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A STUDY OF FARM ANIMALS 



a strong jaw, prominent tusks, breadth of forehead, a strong 

 neck, and some thickness of shoulder. Most breeders also 

 prefer breeding stock which have very good length, and are 

 not too short and compact. More bone is looked for in the 

 boar than in the sow or fat hog. In fact, breeders rarely 

 criticise a boar for having too heavy bone. As has already 

 been brought out in the discussion of breeds, big-type hogs 

 have a strong arch of back and great length. A big-type 

 boar at 12 months of age, for example, often stands high, 

 is long, strongly arched of back, and appears short of rib for 

 his length. With maturity he fills out, however, so that he 

 really does not seem especially leggy after all. The same 



Figure 193. "The brood sow should show good size and length, and have 

 a strong, well-supported back." Photograph by the author. 



may be said for the big type sow at 12 to 18 months of age. 

 Irrespective of type, however, the brood sow should show 

 good size and length, and have a strong, well-supported back. 

 Depth and length are most valued qualities in her case, as 

 these indicate large reproductive capacity. Sows frequently 

 are too light in bone for their weight, and this defect should 

 be noted. The sow should be quiet, yet active, but not 

 nervous and excitable. An irritable sow is almost sure to 

 make a bad mother and one does the wise thing to dispose 

 of that kind, when such disposition is proven. 



