The Large White Yorkshire Pig. 47 



The following are weights and measurements of well grown 

 specimens of Large White pigs : — 



Boars Height at Shoulder Length Weight 



50 in. 3 cwt. 



55 „ ■. 4i „ 



62 „ . 5 



72 „ 6| „ 



78 „ . 9i „ 



55 in. . 5 cwt. 

 72 „ 6| „ 



74 „ . 9i „ 



The length was taken from between the ears to root of tail. 

 The girth may be taken in well fed specimens to be the same as 

 the above lengths. 



Management. With regard to the age at which young sows 

 should be mated, no hard and fast rule can be laid down, as 

 there are so many points which have to be taken into considera- 

 tion. Large White breeders are, however, relieved of one 

 difficulty that attends many of the other breeds, viz., the fear 

 that if the young sows be left to grow and not served early they 

 will run to fat, in which case di£Rculty might arise in gett>ing 

 them to breed. Large White pigs of the correct type, however, 

 will continue to grow and not run to fat unless unduly forced. 

 In determining when gilts or young sows are to be served, 

 special care should be taken to mate them if possible to farrow 

 down at a favourable time of the year, when warm climatic 

 conditions will assist them to finish off their litters well with as 

 little tax on themselves as possible. The young sow should be 

 spared the necessity of producing the extra quantity of milk 

 that the young pigs would demand in cold weather, which, if 

 she be unable to provide, would prevent the litter growing as 

 fast as they might do. The best age to mate young gilts is at 

 about ten or eleven months, or even a month or so older, unless 

 they are particularly forward, so that the animal has plenty of 

 time to grow, and consequently is sufficiently strong to stand 

 the strain of her first litter without being pulled to pieces. 

 With the first litter it is advisable to keep the young pigs on the 

 gilt until they are twelve weeks old, taking them away during 

 the day ; by this arrangement the gilt will not come in season, 

 and so will have a good rest before her system is called upon to 

 produce a second litter. It is most necessary to nurse the 

 young sows during the early part of their life, and remembering 

 that they will have to carry on the reputation of the herd for 

 some six or seven years or more, it is not much to ask the in- 

 dulgence of a few months at the comm-encement of their 

 breeding careei-. 



