GROWING AND FEEDING PIGS

New Zealand Mail, 8 February 1900, Page 7

GROWING AND FEEDING PIGS

The following is extracted from a paper read by Mr W. P. Winner at the Farmers' Institute, Mouncl Valley, Kansas : I would select thoroughbreds of the breed I desired to grow, especially the male. He should be a good individual, should have a well-rounded ham, well let down to heck, back slightly arched, ribs Swell sprung, flank broad .and well let . down, good strong bone,, wide between 1 the eyes, which should be full, stand well upon his feet, and have good carriage. The sows should have head somewhat smaller than that of the male, good length of body, ribs well sprung and rather long, deep heart girth, stand well up on good feet, and should be of quiet disposition. The brood sow should have a run on pasture of some kind. Clover, alfalfa, rye and oats are good. They should have plenty of pure water at all times. I consider the water fountain the best way to supply them with clean, pure water. I consider oats, with a slop made of onethird 1 shorts and two-thirds wheat-bran, fed twice a day, the best- ration for brood sows. I would not keep more than eight or ten sows in "one lot or pasture, as they are liable to pile up in the sleeping quarters. They should have dry, clean sleeping quarters. I would arrange a pen for the sow and little fellows, with a railing around inside eight or ten inches from the floor and six inches from the sides, so that the sow-.will not lie on the pigs when she lies down. The sow should' not be fed much grain untiltil her pigs a,re a week old. I would feed oats at first-, and gradually increase the feed, so that by the end of the third week she will be on full feed. She should have a liberal feed of sweet slop three times a day. I would make a creep in pen in which I would place a- shallow trough, so the da-m cannot get to it. I would put in it a small quantity of sweet milk, of a * slop made of shorts, or, better still, ground oats with hulls sifted out. Never feed more than the' pigs will 'clean up. When the pigs are about Seven-weeks old I would keep unilk-produeing feed : frojn -A the sow, and by the time the -pigs are ; 1 eight- or nine weeks old they null have '-, weaned themselves in most cases Then, I would feed the pigs on a-ration of , ground oats • and corn, the same quan- j tity of wheat bran, say ground oats, 251 b; , maize-meal, 251b;-wheat bran, 501 b; j soaJked a few hours, and fed sweet, mom- , ing, noon and at night, with ear com ( twice a day. Feed what the pigs will , clean up, and never more As they get ; older, I would increase the amount of feed to what they will consume, would feed what they will clean up nicely, three ; times each day,- of oftener, if possible; . would make them squeal for them feed i; each time, • T think the pigs should have r plenty of good, pure water, and dry, clean ; sleeping quarters at- all times, and r they ; should weigh from 2501 b to 3501 b, and j even 4001 bat eight or nine months old:' , I think it a mistaken idea that, a pig , must he shut up in a dry pen, and to \ have corn by him at all times to take bn j fat. I believe he needs exercise to aid ; digestion and to develop muscle, which \ is lean meat T also think it a mistaken ( idea to shut up a lot of pigs in a filthy : < pen when it is desired to begin feeding < them fot market "or family use, and feed ] them enough the very first feed to last < them two or three days. They will eat ] too much at first, which will arrest di- j gestion, bring on disease, and cause a loss ( of feeding from one to three weeks f 1 As I said before, I think the better , j plan is to feed a small amount at first e and gradually increase the feed until j they are on full feed, cleaning up their’ 1 feed each time:' - ■ - --• ~,i j - * In I would urge 1 and feeder of pigs to feed often, give 1 i plenty of pure, clean water, a clean, dry c place for them to sleep, plenty of-exerv t cise, and a liberal amount of pasture. c