REPORT ON SWINE. 17 



but not too long, straight on the back or slightly arclied 

 (never hollow), small bone in proportion to the flesh, short 

 leg and small feet, small head with wide heavy chaps, short 

 nose, broad between the eyes, small thin ear, body neither 

 too light or heavy coated with hair. lie should be selected 

 from a family that shows unifoi'm good qualities. Those 

 which run even, look alike, well marked, etc., are the ones 

 to select from, every thing else being equal. 



SELECTION AND MANAGEMENT OF BREEDING-SOWS. 



In selecting sows with a view to breeding, choose those 

 that are long and rangy, what might be called rather coarse 

 for the breed, rather than those fine-drawn, compact, chubby 

 ones. Look to tlie male for the fine point rather than to the 

 sow, if even, well-bred pigs are desired. Even with the best 

 of management, there is considerable liability of loss in get- 

 ting a litter of pigs through the first two weeks of their lives. 

 The tendency of the sow to devour her young is usually the 

 result of costiveness and its accompanying evils. Breeding- 

 sows need exercise, and plenty of green food, if in its season : 

 if not, feed plenty of coarse bran and roots, but little, if any, 

 meal. The fact is we consider corn the least desirable food 

 that can be fed to a sow in farrow, for tiie reason that it 

 causes her whole system to become feverish and inflamed. 

 If a clear grain diet must be fed, we know of nothing as safe 

 as oats. They are less heating than most other grains, and 

 the thick skins cause a hea,lthful distension of the bowels. 

 Their food, if possible, should be varied, and abundant 

 enough to keep them thriving, yet not sufficient to fatten 

 them. An occasional dose of sulphur in their food, as well 

 as charcoal, a supply of which should be constantly at hand, 

 should be given twice a week. It promotes their health by 

 helping digestion, improving their appetite, etc. They should 

 have access to pure water, and the feed should be occasion- 

 ally salted. The good luck which some farmers almost invari 

 ably have in raising pigs is the result of good management. 

 If a breeding-sow is properly fed, kindly treated, and petted, 

 she seldom disappoints her owner. Unless one has a suitable 

 place where the sow and pigs will not suffer from the effects 

 of the usually severe cold at that time, we do not believe in 

 having our sows drop their litters in mid-winter. 



