AT FARROWING TIME. 29 



depends on the assistance which may be rendered by 

 a skilful attendant. In an experience of over twenty 

 years I have never lost either a sow or her litter at 

 farrowing time on account of the sow not being able 

 to be delivered of her pigs; though I have lost many 

 sows and litters because the sow would not quietly 

 submit to assistance. 



Sows should not farrow before reaching the age 

 of one year, nor should boars be used before attaining 

 the age of eight or ten months, though many breeds 

 will mate earlier if permitted to do so. It is a com- 

 mon mistake to breed hogs when they are too young. 



The practice of mating a small male with a large 

 sow, which is so common, has caused the invention of 

 various breeding boxes or crates, of which several are 

 now on the market, arranged so that the different sized 

 animals stand upon different levels, the height of the 

 rear platform being adjustable. 



First litters are not usually as good as succeeding 

 ones, and two-year-old sows are better for breeding- 

 purposes than younger animals. A first-class brood 

 sow should be profitable for a number of years six 

 or seven, in some cases. 



The period of gestation is sixteen weeks. I have 

 never had a sow give birth to a litter of living pigs at 

 less than no days. My experience teaches me that 

 young sows carry their pigs in nine cases out of ten 

 from in to 113 days. Old sows or sows after first 

 litter carry their pigs from 112 to 117 days, the time 

 increasing with age. 



The pigs should suck for six or eight weeks, and 

 the mother should have a resting period of three 



