Pig Notes

Horowhenua Chronicle, 23 September 1910, Page 4

Pig Notes

BY AX AMERICAN EXPERT.

Skilful feeding has much to do in rearing the best pigs.

No animal on the farm shows neglect quicker than a pig. He suiro that the breeding sows are not getting too fat, or too thin. The pig is so sensitive to the cold that it will completely bury itself in the bedding to keep warm if the shelter is inadequate. \o farm animal is given such poor quarters as the pig. Still none will give better returns for good care and treatment than this .same pig.

Keep the pig-; growing constantly. The best results will lie obtained by feeding a little under their capacity, rattier than all the can consume.

Sows may be kept from eating their pigs by giving them a great variety of fowl for two months or more before the pigs come along. It should include some animal food and plenty of salt. Unless you provide plenty of cool shade for the pig during hot days there will bo danger of sunstroke.

The most profitable breed of pig to keep is undoubtedly that breed which will produce, from a given quantity of .highest price at the earliest age.

The secret of feeding pigs is to know how to feed enough without feeding too much. This subject has been much talked about by the hest pig-breeders, but the main points cannot be worn out or discussed too much.

To fatten pigs profitably, the breeds selected for feeding should be good ones. Thero is a vast difference in pigs in ■respect to easy fattening proportion of bone, weight, etc. There are several good lwewks of pigs having different degrees of aptitude for fattening. These breeds have been so distributed over the country that any farmer who is willing to make the effort may have only improved animals in his pens. Not to do so is exceedingly stupid. Indigestion may show itself by the pigs failing in flesh, loss of appetite, roughness of hair, scaliness of skin, teeth becoming black, etc. The last condition is often thought to be the cause, rather than the effect. It is, together with uie others, but an evidence of injudicious feeding. In

case some young pigs become so fat that they die from what is known as "thumps," in all cases proper food and exercise will prevent, and, in a measure, remedy them. "Prevention is better than cure."

The man whose pigs receive nothing but kicks and wows will never succeed in the pig-raising business. The man who i.s not on the best of terms with his sows will lose many litters of if not the sows themselves, that he might have saved had the aniina loot been afraid of ■him. And if she distrusts him, it will bring out all the viciousness of her nature whenever he conies noai to feed or care for her and in her trampling and worrying some of the little fellows will be sure to get hurt. Sows with pigs too young to get out of the way .should be kept as quiet as possible. This can never be if she fears or distrusts her attendants.