482 DOMESTIC ANIMALS, DAIRYING, ETC. 



barley, or milo maize, with wheat, peas, or shorts. A liberal supply 

 of skim milk is especially good. He should have all the alfafa he 

 will eat every day, either pasture or hay. A small feed of roots or 

 cooked potatoes is good. Stunting, even for a short time, will per- 

 manently injure his value. He should weigh 300 to 400 pounds 

 when 12 months old. 



After reaching full growth, the boar, when not in service, should 

 be given bulky feeds that will keep him full, satisfied, and in good 

 condition, but that will not put on fat alfalfa, roots, and a small 

 daily ration of any kind of grain. A few weeks before the beginning 

 of the breeding season the grain feed should be gradually increased, 

 giving a mixture the same as when he was growing, and the amount 

 of roots and alfalfa should be slowly reduced. The animal should 

 be put in perfect condition and good flesh, but not made fat. The 

 best results are not secured from a sire that is either fat or thin. 

 During the breeding season the boar should have an abundance of 

 food, using the same combination as recommended for him while 

 growing, except that just sufficient succulent feeds (alfalfa and roots) 

 should be given to keep his bowels in good condition. A full supply 

 of succulent feeds at this time is likely to make him infertile. 

 (Colo. B. 146.) 



The feed of the boar when not in service may be of a succulent 

 nature mainly pasture and cut green forage during the summer 

 months and roots in winter. A boar can hardly be sustained on this 

 alone, and some grain should be allowed to keep him in condition. 

 This should be nitrogenous in character, consisting of mill feeds 

 such as shorts, middlings, and bran some oil meal, and the legumi- 

 nous grains, with a little corn. As the breeding season approaches 

 the feed should be increased, so that the boar will be in good condi- 

 tion. (F. B. 205.) 



Feed for the Sow. The sow should be given wide range, and if 

 in good condition when put in pasture, will need but little if any 

 grain. In Nebraska it was found that sows weighing 200 pounds 

 each gained nearly half a pound a day for 63 days on alfalfa pasture 

 and no grain. 



In the absence of alfalfa, forage can be provided by land sown 

 with a mixture of the following: rape 2 pounds, cane or corn 20 

 pounds, cowpeas 8 pounds. Or if sown early, oats and barley may be 

 used. It is well to plant a lot of ground each week, and so have a 

 pasturage of green forage for several weeks to turn into. Over 10 

 tons of green forage can be produced on an acre. 



During winter the sows may have the run of the cattle yards 

 until 6 weeks before farrowing time. They should be given clean 

 water, a little corn and middlings and a couple of roots a day. After 

 removing them from the yard, give laxative foods. Sows are more 

 often underfed than overfed. They should have plenty of protein 

 feeds of a bulky nature. 



If a large number of brood sows are kept, and the hog cot system 

 used, more grain will be required. Feed 3^2 pounds per day of the 

 following ration : Corn 3 parts, shorts 3 parts, oil meal or tankage 1 



