Care and Feeding of Sow and Litter 91 



the results of pedigree registrations generally. These 

 books are inexpensive, convenient to use, and are en- 

 tirely satisfactory. They are especially recommended for 

 breeders who are poor bookkeepers. Two sample pages 

 from one of the best of these private herd registers are 

 given on pages 92 and 93 . 1 



In addition to the sow and litter divisions, a complete 

 record system should also provide spaces for: (a) an 

 extended pedigree of each boar and a list of the sows to 

 which he has been bred during the year ; (6) a summa- 

 rized record of the individual animals bought and sold ; 

 and (c) an index. If such a system is supplemented by 

 giving each sow in the herd which has produced two or 

 more litters a page or card upon which may be recorded 

 a summarized statement of the litters she has produced, 

 the number of pigs farrowed and raised in each, the num- 

 ber retained, and the number sold and total value, it will 

 facilitate the study of the performance records and insure 

 a more accurate estimate of the value of each sow in the 

 herd. 



THE COST OF FEEDING THE SOW AND LITTER FROM 

 FARROWING TO WEANING TIME 



The feed cost of growing the litter of pigs to weaning 

 time represents a necessary and important part of the 

 cost of producing finished pork. This cost will vary 

 widely, of course, with general conditions, herds, and 

 feeders. The effort is here made to estimate the approxi- 

 mate cost for the average of good conditions. The 

 calculations are based on the average feed consumption 

 of twenty sows and litters, sixteen at the Wisconsin 



1 The W. B. C. Herd Register, Moore Bros. Co., Rochester 

 Ind. 



