16 Pork Production 



If the service is heavy, he should have a wider variety 

 and a smaller proportion of corn. Corn alone is so bad 

 that many breeders recommend that it be entirely ex- 

 cluded from the ration of the boar when in service. A 

 variety of home-grown grains, with a little green feed, 

 skim-milk or roots, with some shorts or tankage, or some 

 such protein supplement added, will give the best results 

 in breeding service. The immature boar should receive 

 approximately the same combination of feeds that is best 

 for the mature hog when performing heavy service. 



Amount to feed. 



The amount of grain that should be fed to the boar will 

 depend : first, on the intensity of his breeding service ; 

 second, on his age and condition; and third, on the 

 amount of nourishment obtained from such feeds as 

 forage crops, grass, or roots. A mature boar in good 

 condition at the beginning of the breeding season will 

 ordinarily lose weight when used to the normal limit of 

 his breeding capacity. If heavily used he will require 

 practically a full ration. In all cases, however, the guide 

 should be to determine the amount given by his condition 

 rather than his appetite, the effort being to maintain his 

 weight. If just right at the beginning of the breeding 

 season, this method will insure the maximum of breeding 

 service. The immature boar should be fed so that he 

 will experience no material check in his growth and de- 

 velopment. A full ration, or all that he will clean up, 

 should ordinarily be given him. 



Exercise. 



To develop and maintain a vigorous condition of breed- 

 ing thrift in the boars and sows, exercise is as important 



