16 17 www.SmallFarmCanada.ca February 2026 The following suggestions are not the only way to do it but have worked for us for over 60 years. We keep 15 pure-bred sows at our farm. A BIT ON BREEDING When breeding time is close, we keep the boar separate. This helps to maintain stimulation as well as monitor breeding. Knowing the breeding date is important. • Use the second heat-cycle in a gilt’s life to begin breeding. • Breed back three to six days after weaning for gilts and sows. FARROWING NUMBERS A successful outcome starts with knowing when each sow is bred and doing the math. Don’t leave it all to Mother Nature. As they say, “You can’t bring in the numbers if you don’t know when she is due.” Farrowing outside in the woods, down by the swamp or slough doesn’t cut it. You won’t know how many were born, if she ate some or left some to die in the cold or wet. But I am getting ahead of myself. Proper nutrition for the breeding herd will increase conception and farrowing rates. Cut back the sow’s feed a few days before her due date to allow room for farrowing. Substituting about 50 per cent of her regular ration with bran mixed with warm water will also help move things along. Continue giving warm water when she farrows to help release of the placenta. CREEP AREA We screw a board across the bottom gap of the creep area and farrowing pen for the first two to three days and nights and monitor when the piglets feed. They are not physiologically mature enough to understand how to get out of the way when Mom lies down. A three to four hour feeding schedule also allows the sow time to recuperate. A few sleepless days (two to three) and nights (two to three) are to observe and make sure that the piglets feed every three to four hours. This will help them gain precious immunity from the sow plus nutrition. Shoo the piglets back under the light/heat source when they have finished feeding and refasten the board again. This blocks them from potential damage/death from their mother during this vulnerable time. The board helps keep the piglets inside the creep area after nursing and encourages sleep and rest. Secure the board well to prevent the sow from displacing it. This will cost you a couple of sleepless nights but will be well worth it. Seriously, the sow has done all the work for the past four months, now it’s your time to honour her and take the piglets that she has delivered and nurture them into market or mature pigs. Compost pile piglet burials can be averted. FARROWING PEN The farrowing pen should have squeeze or rollbars down the sides about eight to ten inches off the ground and eight to ten inches from the wall. A larger older sow will be less agile resulting in more potential piglet deaths. Roll bars give the piglet a place to escape mom’s sheer size. Farrowing crates or pens aren’t such a bad thing for mother and babies for the first two weeks. The Canada Ag Museum in Ottawa has a humanely designed farrowing crate that Mom can turn around in. Worth a look. HEAT SOURCES Heat lamps provide a warm and secure area for baby piglets and develops their habit of being away from the risk of the mother walking or rolling onto the babies. This is especially prone to happen in cool weather. The heat lamps and heat lamp guard need to be very secure to avoid the risk of fire. The piglets start to play-fight quite early on and accidents can happen. For safety we thread the electric cord through a piece of light chain, then screw the chain to a horizontal piece of 2” X 2” at a safe height above the creep area. In cold weather we also place boards across the top of the pen, above the heat-lamp area to push the heat back down. In fact, you can cover most of the THE OBJECTIVE: TO RAISE AND WEAN ALL BORN-ALIVE BABY PIGS ARTICLE AND PHOTO BY ELWOOD QUINN, QUINN FARM Call: 1-866-260-7985 x252 or mail your order to: 90 Woodlawn Road West, Guelph, ON N1H 1B2 Name: Tel: Address: City: Prov: PC: Payment: Cheque Visa MasterCard AMEX Card #: Exp: V-code: Name on Card (print): Signature: 3 digits on back of card How to calculate total: Total cost of books + shipping. Add 5% GST to total Please note prices & availability are subject to change without notice. $ ________ + $8 flat rate shipping = $ ________ FLAT RATE $8 SHIPPING $ Total $ ________ + 5% GST = Farm Fresh Reads for the New Year! Microbe Science for Gardeners Secrets to better plant health Robert Pavlis $24.99 | 192 pages Go beyond soil biology to examine the crucial role of microorganisms in cultivating a productive garden. The Elderberry Book Forage, cultivate, prepare, preserve John Moody $29.99 | 128 pages No matter where you are, one of humankind’s oldest plant friends can provide you with anything from syrup, to wine, to dyes, to so much more. The Complete Guide to Seed and Nut Oils Growing, foraging, and pressing Bevin Cohen $34.99 | 144 pages A comprehensive, beautifully illustrated and photographed, full-colour guide to producing high-quality oils for culinary and other uses. The Garden Tool Handbook For serious gardeners to small-scale farmers Zach Loeks $44.99 | 240 pages Covers must-have equipment, supplies, and techniques for every task from planting to harvest for farms, homesteads, or market gardens. Wild Plant Culture A guide to restoring edible and medicinal native plant communities Jared Rosenbaum $44.99 | 296 pages With detailed profiles of 209 native plants and their uses, this is an essential toolkit for gardeners, farmers, and ecological restoration practitioners. Root Vegetables A grower’s guide Jean-Martin Fortier $24.99 | 128 pages Profiles of 20 nutritious and versatile crops, with practical advice on growing each and optimizing harvest and storage to preserve flavour and nutrition. The Ethical Meat Handbook, 2nd edition From sourcing to butchery, mindful meat eating for the modern omnivore Meredith Leigh $44.99 | 320 pages This new edition covers step-by- step color photos for beef, pork, lamb, and poultry butchery & 100+ recipes for whole-animal cooking. DIY Sourdough The beginner’s guide to crafting starters, bread, snacks, and more John & Jessica Moody $29.99 | 104 pages Enjoy delicious, nutritious sourdough family favorites such as English muffins and cinnamon raisin bread right in the comfort of your own home. Microfarms Organic market gardening on a human scale Jean-Martin Fortier, Aurélie Sécheret $39.99 | 160 pages A full-colour guide to setting up and running small-scale vegetable farms using organic, low-tech, and highly intensive production methods. Feed Us with Trees Nuts and the future of food Elspeth Hay $29.99 | 288 pages A hopeful manifesto about a new and ancient food system centered on our keystone perennial nut trees: oaks, chestnuts, and hazelnuts. Soil Science for Gardeners Working with nature to build soil health Robert Pavlis $24.99 | 224 pages An accessible, science-based guide to understanding soil fertility and the rhizosphere - the thin layer of liquid and soil surrounding plant roots, so vital to plant health. Pawpaws The complete growing and marketing guide Blake Cothron $34.99 | 248 pages Get ahead of the farming curve, diversify your orchard or food forest, and discover the potential of North America’s almost forgotten native fruit. FARMER PROFILE: ELWOOD QUINN
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