THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



203 



HOW MANY LITTERS WILL THE SOW PRODUCE IN A YEAR? 



W'e have no domestic animal of value to equal the sow 

 as a breeder : her fecundity is astonishing. " Instances 

 are recorded of a sow which, in twenty litters, produced 

 the extraordinary number of 355 pigs ; as well as of 

 another having farrowed thirty-seven at one birth, and 

 from fifteen to twenty are not uncommon," but about 

 half that number after the first litter is more usual. 

 The general average of litters raised would vary from 

 six to nine, and if more than nine are attempted there 

 will generally be some weakly ones which cannot be 

 profitably reared. The sow will readily breed twice in 

 the year : her period of gestation is about 120 days. 

 Occasionally she may produce three litters in one year, 

 or five litters in two years. Taking these litters to 

 average eight pigs each, she produces forty pigs in two 

 years ; but taking her progeny into account, and sup- 

 posing her to produce ten breeding sows the first year 

 and ten the second year, and, further, taking her to con- 

 tinue in this prolific course for six years, the time ex- 

 perience has determined that her breeding should ter- 

 minate, what a vast progeny has proceeded from her in 

 successive generations ! How many in number I shall 

 leave the curious to cast out ; sufficient is it for my 

 purpose to show with what amazing facility a breed of 

 pigs may be propagated. I am aware that this is a very 

 high estimate of the breeding capabilities of the sow. 

 Let it suffice, then, that she breeds twice in the year, and 

 that she rears eight pigs of each litter, which is not an 

 extravagant estimate, it is in this way marvellous how 

 soon a large herd of swine may be secured by making 

 breeders of all the healthy and likely sows. 



Let us try a statement of the case. The first litter 

 to be half sows capable of breeding : this will be four. 

 These at the age of fifteen months will each produce a 

 litter, say of eight : the half these again at fifteen months 

 each bring forth eight ; thus we have sixteen young 

 sows, producing eight each, besides those of the second 

 and subsequent litters of the first sow, and the success- 

 ive progeny of the four next in order ; and this course 

 being pursued, as I have said, till the first sow has done 

 breeding at six years, and what an immense number would 

 be propagated ! the one-half (sows) being in continued 

 course of breeding, the hog pigs being fattened off at 

 about fifteen months each. Now, if I allow amply for 

 casualties, I think it will be found that we have fattened 

 off upwards of 70,000 pigs, which I shall estimate to 

 weigh about 2 cwt. (of 16 stones) each, i, e., 140,000 

 cwts. of pork at 50s. per cwt. £350,000, and we re- 

 tain besides 70,000 breeding sows. I think, then, I am 

 right in asserting, that no animal of the farm can at all 

 compare with the sow as a breeder ; for mark, all this 

 immense produce may be made to come from one sow 

 in the course of seven short years, and no animal can 

 probably compare with her in respect to profit. (The 

 sum total without casualties would reach 172,442 pigs.) 

 My object in making this rather singular statement is to 

 call more general attention to the breeding and manage- 

 ment of pigs as the best means of providing a cheap, 

 good, and economical food for a vastly increasing popu- 

 lation. I again repeat, that something must be done 

 to restore our agriculturists to their proper position in 

 the country, of which the low price of grain has deprived 

 them ; and this, I venture to say, is one of the many 

 schemes which may be adopted, the low price of grain 

 itself being one of the inducements to enter upon 

 it more extensively. I am not wild enough to imagine 

 that every female of every litter is to be kept for pur- 



poses of breeding : this is by no means necessary ; but it 

 is necessary that more be kept, and of the best character 

 too. 'Tis always best to breed from good stocks. The 

 breed of pigs is on all hands surprisingly improved, so 

 that it would now be absolute folly to breed from in- 

 ferior herds. Prolific breeders, and quick growers and 

 feeders should beuniversally sought for. Eaily maturity 

 in a pig is as valuable in the sort as in any other animal, 

 if not more so, as it is of great importance that they be 

 kept progressing from the litter to the butchers' knife. 



The pig is, of all animals, the least dainty; he 

 will feed and thrive upon almost any kind of food, 

 which makes him invaluable on most farms, as the re- 

 fuse of every kind goes to " poor piggy's " share. He 

 is to be found in every condition of life, from the poor 

 man's sty to the nobleman's splendid piggery. Every 

 one keeps the pig who can do so ; every body consumes 

 his flesh ; and the great bulk of the labouring classes, 

 the agricultural classes more particularly, eat very little 

 other meat. It is highly prized by all classes, and the 

 more there is provided at a cheap rate, the greater will 

 be the consumption. 



It is not my intention at this time to go into the sub- 

 ject of " the breeding and management of pigs," but 

 at a fitting time shall have pleasure in doing so ; my 

 wish is, that many of my readers will kindly favour the 

 public, through the pages of the Mark Lane Express, 

 with any facts of prolific breeding, profitable manage- 

 ment, early maturity, excessive weight in a specified 

 time, or any other matter of interest relative to the pig, 

 which may tend to ^ake him more popular and of 

 greater utility to the public than he now is. I think, 

 also, that if our friends would give their views upon the 

 best means to be adopted for extending the breeding and 

 feeding, as also of the best management in every stage 

 of their growth, it would be exceedingly useful. 



We live in progressive times. The breeding and 

 management of pigs has partaken of the onward move- 

 ment. We require the best information on every point : 

 What is the best time for the sow to bring forth her 

 first litter ? What length of time ought they to remaia 

 with the sow ? At what age should the castrating and 

 spaying take place? How long are the parts healing ? 

 What is the best age and the best time to effect the 

 most profitable sale ? At what age should the stores 

 remaining be put up to fatten ? What is the best and 

 most economical food to give them 7 Which is the best 

 time for feeding, and how frequently in the day ? 

 Which is the best kind of meat to make of them — pork 

 or bacon ? Should this depend upon the variety of pig 

 fatted — i. e,, the large or small breed ? or should it 

 mainly depend upon the particular locality in which 

 they are fed, the inhabitants of some districts con- 

 suming pork, others bacon, according to custom ? Will 

 they feed best separately, or with others in the sty ? 

 Will pulped roots and meal, or boiled roots and meal, 

 fatten them most satisfactorily ? Are any of the new 

 quack foods of real value in fattening them ? How 

 long a time can the pig be profitably fattening ? These 

 and many other questions suggest themselves, which I 

 trust my readers will kindly take up and answer as 

 soon as possible. It is only in this way that progress of 

 an extensive character can be made ; and it is in the 

 diffusion of such practical knowledge that attention is 

 aroused, and the best courses of management are sought 

 for and obtained. It is, I think, manifest, even from this 

 short paper, that much remains to be done to provide 



