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Show Q. How much feeder space is necessary nec-essary for chicks? A. According to the age of the chicks, feeder space should be provided pro-vided as follows: First three weeks 1 in. per chick 3 to 6 weeks of age . . 2 in. per chick 6 weeks to maturity . .3 in. per chick Q. What is the proper age for breeding a Jersey heifer? A. Tests made over a period of years at the Research Farm of the Ralston Purina Company show that it is better to breed heifers according accord-ing to body size rather than age. A Jersey heifer weighing 500 lbs. is fully big enough to breed. Jersey heifers at the Purina Research Farm usually reach this weight by 12 months of age. Q. Under what conditions do you recommend creep feeding of pigs? A. Creep feeding is recommended when sows are hand fed, especially when several sows and litters are fed together. When sows are self fed, a creep for pigs is not necessary. Little Lit-tle pigs become interested in the sow's feed and will eat small amounts of solid feeds if given the opportunity. A pig creep will permit the feeding of special feeds to the pigs and exclude the sow. Whether or not creep feeding .is practiced, pigs should be encouraged to eat feed from the time they are two weeks old, because the sooner they start the easier it is to put on rapid gains and the less setback there will be at weaning time. Q. Could you tell me the reason I couldn't get my kid to drink colostrum colo-strum milk? A. Probably the milk was cold, and kids will not drink cool milk. The fresh colostrum should be heated carefully in a pan placed in hot water or in a double boiler over a low flame, as it scorches and coagulates coag-ulates easily. Stir constantly while heating. It should be quite warm, about 100 degrees F. If kids do not drink well the first one or two feedings, feed-ings, do not' be alarmed. Usually the trouble is that the milk is not warm enough. Send your questions about livestock or poultry problems to FARM FACTS, 835 South Eighth Street. St. Louis 2, Missouri. Questions wilt be answered without charge, either by mail or in this column, as a service of this newspaper. |