CHAPTER XIV. 

 FEEDING THE HERD AND THE PIGS. 



In general the feeding of the breeding herd should be 

 considered under two separate heads, as follows : Feed- 

 ing the young animals and feeding the mature animals. 

 The pig as a rule does not reach maturity until he is 

 about two years old ; consequently, young and growing 

 pigs that are being developed for the breeding herd need 

 to have sufficient protein in their ration that they can de- 

 velop their carcasses as well as in the case of sows to 

 produce the litter and milk for the same. Old sows need 

 not be fed any more protein than is sufficient for main- 

 tenance and to supply what is necessary for the offspring. 

 The remainder of the ration should be made up largely of 

 carbohydrates. 



FEEDING SOWS. 



As previously learned, where the subject of feeding was 

 considered in Chapter 13, the best results are obtained by 

 feeding varying quantities of nutrients through the grow- 

 ing period. In the case of the market hog the growing 

 period ceases at about six months of age. For the breed- 

 ing animal the growing period should be extended much 

 further. In the case of protein, the amount necessary for 

 maximum and most economical gains increases and de- 

 creases during comparatively short periods. In order to 

 carry this to completion with young sows that are being 

 developed for the breeding herd, the following is sug- 

 gested : 



(198) 



