BREEDS OF SWINE 431 



they give pork. Good shape is absolutely necessary in a good boar, 

 and if he has a good pedigree also he is a much better animal. 



Nearly all breeders of fancy stock have numerous boar pigs 

 which are not quite up to the standard in some unimportant par- 

 ticulars, and so cannot be sold as strictly first-class animals. The 

 defects may be nothing more than a slight variation in color, swirls 

 in the bristles, or a missing tail; but with even such defects the 

 animals would stand a poor chance in the show ring, and breeders 

 are often glad to sell them for little more than their value for pork. 

 Such animals are just as good as any where pork and not show is 

 wanted, and will insure much better pigs than can be expected from, 

 an equally well-formed grade or an inferior pure blood. (F. B. 

 100.) 



Selecting the Sow. The sire is often considered half the herd, 

 but in reality the females are equally important. The typical sire 

 will transmit his qualities of excellence to his get, but the best 

 results will only be had when he is mated with proper dams. The 

 dam should have the same combination of size and quality requisite 

 in the sire. In conformation she may not need to be so compactly 

 built and may be somewhat finer in features and bone. The sow 

 that is quiet and docile in temperament proves a good mother and 

 is careful with her litter. These characteristics can to some extent 

 be judged before the sow has been used. The ideal sow has 10 to 12 

 well-developed, sound teats. Sows occasionally have blind teats that 

 are rarely detected before farrowing. The number of sound teats 

 sometimes is considered an indication of prolificacy in the sow. 



Prolificacy usually is a family characteristic and it is wise to 

 select a prospective brood sow from a large litter of robust pigs. The 

 strongest pigs of a litter, most suitable for prospective sows, usually 

 nurse from the teats nearest to the front of the udder. The pro- 

 spective sow may therefore be chosen before she is taken from her 

 dam. In selecting brood sows the highest possible standard of excel- 

 lence should be retained and all others should be marketed for pork. 

 (Wis. B. 184.) 



It will even be much better to buy one high-class sow than five 

 poor ones. This would be real economy, and the development of 

 the herd will prove its value. It will be well if a beginner can obtain 

 the assistance of an old and successful breeder in making a start. 



If the boar is half the herd, the sows certainly make up the 

 other half, and their selection is a highly important matter. They 

 may be purchased, already bred, some time before the boar, and 

 quite an item of expense will thus be saved. Then by the time the 

 sows have been watched and studied for a season and have each 

 raised a litter of pigs, the owner will be much better prepared to 

 select a suitable male, and he can then get one to use on both dams 

 and offspring. 



The sows selected should be nearly the same age, which should 

 be about 12 months, and all should be safe in pig, preferably to the 

 same boar. Their individual characteristics should, perhaps, be first 



