PIG RAISING

Grey River Argus, 18 April 1936, Page 2

PIG RAISING

PROBLEM OF WINTER REARING. NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS. The farrowing and rearing of litters in winter undoubtedly entails more trouble and risk than at other seasons. Yet provided suitable precautions are taken, the farrowing should come off all right and a reasonable number of pigs be reared and weaned. Records available suggest that No-vember-born litters suffer the highest percentage of casualties, due probably to the sunless and damp weather conditions. Litters horn in January have a better chance of enjoying at least a little life-giving sunshine while still quite young. The sow’s condition and health at the time of farrowing is naturally a matter of importance. In summer, she would usually have been out at range all day, but this can seldom be possible during January. EXERCISE FOR SOWS. She should, however, be allowed out for a few hours’ exercise in suitable weather, and- —when grass is lacking—be given a daily feed of greenstuff, as kale or cabbage. The sow’s health will further benefit if, in the last week of her time, she is given a half-and-half mixture of weatings and bran in place of the usual allowance of weatings only. As the main danger to newly-born pigs conies from risks of chill, every effort must be made to have the farrowing quarters snug and warm. A pig that gets chilled in the first couple or three days of its life is, for all practical purposes, a dead pig. Even in styes whose construction leaves much to be desired, a good deal can lie done to improve matters for the occasion. DANGERS TO AVOID. Dampness and draughts are the chief things to be avoided—especially floor draughts. A sow and young family cannot be comfortable if a continuous current of cold air reaches them from under the door. In such conditions, in fact, the youngsters are exposed to serious risk, and losses from chill are practically certain. Hence, when the sty door leads direct into the open, it is most advisable to fix up some draught screen. Extra boarding outside, or sacking nailed across the bottom of the door—also outside —would be a help. But a. curtain of sacking, trailing on the floor between the door and the sow’s bed, will prove more effective. The nature of the flooring also influ-

enees the temperature. Many old sty floors are damp and cold, and concrete flooring' lias the drawback of being chilly. The use of a movable wooden “platform,” such as is so often recommended, represents one way of improving matters. THE SOW’S BED. Of, if more convenient, you could spread a thick layer of chaff as a foundation for the sow’s bed. It hardly needs saying that the straw litter provided should be dry as well as plentiful. Also, with a view to warmth care should be taken to see that the sow’s nest is free from dampness at the time of farrowing. The sow herself is not likely t.o need any more attention at a winter than at a summer farrowing. But should there be any difficulty, and farrowing be prolonged, then, for the sake of the piglings, it obviously becomes advisable for someone to be at hand all the time.