PIG NOTES.

Southland Times, Issue 19395, 8 November 1924, Page 13 (Supplement)

PIG NOTES.

POINTS OF VALUE TO THE FARMER. The chief points to consider in choosing a sow are she must come from a big litter, be a good mother and nurse, possess good type, and come from early maturing stock. Early maturity, which is nothing else than the capability of quickly and cheaply turning moderate and well-balanced rations into pork or bacon is the greatest asset which any pig possess. It is customary to breed the sow soon after the pigs are weaned. This practice gives good results if the sow is in fair flesh. Too often the sow has been milked down rather thin, and if bred in this condition the prospects for a large, strong Utter are not so bright as when the sow is gaining in flesh at time of service. Very often it will pay to feed the sow liberally for three weeks or a month before breeding her. Exercise is very important for young pigs, and every possible means of securing it must be adopted. If they are kept in a small pen there is the danger of possibly the best of them becoming too fat and dying from diseases which soft, flabby pigs appear susceptible to. By the time the young pigs are three or four weeks old they will have learned to eat. If at all possible, it is a good plan to give them access to another pen where they can have a smaU trough to themselves. Pigs that have learned to eat well before being weaned do not suffer any serious setback when the sow is taken away from them. If at any time during the lactation period the sow’s udder become hard and inflamed, it is a good plan to bathe thoroughly with hot water and apply equal parts of lard and turpentine. With the coming of warmer weather, external parasites are likely to make their appearance, and these, when present in large numbers—and they increase with extraordinary rapidity—may have a serious effect upon the health of pigs, young or old. A sharp lookout, therefore should be kept for lice, especially behind the ears and under the limbs. Oil is the great enemy of aU external parasites, and pigs that are periodically dressed can be kept free from the trouble without difficulty. It is, however, much more easy to prevent hce from making their appearance than to get rid of them afterwards, for while the parasites themselves may be destroyed fairly easily their eggs are not so easily dealt with and can only be destroyed by repeated applications. On white pigs the presence of lice is easily overlooked.