14 BULLETIN 646, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Qualities of a good sow: If possible, secure a pure-bred animal of 

 a good strain. The forehead should be broad, the throat clean and 

 trim, the neck moderately thin, the shoulders smooth and deep, the 

 back wide and straight, the chest wide and deep, sides straight and 

 deep, the body long and capacious, pelvic region broad and well 

 developed, legs straight and moderately short, and a generally refined 

 appearance; yet overrefinement may indicate a delicate constitu- 

 tion. 



If a number of brood sows are to be used they should be uniform 

 in type. This is necessary to secure a uniform lot of pigs. It is 

 very unsatisfactory and unprofitable in breeding to have litters of 

 pigs varying in appearance and lacking uniformity. To insure a 

 uniform result it is advisable to select sows from a well-established 

 strain of hogs. 



Importance of the male: As was indicated in the case of the sow, 

 both parents have practically the same influence on the quality of 

 the offspring; however, the male has the greater influence on the 

 entire herd, since every pig is sired by the male, whereas all pigs do 

 not have the same dam. 



While too much stress can not be placed on the importance of the 

 sow, if possible the male should be superior to the sow. Regardless 

 of the type of the sow, a poor male should never be used. 



Qualities of a good male: Secure a pure-bred animal of a good 

 strain. The masculine characteristics should be strongly developed, 

 especially in the head and neck; the back should be broad, arched 

 and deeply fleshed; sides deep and long; quarters well developed; 

 legs straight and strong. The animal should stand well up on his 

 toes. 



Mating: Overrefined sows should be mated to rather masculine 

 males, and coarse sows should be mated to males of high quality in- 

 dicated by fine bone, skin and hair. 



Study questions. — Compare the importance of the sow and the male. 

 If there are pupils in the class doing home project work with pigs, 

 have them compare their brood sows with the qualities set forth as 

 desirable. If members of the class contemplate buying a brood sow 

 or securing the services of a male, they should apply the standards 

 set forth in the lesson. 



References. — Farmers' Bulletins 874 and 566. 



Practical exercises. — (1) Members of the class who are beginning 

 home projects with swine should select and secure their breeding 

 stock. (2) Those who have grown a Utter of pigs should select the 

 animals best adapted to breeding purposes and dispose of them as 

 such. Other pigs should be fattened for meat or disposed of for 

 that purpose. 



Correlations. — Have pupils write a brief description of a desirable 

 brood sow. 



