ater labour on its digestive organs which have neither the time nor
power to extract the whole of the nutriment from the bran. In addition
to this, bran tends to too great looseness of the bowels, which in the
case of young pigs tends to become diarrh[oe]a.

There is a tendency on the part of some pigmen who are over anxious to
succeed to feed the sow too large a quantity of food during the first
ten days or so after she has farrowed. During this period the demand on
the sow is really not much greater than it was during the last two or
three weeks of carrying the pigs. As the pigs grow older an increased
supply of food is necessary, but for a week or two after the arrival of
the pigs twice feeding of the sow should suffice unless she is very low
in condition, or a very large litter of pigs is left on her. In such
cases it may be advisable to feed her three times per day just as much
as she will promptly clear up. It is a great mistake to give so much
food at one time that a portion is left over in the trough,
particularly is this so when the pigs are over three weeks old, as
nothing so quickly upsets the stomachs of the youngsters as sour food.
If in ordinary cases feeding the sow three times daily is persisted in,
the same quantity of food given should simply be distributed over the
three feedings, as an excess of food is only less a mistake than
underfeeding.

Three of the most common troubles with young pigs are diarrh[oe]a, fits,
and loss of the tail. There is a belief amongst many old pigmen that
every litter of pigs is bound to have at least one attack of diarrh[oe]a
ere it is weaned. They look upon it as a fatality which is certain to
eventuate, no matter what steps may be taken. Of course, this is folly.
The liability of little pigs to an attack of what is commonly called
scouring is great as the causes are several, amongst them the greatest
is perhaps a chill which may arise from draughts owing to faulty
construction of the sty doors or ventilators neglected; insufficient,
unsuitable, or damp bedding; neglect of proper sanitation, or the
frequent cleaning out of the sty; and most frequently of all from
injudicious feeding of the sow. In fact, anything which affects the
health of the young pig to any great extent appears to result in
indigestion, which causes constipation, and this in turn nature
endeavours to remove by a special effort which softens the faeces
somewhat. On removal of the cause of the constipat