454 DOMESTIC ANIMALS, DAIRYING, ETC. 



tance from all other hogs on the farm; then, if found free from 

 disease, he may be placed in quarters near them. (Colo. B. 146.) 



A boar should not be used for much service until he is at least 

 12 months old. A fully matured boar produces the most vigorous 

 pigs, other things being equal, and if properly fed and handled, 

 may be profitably kept for several years. His tushes should be cut 

 or knocked off as often as they show considerable size. The boar 

 should serve a sow but once, and two sows a day should be the limit 

 for a mature boar, and then he should have a day's rest after every 

 second or third day. (Colo. B. 146.) 



Breeders generally advocate the practice of keeping a boar to 

 himself during the entire year out of sight and hearing of the 

 sows. However, a boar is often allowed to run with the sows after 

 they are safe in pig ; but during the breeding season it is by far the 

 best policy to keep him by himself, admitting a sow to his yard for 

 mating, and allowing but one service. This will be productive of 

 the best results in many ways. The energies of the male are not 

 overtaxed. He may thus serve a much larger number of sows, and 

 the litters will generally be larger and the pigs stronger. In the 

 case of a sow that is a somewhat shy breeder and a valuable animal, 

 she may be allowed to remain with a boar during the greater part' 

 of her heat, but such instances are exceptional. Another advantage 

 of the single-service system is that a man always has an accurate 

 knowledge of his breeding operations and knows when to expect 

 farrowing time. (F. B. 205.) 



The boar should be used before being fed. A mature boar is 

 sufficient for 50 sows. Over-service results in pigs being dead, weak 

 or puny at birth. 



The boar should have dry, comfortable shelter, and daily exer- 

 cise. He will keep better natured and easier to handle if allowed 

 to run with the barrows outside the breeding season. If allowed to 

 run with the sows during the breeding season, he will weaken him- 

 self by over-service. At other times there is danger that he will 

 injure the sows. 



It pays to train a boar from his first service to the use of a 

 breeding crate. With it, any size and weight of boar can be mated 

 with any size and weight of sow. (Colo. B. 146.) 



The boar should never be allowed to run with the sows, as he 

 will be a continual worry both to them and to his owner, and it is 

 much better to keep him in a lot where he can neither see nor hear 

 other hogs. He should be kept as quiet as possible, and his food 

 should be such as will give him strength and vitality, but not too 

 fattening. He will do better service when he has sufficient grazing 

 to give him exercise and only sufficient grain food to keep him in 

 good condition without becoming so fat as to be heavy and unwieldy. 

 (F. B. 100.) 



Management of the Sow. A large litter of heavy, vigorous 

 pigs at weaning time is the foundation of profits. The sow should 

 be selected and from birth should be fed and handled to produce 

 such litters. 



