58 Pork Production 



her own growth if the effects of the early breeding are 

 not to prove detrimental to her future development. 

 During the last six weeks, the need for protein supple- 

 ments is believed to be practically the same for the gilts as 

 for the mature sows. The reasons for this are that the 

 older sows are fed a lighter ration for their weight, while 

 the demands made on them by the growing litter in 

 utero is larger because of its size. 



Amount to feed. 



In feeding pregnant sows, the purpose should be to 

 feed just that amount which will bring each sow to the 

 farrowing season in the condition of flesh which will best 

 enable her to perform for her pigs her full duty as a mother. 

 Even with a balanced ration, plenty of exercise, and 

 comfortable quarters, it is possible by careless feeding 

 to ruin or greatly reduce the chances of a good pig crop. 

 At least one-half of the successful feeding of breeding 

 stock is in the careful regulation of the amount fed. The 

 sows must be neither too fat nor too thin. The extremely 

 fat sow is a pig killer and a poor milker, and, as a result 

 of her usual indisposition to take sufficient exercise 

 during the previous months, her pigs at birth are weak 

 and low in vitality. On the other hand, an extremely 

 thin half-starved condition should be avoided, for such 

 a sow will lack the reserve energy necessary for the proper 

 nourishment of her pigs both before and after birth. 

 The ideal is to have the sow at farrowing time in what 

 is known as a strong, but active, breeding condition. 



If the mature sow is in a thin active condition at the 

 beginning of the breeding season in the fall, she should be 

 fed to gain during the winter from 75 to 85 pounds. From 

 the standpoint of economy, as well as in the results ob- 



