968 CYCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK AND COMPLETE STOCK DOCTOR. 



except such as are actually? deformed, or so far from the type that even 

 the ignoraot wiJl notice the fault. They must do so, or else sell at such 

 prices as to place stock out of the reacb of all but the most wealthy. 

 Once a breeder finds an animal right in every respect, some hundreds, or 

 even a thousand, dollars over the usual price of a/erage specimens of a 

 breed is readily paid. Hence, in starting out, if your stock is not perfect 

 you can easily improve it by selection ar^d care in breeding. It is the 

 object of this book to give the mass of fani:ers definite information on 

 these points. The best breeders are already informed, and fully alive to 

 their value. 



Vn. Parrowing. 



In regard to farrowing, the farmer must be guided by circumstances. If 

 the sows are expected to produce two litters of pigs a year, the tirst Lit- 

 ter must come as early as March, so that the ner.* I'Kver may come early 

 enough in the autumn for the pigs to be wear d aiid feeding before cold 

 weather sets in. 



When farrowing is expected in cold v. eat her, a place warmed by tire 

 heat must Ue. provided, and the sow, espv'-^.iily if it be a yczif/. or^e, I'L'jM 

 be allowed perfect quiet. A temperature of not less than fzisty-^ve de- 

 grees is necessaiy unil?. the pigs are properly dried and take the teats. 

 After that, they \Till do we?l under a temperature at night of s'^out fifty 

 degrees, yet sixty .vill be found better, for there is nothing more tender, 

 or more susceptible to cold than a i;8wly bom pig, unless it be a young 

 lamb. The sow having farrowed all right, she will generally take 

 the boar again when the pigs are three or four days old. if aou 

 she will not come in heat until after the pigs are ?reaned. 



VUL Weaning the Pigsi 



The pig is bom with teeth that will be ready to grind its food by the time 

 It is two months old. We have always weaned at sis weeks old, so far as 

 spring pigs were concerned, allowing plenty of skimmed milk and butter 

 milk, mixing, at seven or eight weeks old, a fair proportion of corn meal 

 mush, or, better, light wheat and rye screenings ground together. Give 

 them grass, also, as soon as they will eat it, and at three months old they 

 may be put on clover and whole, or, better, soaked com. 



IX. Castration. 



Pigs should be castrated at from two to three weeks old j never delay 

 it longer than the age of four weeks ; since they require fully three weelis 

 to recover from its effects before being weaned. 



