Feeding and Handling the Herd 15 



matter than are necessary when not in breeding service. 

 The demands on his energies, in addition to the require- 

 ments of maintenance, are largely of a nitrogenous nature, 

 and this loss, which is considerable with each service, 

 must be made good if his breeding powers are preserved. 

 Two weeks before the breeding season opens, the mature 

 boar should be in rather thin condition and active. He 

 should then be brought up to the breeding season in an 

 improving condition, without allowing him to become fat, 

 or to impair his activity. Young boars require a grow- 

 ing ration, and when used for breeding the effort should 

 be to satisfy both demands by a ration that is not deficient 

 in mineral matter and protein. 



Rations. 



Probably the worst ration that can be fed is straight 

 corn in the dry lot. If an unlimited supply of this cereal 

 is available and exercise is limited, the evil effects will 

 be still more certain. Experience has shown that sure 

 and reliable breeding qualities cannot be maintained 

 when corn constitutes the sole feed in the ration. Access 

 to a green feed of some kind will enable the boar to acquire 

 much that corn lacks and will promote a fairly loose con- 

 dition of the bowels which is essential to good health. 

 However, when used heavily, the boar should not be 

 expected to receive a very large part of his nourishment 

 from this source. Too much green feed, in fact, is con- 

 sidered by some to be detrimental to his breeding qualities. 

 Some one or more of the supplemental feeds suggested 

 for the sows at this time should be fed with the corn or 

 other home-grown grains. 



The boar should have about the same combination of 

 feeds as the growing gilts intended for the breeding herd. 



