SWINE 195 



should have masculinity well developed and in other respects 

 should conform to good swine type. 



In buying a herd boar, it is a good plan to buy a boar pig. 

 The express charges then will not be so high, and if one has 

 ability as a judge he can also get a pig that will develop into a 

 good hog. If one is not a good judge, he may do better by 

 selecting a larger animal and paying the difference in express 

 charges. Frequently, also, farmers have good boars that 

 must be disposed of to avoid in-breeding and these can be 

 bought or traded for very reasonably. When the herd boar 

 is bred on the farm he should be just as carefully selected as 

 when he is bought outside. 



HOW TO GET A GOOD SOW 



A good sow as against a poor one means the difference be- 

 tween profit and loss. A good sow is bred, developed, fed, 

 and made. She may sometimes be bought but as a rule is 

 bred on the farm. Such sows usually are not for sale. They 

 are too valuable to their first owner. 



Gilts or young sows do not as a rule farrow a maximum litter 

 the first time. The first litter is usually raised before the sow's 

 own development is complete. If she suckles six pigs, say, 

 the six teats suckled will develop. The remainder will 

 become dormant. In future years, therefore, the sow will be 

 able to raise just as many good pigs as she had in her first 

 litter. There are occasional exceptions to this rule but it is 

 one of the most important points in the production of a good 

 sow. She should be asked to raise a full litter at first. 



In order to do this, a number of sows should be bred to 

 farrow as near the same time as possible. Then when the sows 

 farrow the good ones that are to be kept in the herd should be 

 given full litters. This applies especially to young sows. 

 Pigs should be taken away from sows that are to be sold 

 for pork after weaning, or from old sows and given to the good 

 young sows. Or if all the sows are young and all good, all the 

 pigs can be taken away from one and distributed among several 

 others. A young sow, then, if she is to be kept as a brood 

 sow, should be made to raise either a full litter or none at all. 

 Sows so handled may farrow more pigs in their second, third 



