HOUSING 
333 
unusual amount of mineral matter. Pigs naturally root in the 
ground and get minerals which the farmer needs to supply under 
domestication. Several materials may be mixed together and used 
for this purpose: Wood ashes, coal ashes, coal dust, charcoal, salt, 
saltpetre, sulfur, copperas, lime dust, and rock phosphate dust. 
A few or all of these materials may be mixed together and placed 
in a suitable feeding hopper or in a pit where swine have constant 
access to it. Do not mix these minerals with grain or 
other feed for swine. Farmers often gather corn-cobs 
in pits and char them for this purpose. 
Mineral elements are needed in the body for 
growth of bones, for the formation of blood, for the 
supply of minerals in lean meat and to aid in the 
proper secretion of digestive fluids. Sows with young 
pigs are less likely to form pig-eating habits. 
Feeding at Farrowing Time.—Special feeds for 
sows should be supplied as farrowing time approaches, 
Varm bran mashes are good if the winter is cold. 
Thin mashes made from mill feeds mixed 
with skimmilk should constitute the chief 
ration before and after farrowing. For very 
heavy or fleshy sows supply laxative feeds. 
such as mashes containing linseed meal. 
Fic. 226.—Guard rail for farrowing Housin g.—TFor late fall, 
Jr; iehf facies wide £0 “init nies winter, or late spring litters pro- 
(Day's Productive Swine Husbandry.) vide comfortable housing quarters. 
Saving of young pigs from death will soon pay for good 
quarters. The house need not be expensive. The floor, if made 
of concrete, should be well insulated with an under layer of tar 
or tar paper so that the top will be warmed by the sow’s body. 
Sometimes temporary platforms are laid over cold concrete floors. 
Bedding must not be too abundant for fear of pigs being mashed 
by their mothers. It should be changed often to keep it dry. 
Around the sides of farrow pens provide a shelf or rail for pigs 
to slip under and avoid being mashed by their mothers. (Fig. 
226.) Each sow and litter should have a space in the house about 
eight by eight feet. When permanent houses are built place them 
where drainage is good, where summer sun may enter and where 
shade can be provided in summer. A good wind break as a fence 
or line of evergreen trees on the west and north sides should be 
provided if possible. 
- 
-