CHAPTER XXXV. 



FEEDING AND MANAGEMENT OF SWINE — EFFECT OF FEED ON 

 THE OAECASS OF THE PIG. 



I. Feeding arid Management. 



910. Breeding stock. — In the successful management of breed- 

 ing stock the prime requisite is ample pasture, that the animals 

 may be maintained in the open air and sunshine, away from pens 

 and yards, during as large a portion of the year as possible. 

 Roaming in pastures covered with nutritious clovers and grasses, 

 the pigs will develop healthy bodies. The pasture will not alone 

 suffice for nutriment and should be supplemented by foods espe- 

 cially adapted to bone and muscle buUding. Pigs of the larger 

 breeds should receive sufficient nutriment to insure about one 

 pound of growth per day, in order to reach the standard weight 

 of 300 pounds when one year old. (841) 



The boar should be kept on pasture as much as possible, and 

 when confined should be provided with a large lot for exercise. 

 After the growth of the framework is completed this animal 

 should receive only sufficient feed to continue in fair condition, 

 all tendency to grossness being avoided. It is especially impor- 

 tant to supply coarse feeds, as roots, whole oats, bran, and boiled 

 chaffed clover hay. 



911. Feed for the brood sow. — The feed for the sow before far- 

 rowing should be nutritious but not concentrated. Heavy, con- 

 centrated feed stuffs may be extended or given volume by using 

 bran, which serves well for this piu-j^ose, and roots, which are 

 much relished, and by supplying chaffed clover or alfalfa hay 

 softened with boiling water. Some corn may be fed, but meals 

 rich in protein — oats, peas, middlings and barley — should supply 

 most of the nutriment. Breeders differ in their management of 

 sows before farrowing, some insisting that they be held in thin 

 flesh, whOe others would have thera in high condition. They 

 will prove satisfactory when in good flesh, provided it is put on 



