68 SUCCESSFUL FARMING 



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obviously may well keep more old sows proportionately than does the 

 market man. 



In the selection of individual sows for the herd it is well that they show: 



1. Trueness to the particular type and breed wished, having a desi- 

 rable ancestry and being preferably from a prolific, tested family. 



2. A well-formed udder with active teats and no blind ones. 



3. Feminine characteristics of refinement. 



4. Roominess and capacity. 



5. A kindly disposition. 



6. Good breeding record as manifested in their offspring. 



7. Absence of overfatness and flabbiness. 



8. A good, healthy constitution free from vermin and diseases. 



The boar should possess most of these general requirements, emphasis 

 being placed upon his masculinity as indicated in the well-developed 

 crest, shield, tusks and general ruggedness. A mature, tried boar is more 

 acceptable than an immature, untried one. 



Housing. In the housing of swine emphasis should be placed upon 

 warmth, dryness, abundance of light and direct sunlight, shade, ventila- 

 tion, sanitation, safety, comfort, convenience, size, durability, low first 

 cost, minimum cost of maintenance and pleasing appearance of the struc- 

 ture to be used. This applies to the large centralized community or the 

 small movable individual type. 



The selection of a correct site for the location of the hog house is very 

 important. Emphasis should be placed upon the economy of labor and 

 time in management, drainage, exposure, slope, windbreaks, nearness to 

 pasture and shade, elevation, prevention of odors reaching home dwelling 

 and risk from disease infection. To place any hog house in an undesirable, 

 ill-adapted place is to invite loss, dissatisfaction and possible failure. 



The large community house as compared with the small movable 

 one has some advantages in that the time and labor required for some 

 operations is less; durability is usually greater; lighting from direct and 

 diffuse sunlight better arranged; ventilation made more simple and 

 systematic; general equipment usually less and more compactly arranged; 

 close attention to the herd easily and practically possible; herdsman 

 experiences minimum of exposure; feed storage, water supply and general 

 rooms may be conveniently arranged; sanitation in some respects may 

 be more encouraged; vermin more largely eliminated; site selection is 

 simplified because only one site is needed; the heating problem is compara- 

 tively easy; common feeding floor and water wallow may be more handily 

 arranged ; danger of loss less than with large number of houses in common 

 yards; provides headquarters for the swine farm; fire and other risk may 

 be minimized through masonry construction; a number of swine under 

 one cover become better acquainted; makes possible adjustable pens; 

 facilitates collection of liquid manure; and advertising value may be 

 greater. 



