BREEDING SOWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20536, 10 April 1930, Page 18

BREEDING SOWS.

ATTENTION TO DETAILS.;

PRACTICE OF FLUSHING. The term "flushing" is not uncommon in New Zealand and in old established textbooks on animal husbandry it is frequently applied to tlio cow, ewe, or marc, as tho caso may be, in each instances tho flushing taking place beforo tho femalo is mated. It simply means a general stimulation of tho wholo internal organisation of tho animal, tho object in the caso of pigs being to increase tho progeny.

This purpose is accomplished by giving tho animal an increased supply of grain, or by tho uso of fresh or moro succulent pastures than previously. Tho practice is understood and carried out by sheep men moro than by tjho pig raiser and owner of tho other classes of stock. His method is to turn tho breeding ewes into a. fresh, succulent pasture just before mating time, the objective being to secure of larger percentage of twins, or a higher averago of lambs.

There is no reason why the pig breeder should not adopt similar methods with his breeding sows, especially sows that arc growing old, and that, under theso conditions, -might produco satisfactory litters. Tho most beneficial results aro obtained when the flushing begins two or tlirco weeks beforo the stock are to bo mated. If the. sows are running on pastures only during tho greater part of tho " off " season, they should be turned on to a fresh patch of rapo, lucerne or other green stuff that would furnish an abundance of the most succulent forage, at the beginning of the breeding season, or when it is desired to prepare tho sow for mating. In regard to a single sow, the breeder might begin by giving it a slop composed of milk and barley, wheat or maize meal, etc., and moro than tho usual supply of green food, the idea being to stiniulato tho whole system without the sow putting on any great amount of fat. It is important that the sow should bo in medium breeding condition. After !t has been mated, the animal should continuo to bo fed in like manner for about a. week, and then turned out on to pasture again. Care should be taken that tho sow is removed from the boar's pen as soon after service as possible, and placed in a clean pen away from other sows or boars for at least five hours,, during which time she should be liberally fed and kept quiet, and in a comfortable condition, otherwise good results cannot reasonably bo expected. Careful attention of these details will result in better and stronger litters.