SWINE. 383 



nature; while the pigs, by the extra feed given them, make a corresponding rapid growth, 

 and that at a comparatively small cost. 



Young sows brought up in the manner suggested, and thus cared for with their first lit 

 ters, may be depended on to do as well, or better, with their next, provided they have any 

 thing like fair treatment. In case, however, a sow fails to prove herself a good milker, after 

 a fair trial, she should be replaced by one of better promise, unless, for some special purpose, 

 it is thought best to retain her.&quot; 



The sow should always be gently and kindly treated, and especially during the period of 

 pregnancy. Such sows can always be more easily managed and cared for at the time of 

 farrowing. 



Age for Breeding SwinCt It is not only highly important that the boar should be 

 a pure-bred animal, and that both male and female be the best representatives of the breed 

 to which they belong, but that they should be allowed to attain a suitable age before being 

 used for this purpose. Many farmers make a grave mistake by permitting animals to breed 

 before they have become fully developed. By so doing, good results cannot be obtained, for 

 half-grown parents cannot, in the nature of things, produce large, strong, and vigorous 

 offspring. Pigs from full-grown and strong parents will, with the same care and food, pro 

 duce a larger amount of pork than those from immature ancestors, since they will be larger, 

 more vigorous, and take on flesh more rapidly. If, while growing, the sow is obliged to 

 yield much of her strength and vitality to the production of her offspring, her growth must 

 of necessity be checked, while she will be unable to impart that vigor of constitution, and a 

 tendency to rapid growth to her young, that she would if fully matured before breeding. 



Weakness will result as a natural consequence in breeding from immature parents, and 

 weakness in the parents denotes still greater weakness in the progeny, and consequently 

 degeneracy. We believe it is better for sows not to have pigs until they are fourteen or 

 sixteen months old, than much earlier, although some breeds mature much earlier than 

 others. 



If the boar should be kept until he is a year old before being put to service, and allowed 

 to serve but a limited number until he is a year and a half old, his offspring will be much 

 stronger than if he had been used for this purpose younger. 



A boar may be kept for breeding until he is five or six years old. He will, however, 

 get much better pigs after he is two years old than before that age. Boars are frequently 

 .apt to get cross as they grow older; in such cases they should be castrated and fattened. A 

 sow will remain prolific until she is seven or eight years old. Old sows will, as a general 

 rule, bear stronger and better pigs than young ones, and will take better care of them, and 

 have a better supply of milk. When once a good breeding sow is obtained, proving a good 

 mother, she should be retained as long as possible for breeding purposes, as young sows are 

 apt to be poor mothers. The practice with many farmers of discarding the old sows and 

 supplying their places from the young litters is very unwise, providing the old ones are of 

 equal merit. Young sows, however, should be well fed before being bred, in order to bring 

 as strong and vigorous pigs as possible. 



Period of Gestation ill SOWS. The period of gestation in sows is from a hundred 

 to a hundred and twelve days. There is a variation sometimes of from twenty to thirty 

 days, but this is the exception. Young or weak sows will generally carry their young a 

 shorter time than older and stronger ones. The best time for spring pigs to come is in 

 April, and fall pigs in September. Where two litters are raised from a sow during the year, 

 the first litter should come as early as March, so that the next litter may come early enough 

 in the autumn for the pigs to be weaned before cold weather sets in. The sow should be 

 kindly treated while carrying her pigs. It is well for the breeder to always keep a memo- 



VOL. II. 22 



