THE PIG.

Shannon News, 27 February 1925, Page 4

THE PIG.

FEEDING POINTS. Every pig breeder • should know that a sow costive at farrowing time is likely to make trouble of various kinds. Almost invariably it is costive sows that eat their pigs. This trouole torments them so much at that ti.ie •hat th-y are ready l o tat aim s.», Mottling eatable that hapens to be in reach. A pound of linseed meil a day n'ith ber oth:v fi.ua for a month or more before farrowiing wii obviate this difficulty. If cannot get this meal or whole linsed to boil into jelly to feed her, he can at least feed wheat bran enough, to accomplish the purpose. Also give her salt and ashes. Pasture is the key by which the door to success has been opened to hundreds of pig raisers (states "The Livestock Journal"), yet even in this day of grace and progress, there are thousands of farmers who do not realise the economy of pastures for pigs, nor do they know the importance of having range of sufficient extent and variety for their herds. Perhaps a principal cause for this condition is found in the former cost of fencing. This has bee'n largely overcome within a few years by improvements in the forms and reducing the cost of suit-able-fences, and can hardly be said now to be an obstacle to the intelligent breeder. It is* frequently said that the bull is half the dairy herd. With equal truthfulness it can be said that the boar is half the pig herd. We may select a sow, and she may prove to be a disappointment. Often it is so when a farmer first begins to go in for a system of breeding and selection,, not knowing the heredity of former ancestors. You must have good stock to begin with. Unless you have a good sow there will always be trouble. The evil rsults of an inferior boar can be seen i"a tho lirst litter, and at once this class of animal should be got rid of. Much of the success of a boar depends in addition to his breeding upon the feed and care that have been given to him while you'ng.