"As the breeding of pigs is a business that affords the farmer a
considerable profit and advantage in various views, it is of essential
importance that he be provided with suitable kinds of food in abundance
for their support. Upon this being properly and effectually done, his
success and advantage will in a great measure depend. The crops capable
of being cultivated with the most benefit in this intention are, beans,
peas, barley, buckwheat, Indian corn, potatoes, carrots, parsnips,
Swedish turnips, cabbages, &c.
"The sows considerably advanced in pig, and those with pigs, should be
fed in a better manner than the stone pigs. The former should be
supplied with boiled meal, potatoes, carrots, &c., so as to keep them in
good condition. The sows with pigs should be kept with the litters in
separate sties, and be still better fed than those with pig. When
dairying is practised, the wash of that kind which has been preserved
for that purpose while the dairying was profitable, must be given them,
with food of the root kind, such as carrots, parsnips, &c., in as large
proportions as they will need to keep them in condition."
Pea-soup is an admirable article when given in this intention; it is
prepared by boiling six pecks of peas in about sixty gallons of water,
till they are well broken down and diffused in the fluid: it is then put
into a tub or cistern for use. When dry food is given in combination
with this, or of itself, the above writer advises oats, as being much
better than any other sort of grain for young pigs, barley not answering
nearly so well in this application. Oats coarsely ground have been found
very useful for young hogs, both in the form of wash with water, and
when made of a somewhat thicker consistence. But in cases where the sows
and pigs can be supported with dairy-wash and roots, as above, there
will be a considerable saving made, by avoiding the use of the expensive
articles of barley-meal, peas, or bran.
Mr. Donaldson remarks, that in the usual mode, the pigs reared by the
farmer are fed, for some weeks after they are weaned, on whey or
buttermilk, or on bran or barley-meal mixed with water. They are
afterwards maintained on other food, as potatoes, carrots, the refuse of
the garden, kitchen, scullery, &c., together with such additions as they
can pick up in the farmyard. Sometimes they are sent into the fields at
the close of harvest, where they make a comfortable living for several
weeks on the gleanings of the crop; at other times, when the farm is
situated in the neighborhood of woods or forests, they are sent thither
to pick up the beech-nuts and acorns in the fall of the year; and when
they have arrived at a proper age for fattening, they are either put
into sties fitted up for the purpose, or sold to distillers,
starch-makers, dairymen, or cottagers.
Nothing tends more effectually to preserve the health and promote the
growth of young pigs than the liberal use of hay tea. The tea should be
thickened with corn meal and shorts. This, given lukewarm, twice a day,
will quicken their growth, and give the meat a rich flavor. A few
parsnips[23] or carrots (boiled) may be made use of with much success.