Show PREVENT PIG LOSSES BY GIVING SOW PROPER ATTENTION AT FARROWING TIME v wv b R km e 1 l 21 P aw g 1 3 E wr amz aft wy A z 40 0 04 IV aa WELL CARED FOR PIGS IN THE FARROWING PEN prepared by the united states department of 0 agriculture every pig that can be raised this s year ear will be needed to add to the food supply of the nation and every one will add to the profits of the grower increase the number of pigs by preventing losses at farrowing furrowing far rowing time and insure rapid gruns in weight by giving the sow and young pigs the kind of care that will result in healthy development this depends to a great extent upon the management of the sow sov at time of farrowing furrowing far rowing As the time tor for far farr rowing awing approaches the sow should be watched carefully in order that assistance si may be given it if necessary the sow generally becomes nervous and restless as parturition approaches she makes a nest for her young a swollen vagina and milk down in the teats are other visible visible signs one can be quite certain that a sow will farrow late in tile the afternoon or the following night when milk Is found in the teats in the morning the feed at this time should be sloppy and limited in amount nothing but lukewarm water should be given the sow during 24 hours previous to farrowing furrowing far rowing it if she has already farrow ed a litter and has been properly fed and cared for during pregnancy little littie difficulty may be expected with young sows bows particularly those bred at an immature age there Is considerable risk at this time not only to the pigs but to the sow herself amount of bedding there Is a difference of opinion as to the amount of bedding which should be given to the sow at this time an active sow in comparatively thin condition can bo be trusted with a liberal amount of bedding put but sows bows which tre are in high condition or which are at 4 all clumsy had better be given only a moderate amount of bedding leaves or short straw are preferred the farrowing furrowing far rowing pen shout should be dry and we well I 1 ventilated but free f from rom drafts provide the pen with a guard rail made of two by four planks with their edges against the sides 0 of f the pen about ten inches above the bed these prevent the sow from lying against the partition and lessen the danger of injury to lit the e pigs the little littie fellows will soon learn to creep under the guard rail when the sow lies down what to do when pigs arrive when the pigs are bort born during worm warm weather they are less liable to become chilled and will generally find their way to the teats unaided in extremely cold weather tile the pigs will be in danger of being chilled unless the hog house Is heated to remedy this place a few heated bricks in the bottom of a basket or small box covering them with chaff or straw and put a cioth over the top to keen in the hent heat unless the sow objects too seriously the pigs may be rubbed try dry with a soft cloth and placed in the recep receptacle bacle as fast as they arrive if any of the little littie pigs appear to be lifeless when they are born first see that all mucus Is removed from the nose then give the pig a few gentle slaps on tile the side with the hand bond this will start the pig breathing it if there is any life in the body give it a suck of the sows bows milk and place it in the receptacle as de previously the pigs will not suffer aj V they dj di not suck for a few minutes after farrowing furrowing far rowing cut out back teeth before placing the pigs with the sow cut out the eight small teeth there are four of these on each jaw in the rear odthe of the mouth these teeth ore are very sharp and it if left in the digss mouth they will likely cause tearing of the sows bows udder and the little pigs cut one an others month while lighting fighting for a teat these teeth can be removed with bone forceps wire ire nippers or with n alth a knife never pull out the teeth always cut or break them off after this operation la is over place the pigs with ith tbt the sow care being taken that eich one gets to it teat when the afterbirth after birth Is passed it should be removed from the pen at once arid and burled or burned there Is goo good reason to believe that eating the a afterbirth after er birth Is often the beginning of the habit abit of rating eating pigs As a rule the sow BOW should bare ave no food the first 24 hours after farrowing furrowing far rowing but should be gi alvena veraa liberal drink of 0 warm warin water if however she shows signs of hunger a thin slop of bran brad and may be given the feeding for the first throe three or tour four days should be light and the time consumed in getting the sow on full feed should bo be from a week to ten days depending on an the size and thrift of the litter the sows bows feed great caie care must be taken to feed the sow properly it if she is not being prop erly fed the little pigs will show it it it if the pigs follow the sow around very much and pull at her teats it Is a good sign that she Is not giving enough milk and more feed should be given to stimulate the milk flow when a sow lit I 1 overfed causing a heavy flow of milk scouring Is generally produced in the p pigs I 1 gs if this happens cut down the sow bows sows I 1 5 feed immediately give th the sow 15 or 20 grains of sulphur of iron copperas in her slop morning and evening and if necessary increase the dose dosa until results have been obtained exercise Is necessary after the sow has farrowed furrowed far rowed it Is best for her to be in the open air of course it if the pigs are farrowing furrowing far rowing during the winter months care will vill be ba needed and it may be necessary to let the pigs reach the age of two weeks before turning thern them out they can ho however vever got get considerable exercise la in the alg ery or in the lot with the sow and there Is often a lot adjoining a born barn that Is sunny and sheltered from the cold winds where the sow and pigs may be turned for exercise do not allow the pigs to run out during a cold rain if they do nt get exercise they will get fat at and lazy and the usual result 1 is 19 9 the thumps this Is caused by the fat getting so thick around the heart and lungs that the pigs find it difficult to breathe the best way to prevent this Is to avoid overfeeding over feeding and make maka the young pigs take plenty of exercise |