THE HERD BOAR 27 



a breeder to receive letters from prospective buyers insisting that 

 a boar be sent that is in no way related on either side to the 

 sows to which he is to be bred. 



Handling the Herd Boar. The disposition and good behavior 

 of the herd boar depends much on how he is handled from pig- 

 hood to maturity. 



Docility is a great thing in a herd boar and he should be 

 so handled that he will never cause any trouble in being driven 

 from place to place. Kindness has much to do with this. The 

 herdsman or owner should never under any consideration misuse 

 the boar, but handle him with a light buggy whip and have him 

 so trained that he can be driven as easily as a horse can be led. 

 This training should commence when the pig is young, and by 

 rubbing him a little at feeding time, he will become extremely 

 gentle and look for these attentions, and as he grows up under 

 this kind of treatment, will become a good natured, quiet, easily 

 handled boar, and it will not require two or three men with a 

 hurdle to bring him out of his yard to be used. 



He should always be kept in a substantially fenced yard, with 

 grass to graze on at will, a dry place to sleep in that is warm enough 

 for comfort in winter months, and nice shade to lie under during 

 the hot weather. 



Where one has a large herd and keeps several matured herd 

 boars, they can be so handled that they will run together like a 

 bunch of barrows. This can be done by cutting off the tusks very 

 closely, then on a cool day, turn them all together after thoroughly 

 spraying them with good coal tar disinfectant, and stay with them 

 until they have had their fight out at least once or twice, and the 

 boss has been recognized, after which they will let each other alone. 

 We did this recently with five aged herd boars, and by having 

 their tusks closely cut and smooth, they could not make any 

 scratches or cuts in their fight and after several good tussles they 

 gave it up and afterwards fed together along the trough in perfect 

 harmony. 



During the breeding season the herd boar should be well fed 

 and receive plenty of exercise. If the lot where the boar or boars 

 are kept, is where they can see the sows, even though at some little 

 distance, it will, generally speaking, cause them to take plenty of 

 exercise walking up and down the lot along the fence, especially 

 during the breeding season. 



If they do not take this exercise it will be necessary to exercise 

 them by driving, for they must be kept in prime vigor and perfect 

 condition. It is never wise to use a boar just after being fed ; better 

 use him early in the morning before being fed, and after a short 

 walk, so as to allow him an opportunity to empty out both bowel 

 and bladder: During the heavy breeding season he can again be 

 used toward evening after & little exercise and before feeding for 

 the night. 



