THE SWINE INDUSTRY 177 



thought as the successful horseman uses in select- 

 ing his breeding stock. Use one that is recorded 

 in the herd books of the breed you select. This 

 registration is a guarantee of his purity and in- 

 sures a uniform conformity to the litters. This is 

 an item of value when they are ready for market, 

 and of satisfaction to their owner all through the 

 growth. He should be kept in good, vigorous, 

 thrifty condition, not fat, with plenty of exercise. 

 For summer, give him a pasture run or feed green 

 food in a large yard. In winter, part of his feed 

 can be roots. It is better if his quarters are away 

 from the other hogs. Handle him kindly, but with 

 an understanding that he must obey, and he will 

 be quiet and kind. 



In the care of sows during pregnancy, remember 

 that the sow has two duties to perform, namely, 

 keeping up the functions of her own body and sup- 

 plying the unborn litter with the elements neces- 

 sary for its development. In order to properly 

 perform these duties, the sow's feed must be rich 

 in protein. The ration should never be allowed 

 to become excessive in carbohydrates. One of the 

 greatest dangers to avoid is constipation. Al- 

 though feeding at this time will not need to be so 

 heavy as after the pigs are farrowed, it should be 

 liberal Aim to keep sows in good condition, 

 neither too fat nor too lean. The error of allow- 

 ing the sow to become fat would perhaps be least 

 productive of serious consequences. The mistake 

 in feeding breeding animals is most frequently that 

 of keeping such stock in a thin, half-starved con- 

 dition under the idea that the reproductive organs 

 are peculiarly liable to become transformed into 

 masses of fat. It should be borne in mind that the 

 main demands upon the sow are those for the build- 



