowed from one to five pigs
each; only one SOW Of the other
Tour flrrowed as many as eight pigs.
NOW let us look at the record of
-en other sOws which were much
better fed at breeding time. These
zen sows were divided into two
groups one receiving approximately
)he ana a half pounds of ground
llialfa together with each pound of
,OFn Srain fed. The other sows were
lkewise given a liberal allowance of
'orh grain in conjunction with tile
'0uple OF feedings of buttermilk. one
n the morning, the other in the eve
ling. These ten sOws receiving but
ermIlk or alfalfa meal I'm conjunc- {
ION with their corn farFOwed 81 pigs ;
II the spring. an average of 81 pigs I
'er SOW. Five OF these sOws far {
owed practically as many pigs as {
ell Sows receiving the straight corn S
ram or corn and oats. Every sow I
II these two good ratiOns farrOwed ! {
inc or more pigs per SOW, and half c
J the sows farrowed either ten or {
IeYen pigs each. And the pigs far 1
owed by the sOwS on the good ra- K
onS were much moro desirable pigs
'om the size, strength. and health G
IdNupclnts than were the pigs far v
owed by the sows which received II
-raieht grain. The better fed sows
ere better mixers and they like n
Use had less difficulties at farrow- n
lg time. :" .
III the flushing Of brood sOws we n
I'VE h3d on the whole. better re-
lIts by supplcmenting the liberal
I'm ration with a high class sum
ement carrying from 3j TO IS per
M protein, said supplement being
eil provided with vitamins and min ST
ais, the same being supplied bv a to-
riety OF superior feed such as SOW tn
an oil meal. fish meal. Iinseed oil tit
saI' meat meal tankage. select al sa
ia meal, and other similar high lin
ide feeds. these all properly blend ab
along with the needed minerals
ch as salt, limestone. bone meal fis
N oxide copper sulphate and an ha
me career A variety of we'll alt
ecled feeds rightly blended in the esI
rect proportions SO as to guar- cit
lee an adequacy of proteins. Dro- me
u quality. vitamins. and. minerals cei
ID give Oetier farm grain balanc- eve
results. not only for flushing bnt his
inc pregnancy period feeding WI
u VIII any single supplemental Il !
W. vnr