240 lOAVA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The main object of the first five to seven months of the pig's age 

 should be to promote bone and muscle growth. Whether the pigs be 

 intended for market or for breeding stock, this will be found the most 

 profitable method. 



In the selection of the herd boar we wish to impress the buyer of the 

 importance of early selection. Go to the breeder and make personal selec- 

 tion if possible. The boar should be obtained at least two months before 

 he will be needed. Select a vigorous, healthy, well developed pig with 

 every evidence of a good feeder and with the proper markings of the breed 

 represented. Don't buy a boar just because he has a fine heart girth or 

 perhaps has a fine ear, good bone and a good back or fine hams, but bear 

 in mind that it is a combination of these good points that produce the pig 

 that we want. We note the tendency of breeders to suddenly discover some 

 weak point in their breed, and in their zeal to remedy this, neglect or lose 

 sight of other just as essential points. Thus we have noted buyers in ob- 

 taining a sire that is extra strong in heart girth, and as he is aware that 

 the breed at that time is deficient in this point he will buy the pig, whether 

 he be good in other points or not. Thus the first thing we know we have a 

 breed shaped like a wedge, this defect apparently being as suddenly discov- 

 ered, and we all go after the other end of the pig. The point we wish to 

 convey is: "Don't go to too great extremes in correcting deficient points 

 in your pigs; thus, if your sows be too fine boned and you would have an 

 extra large boned coarse sire, the chances are good that you would have 

 as a result of this cross a very un-uniform lot of pigs. 



Select a sire with good breeding, but require that he show evidence of 

 this good breeding in his makeup. While we advise against placing too 

 much dependence upon ancestry or the price that the sire or dam is sold 

 for in your selection of the worth of a pig, we in nowise advise against 

 the buyer considering the value of good breeding in ancestry; we must 

 remember that the best of breeding does not always produce pigs suitable 

 for breeding purposes. In the care of the sire place him by himself, away 

 from your other pigs, if possible. If in doing this you find him inclined 

 to be lazy and not take enough exercise, and with insufficient appetite, we 

 would place a couple of small barrows in the lot with him. Feed liberally 

 with an abundance of protein feeds, inducing growth, vigor and muscle 

 building. Never turn him in with your sows. Don't abuse him; keep him 

 gentle. When you get a good one don't sell him on the market and buy 

 a new one every year. This we consider a great mistake and one that is 

 very commonly practiced by the farmers in this State. In buying your 

 herd boar remember that the sire is half of your herd, and don't let fifteen 

 or twenty dollars prevent you from obtaining a good one. 



No discussion followed the reading of Mr. Henderson's paper, 

 Mr. Atkinson read the following paper: 



