Care of the Farm Sow - With Information on Farrowing, Parturition, Feeding and Taking Care of Female Pigs

By Read Books Ltd.

This volume contains a collection of articles on pig-keeping, with information on farrowing, parturition, feeding, breeding, taking care of female pigs, and much more besides. Including a wealth of information fundamental to the successful keeping of pigs, this volume will be of considerable value to the novice pig farmer, and will also appeal to existing farmers looking to improve their farming practice. Although old, much of the information contained herein is timeless, and will be of as much use to the modern reader as it was when these works were originally published. The articles of this book include: 'Pigs and Their Management'; 'How to Treat Pig Ailments'; 'Pig Keeping that Pays - A Practical Handbook to the Profitable Breeding and Management of the Pig'; 'The Book of the Pig - Its Selection, Breeding, Feeding, and Management'... and more. We are proudly publishing this vintage text, now complete with a specially-commissioned introduction on pig farming.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Read Books Ltd.
• Release date: Sep 27, 2016
• ISBN: 9781473354692

Book preview

The Sow.

The selection of the sow for breeding purposes, whether it be for raising stud pigs, porkers, or baconers, demands careful study and keen judgment. It is considered that the sow furnishes the internal organisation, on which depends digestion, and the progeny’s capacity to fatten, as well as breeding qualities. Where the breeder eaters for the supply of meat to the butcher, the market demands, with all their profitable attractions, must be steadily kept in view. Definite characteristics are sought for, such as early maturity, length in frame, broad and well let-down hams, vigorous and robust habits, when rearing pigs for slaughter; whereas the conditions essential for breeding animals intended for stud purposes are more complex, and entail a wider range of attention.

The young sow, before she has had a litter, is known as a yelt. When establishing a pig-farm, it is best to purchase yelts before they fully mature, and when in moderate store condition. Each yelt should be selected from a litter noted for activity, vigour, even make, and great vitality. She should be compact, though roomy, with long quarters, broad loins, a good girth, a strong back slightly arched, and fine short legs. She should possess a kindly disposition, docile temperament, be cleanly in habit, and have well-formed udders—twelve or fourteen teats should be clear and distinct, well-developed, and placed equi-distant. She should be narrow at the top of the shoulder, and light in the second thighs. Sows with wide-topped shoulders and short necks rarely turn out good sucklers. A poor suckler is invariably a slow breeder.

It is as well to reject sows that show a tendency to fatten. In all breeds, especially those distinguished for fattening quickly, the vitality and strength of the yelt is heavily taxed in making rapid and vigorous growth, and to impose upon the animal at the same time the additional burden of producing young, tends to make a failure of both. We need only contrast the litters from immature yelts with those from old sows. The latter are greater in number, twice the size, and more vigorous and thrifty.

Yelts should not be less than 10 months old before being sent to the boar. If maternity be forced on the yelt under this age, it may result in immature stock, and the litter few in number. A yelt in our warm climate will show evidence of sexual heat as early as five months. When she is desirous of the boar’s company she will exhibit some restlessness, and utter distinctive and peculiar cries or grunts; the sexual organs become enlarged the vulva protrudes, and is inflamed and swollen. In many cases she attracts attention by jumping on other sows’ backs. Some yelts, and even old sows, however, exhibit few, if any, of these signs to the practised eye. A yelt may obstinately refuse to be served, and in such case she must be sent to another boar.

Sexual heat, or œstrum, lasts about three days, and will recur every twenty-one days. Should the sow fail to give any signs she may be turned in to the boar, and he will soon find out. In some instances it is necessary to feed the animal on some stimulating food, such as barley, wheat, or maize, to induce œstrual heat.

It may not be suitable to breed from pure-bred sows. Good sows from the old original Berkshire breed, or the crosses, are more inclined to be coarser in character, but they are prolific, hardy, good mothers, and noted for converting their food into rich milk. The pure-bred sow’s milk is invariably richer in fat.

The first crosses—i.e., the progeny of pure-bred parents of different breeds—make excellent mothers. A fidgety, ill-tempered sow is not a success in rearing a litter.

It is most convenient at this stage to discuss the yelt; and having selected her in sound condition she may be put to the boar early in May, so as to farrow in August or September. She is put to the boar again in November. Early spring litters avoid the extremes of heat and cold at a critical period of their growth, and are readily weaned in six to eight weeks.

Some skill and judgment should be brought to bear in the matter of mating. Where possible, select one animal with superabundant qualities that are deficient in the other so that these may best ened or obliterated in the progeny. After the yelt is stinted, mated, or served, she should be turned into a well-grassed paddock with access to an ample supply of good water. Shade and protection from harsh winds, rain, or the extremes of heat and cold should be available. It is unwise to provide food too easily reached. The aim is to keep the animal in a sturdy and healthy condition by forcing her daily to get enough exercise in search of food. Mixed native grasses, Paspalum dilatatum, prairie grass, rye, cocksfoot, couch. sheep’s burnet, lucerne, or clover are all serviceable,