Village Squire, 1976-10, Page 12involved with a 'fine dust, making them look like abominable
snowmen. The corn has a fresh sweet smell when it's shovelled
out of the silo to feed over the winter. Other grains are also
ground and mixed with proteins and other nutrierits called
concentrates. Of this, the sows get a carefully measured portion,
short of levelling it off with a feather, while the feeder pigs
usually eat out of a continuous feed contraption called a hopper.
Sometimes a mash is fed which is half grain and half water.
Let stand overnight, it rises and terments slightly. The pigs do
well and I've yet to see one under the influence.
Feeder pigs are hogs, half male and half female. The male half
must be castrated unless they do duty as boars. And no, their
squeal does not get higher.
Castrating is one of the major chores on a pig farm and when
asked to help, I usually say, staring myopically at my right hand,
"My left hand is here, isn't it?" While castrating is being done,
it is best to stay out of the barn, or failing that, keep your eyes up
and straight ahead. The surgeons make a slit, pull out the
testicle, slit the cord and toss the testicle over their shoulder into
the passageway as delicacies for the dog and cats. Disinfectants
such as tincture of iodine, are used to prevent infection. The male
half of the race that have been castrated, sometimes called
barrows, usually gain weight faster than the female half.
Pigs are one trial -learners when it comes to food. 1 found this
out last summer. The feeding at the time was always done at
eight -thirty p.m. (Pigs like their meals regularly). The sows were
in the pasture and as soon as they heard the pigs inside the barn
snorting 'food,' they all crowded around the door making it
impossible to get through the door and to the trough unhasselled.
I never figured I could run fast enough carrying two five gallon
pails of feed to outrun twenty times two -hundred pounds of sow
chomping at my legs. So I decided I couldn't rush them. I could
sneak around the back via a different entrance and make a run for
the troughs. But I wasn't too sure of the results.
Aha, I thought, I'll outwit them. I'll feed them earlier. The next
day at five -thirty p.m., I caught ever sow but one sleeping in the
slough. By the time the others wisened up, she's gobbled
thirty-five percent of the food. The next night, I found to my
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ainfon
ORIGINAL
OLD MILL IN BLYTH
Olid In
WOOL
Lt*fhu
r wcn
Since 1894
Telephone
523-9666
at the Railway tracks
ANNUAL FACTORY OUTLET SALE
of Wool and Leather Goods
October 8 - December 31
at
BAINTON'S Original Old Mill in Blyth
Since 1894
IN THE AUTHENTIC OLD MILL YOU WILL FIND THE
LARGEST INVENTORY IN OUR HISTORY
Approximatelc $1 2,000 Leather and suede garments
Approximately 30,000 Pair of leather gloves and mitts
Approximately
Approximately
20,000 Blankets - many colours -
sizes
12,000 Pairs mens work sockasll - 100%
wool & wool blend
Approximately 20.000 Pairs leather moccasins for men,
women & children
Where Else Could You Find Such
a Choice?
All this is on Sale and is a Bargain -
see and compare
OUR QUALITY AND PRiCES ARE
INCOMPARABLE
"YOU MUST SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT!"
You will find more Relaxed shopping
Monday to Friday
STORE HOURS:
MONDAY TO THURSDAY 9 - 6
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY 9 - 9
SUNDAY 1 - 6