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Show FARM CT.OCK INFANT MORTALITY AMONG BABY PIGS Guard Rails on Pen Walls Will Save Many Porkers. So high is the "Infant mortality" among baby pigs that one out of every throe farrowed dies, while on some farms as many as half the pigs are lost, according to Dr. W. K. Carroll of the University of Illinois. If the 110 pounds of feed required to farrow far-row a pig were visualized as each dead one Is disposed of during the farrowing season, the thought of such waste would be so startling to farmers farm-ers that prompt measures would be taken to reduce it. "More ilgs are mashed by the sow than die from any other single cause. Guard rails on the pen walls will, of course, save many from this fate, but the sows themselves lire frequently at fault. A sow may be deaf or blind or excessively heavy and lazy or even downright cureless. Those with any of these defects should be replaced In the Interest of saving pigs. "Damp, drafty pens likewise take a heavy toll. of pigs during a cold farrowing far-rowing season. "For warding off necrotic enteritis, bull nose and other tilth-borne Infections Infec-tions and preventing the rather large losses due to round worms there is nothing superior to the swine sanitation sanita-tion system which the college and country farm advisers have ndvocated throughout the state for a number of years. "Another important factor in the well being of sucking pigs is the ration ra-tion of the sow. A few days before each sow is expected to farrow she should be put in her pen in order that she may get acquainted with it before the pigs are born. At this time her ration should be reduced and made more laxative to correspond with her lessened activity. This can he done by substituting wheat bran for about one-third to one-half, by measure, of her customary ration. For 12 hours before and 12 hours after farrowing the sow needs no. feed. Water should be allowed freely and in cold weather it should be warmed to remove the chill. If the sow gets restless and seems hungry she may be fed a double handful o." bran in a thin, warm slop." |