THE BROOD SOW:

Otago Witness, Issue 2985, 31 May 1911, Page 20

THE BROOD SOW:

HER VALUE AND MANAGEMENT.

A really good brood sow is a valuable; asset. Good management counts for much ; without it the best sow cannot do the best; with it she will do all that reason can expect. Careless bedding and housing of the sow kept in the sty is very otten the cause of cramp and internal disease. Poor or unwholesome food caused internal derangement, weakening the vitality, and bringing on constipation; so the sow comes to hen- farrowing in a condition promising good results to :neiself or her piglings. Improper and neglectful treatment of the ''inpig sow" are ■responsible? for numberless cases of unsatisfactory litters, such as piglings weak, born dead, and imperfectly developed. T.hey may bo numerous, and, indeed, often are, but numbers count for nothing when there are only three or four pigs out of 10 or a dozen. The more highly-bred the sow the reason is there for good treatment —not pampering, but treatment born of sound judgment and common sense. To breed and rear strong, scund; healthy pigs it is essential that the sow should be in good fettle herself—her system free from disease, and her blood pure and healthy. Rich food she does, not require, except when suckling her pigs, but she needs a sufficiency of suitable sweet and wholesome food while she is retained as a breeder. If she is running at large in a good grass paddock she will get a good deal of -healthy and nourishing food, which only needs in the early stage of carrying .her pigs to be siipplemented by some good slop; but it is the sow entirely confined to the sty who suffers most when poorly fed. Her system gets out of order from lack of nourishing food. She develops various minor disorders, and lacks the necessary milk for her pigs at farrowing time. It is a bad practice to expose the sow to extremes of weather. In a great many cases should the bedding run short during the winter or early spring the sows are the first sufferers. They are left to lie on the cold, wet floor, and frequently get so cramped and stiff that they can hardly move. Should the weather permit, the pregnant sow may be kept in the open for the first three months, but for the latter part of her time she should be well fed and comfortably bedded in a dry, clean sty. If the sow is confined to a. sty, give her a few mangels in addition to her daily ration of slops; r..lso_ a few wood ashes and some charcoal to munch.

The less doctoring the sow has the better. Food of thz right sort is the best medicine. About three weeks previous to farrowing- a fairly liberal diet should be given. Several davs before she is due she should be comfortably housed in the sty she is to occupy, with some- short, clean, and dry straw. * She should not be interfered with unless absolutely necessary. An isolated pen for each brood sow is best, if it can be managed. Keeping her quiet at this time will remove the main source of mortality among the piglings. In the winter or early spring as muah warm slops as the sow will drink should be given after nigging. This will satisfy her thirst and keep her from getting up and: fidgeting about. If there is any tendency to costiveness at farrowing, a little black treacle mixed in the warm slop given the sow to drink will be most beneficial. It is best not to mate the sow again until the pigs are weaned. Although she may be ready scon after farrowing, there is considerable risk of abort-'jin with so early a service owing to the nummelling given her by a strong litter of" voting pigs. A good rape, or clover paddock is a first-rate place for a. sow and pigs. With the fine natural food they conihined with milk and pollard! slops, tlhev will thrive and do well, and at a very little exyense to their owner. —Farmers' Gazette.