DEVELOPMENT 



275 



safe to conclude that under certain conditions premature 

 breeding results in a permanent reduction in the normal 

 size of the mother. Young sows which have been bred 

 at~the beginning of puberty and twice a year thereafter 

 until full maturity have in every case been smaller at 

 maturity than sows in the half mature and mature groups. 



RETARDATION OF GROWTH DUE TO PREMATURE BRE-EDING 

 OF Sows 



Measurements taken at 42 months of age 



In the above table are recorded the more important 

 measurements of a typical representative of each of the 

 three groups. It will be observed that at forty-two months 

 of age the immature sow was materially smaller m length 

 of body, height at withers, depth of chest, and in heart 

 girth. At this age (three-and-one-half years) the young 

 sow had produced thirty-nine pigs in five litters, the half 

 mature sow sixteen pigs in two litters, and the mature 

 sow eight pigs in one litter. But one conclusion is possible 



1 Has produced 5 litters and a total of 39 pigs. 



2 Has produced 2 litters and a total of 16 pigs. 



3 Has produced 1 litter and a total of 8 pigs. 



