48 The Large White Yorkshire Pig. 



For a first litter, eight to ten pigs is plenty for a young sow 

 to rear. After that, whilst there is no necessity to restrict the 

 numbers for the sow's sake, it is doubtful policj^ in the long run 

 to struggle with a few weak pigs when the rest of a large litter 

 are strong. It is questionable at any time if rearing the 

 weeds of a litter pays, unless the sow is an exceptionally 

 good one. 



In the case of show sows great pains should be taken to 

 prevent the last pair of teats being appropriated by any of the 

 young pigs, if the teats are drawn by occasionally holding the 

 weakest pigs of the litter, who have already appropriated a 

 teat, for the first day or two, till the supply of milk in these 

 teats gradually decreases, the shape of the sows' underline will 

 be preserved, and this in many cases would be completely 

 spoilt if the pigs were allowed to suck them. This point is 

 mentioned as so many good Large White sows are spoilt by 

 neglect during the first few days after farrowing. 



Large White pigs are great grazers and too much outdoor 

 life cannot be given them, even when only a few days old. 

 Provided the weather is dry, they should be got out if only 

 for a short time, but when a few months old, unless it is 

 teeming with rain or a hard frost, the pigs should always be 

 out. The danger from frost is not so much the cold, but the 

 fear that the pig will slip and break a leg. There is generally 

 no difficulty in arranging for the young gilts and old sows to 

 run out ; covered sheds with an open front in enclosed fields 

 are all that is necessary. The old sows should, of course, be 

 kept separate from the young gilts on account of the injuries 

 that the former might inflict on the latter, and for convenience 

 of feeding, as the young pigs will of course need better food to 

 grow them than the mature sows, who will do Avell with a 

 plentiful supply of clean fresh water, grass, and one feed per 

 day of Indian corn and peas thrown broadcast over the field ; 

 every grain of these the pigs will pick up and get healthful 

 exercise in the search. 



With properly fixed rings in their snouts little damage will 

 be done to the field. In hot summer weather it is most desirable 

 that the pigs' fields should have as much shelter from sun as 

 possible, otherwise their skins will get red and hard, and it 

 will take some months to get them into sale or show- form 

 after they have got into such a condition. 



It is hardly necessary to mention that the sows should be 

 taken away from the others some little time before they are 

 due to farrow, and placed in the stye in which they are to pig, 

 but they should have the opportunity of exercising themselves 

 in a small paddock, and not suddenly have to change their 

 mode of living at such a critical time. 



