224 FEEDING AND MANAGEMENT 
stances. During the scason when he is used most he will 
require liberal treatment, but at no time should he be fed more 
than he will eat up clean before leaving the trough. During 
comparatively idle seasons, a very ight meal ration will be 
sufficient, and if on good pasture he will require but little feed 
in addition. It is entirely a matter of judgment, and the 
feeder must at all times be governed by the condition of the 
boar. 
It is never wise to make sudden changes in the ration,— 
that is, to change suddenly from a light ration to a heavy 
one, or from a heavy ration to a light one. Changes should be 
made gradually, and the feeder, who will know just about when 
the heaviest season commences, should start in plenty of time 
to prepare the boar for it. 
Breeding Crate.—When it is necessary to breed heavy boars 
to rather small sows, a breeding crate can often be used to 
advantage. There are numerous types of breeding crates, but 
the one we show illustration of on page 223 may be easily 
made and will in most cases answer the purpose very well. 
(Fig. 50.) 
The dimensions of the crate are: length 5’ 6”, width 9’, 
and height 3’ 6”. The uprights at the corners are made of 
2” x 4” scantling, and the sides may be made of +4” strips of 
inch lumber, with a 10” board at the bottom on each side. The 
supports for the feet of the boar (.\, .\) are hinged at the 
front end of the crate, and ean be raised or lowered by means 
of the chains (B). On the outside of the crate ave hooks for 
holding the chains. C is an iron rod which slips through holes 
(D) bored in the bottom sideboards of the crate. The rod 
should come just above the hocks of the sow, and there should 
be enough holes to admit of adjusting the rod to the size of the 
