224 THE RURAL EFFICIENCY GUIDE STOCK 



turned with the sow. Having the sows of the herd all bred as closely together 

 as possible will add to the convenience and to the profits of feeding and de- 

 veloping a uniform lot of pigs the following season. Sows bred in the fall 

 should have been properly developed and in the case of sows having had one 

 or more litters they should have been separated from their pigs sufficiently 

 long and fed in a manner to be in good condition. It is reasonable to expect 

 that a sow will breed more successfully when in good, thrifty condition than 

 she will when in a rundown, weakened condition. Being in good condition at 

 the time of mating will also tend to reduce the cost of wintering her. The sow 

 should not be too fat, however, at mating time. At no time except for show 

 purposes is it profitable to have the sow in more than good, smooth thrifty 

 condition. Sows in too fat condition are likely to be shy breeders or to have 

 difficulty at farrowing time. About twenty-one days after mating sows should 

 be watched to note any return in heat that will occur at this time if sows have 

 not been safely bred. 



Handling the Boar at Mating Time. A boar should not be put to service 

 until he is at least eight months old and his service should be limited to 20 

 sows the first season. In doing this amount of service and in fact under any 

 circumstances, he should have been grown well and be cared for during the 

 mating season in a manner to insure a vigorous and thrifty condition. Until 

 fully developed the young boar should be handled carefully, given plenty of 

 exercise and fed a growing ration. A mature and proven boar is best to 

 depend upon for securing the best litters and for that reason it is best to keep 

 a boar as long as he can be kept without inbreeding and his service is satis- 

 factory. The mature boar is best when kept on a maintenance ration of 

 grass and a small amount of grain when necessary. A sufficient amount of 

 grain to have the boar in good condition at and during the mating season will 

 tend to insure best results. It is best to have a separate pen and yard for the 

 boar and to turn the sows with him when they are to be bred, for the reason 

 that a greater amount of service can be required of the boar, and feed and 

 annoyance will be saved. 



After a boar is a year old his tusks, four of which will have developed, 

 should be removed and kept from getting long enough to do damage to his 

 attendant and to other animals. Cutting them twice a year with a pair of 

 pinchers after the manner shown in the accompanying illustration is the best 

 practice to follow and is much more humane than breaking them out with a 

 hammer and chisel. The mature boar will perhaps need to have his feet 

 trimmed occasionally. They should not be allowed to become long or out of 

 shape to the extent that the boar cannot handle himself well. The feet are 

 best trimmed by throwing the boar and using a pair of pinchers and a rasp. 

 The boar is the most important animal in the herd and can well be the best 

 that money aad good care will provide. He should furthermore be safe- 

 guarded against infectious and contagious diseases, kept free from lice and 

 given the necessary attention to make him most serviceable. When his period 

 of usefulness as a stock hog is over he should be castrated and fattened which 

 as a general rule it is profitable to do. 



