390 Western Live-stock Management 
selecting a boar: First, that the animal is of good market 
type; second, that he has masculinity well defined; third, 
that he is in good condition as compared with the other 
pigs kept in the same lot with him, or kept in like manner 
as himself; fourth, that he is out of a large litter from a 
sow that is a good mother; fifth, that the boar is pure- 
bred, and his pedigree or transfer certificate should be 
received with him, or if the owner has not these papers 
a part of the purchase price should be held until he turns 
them over to you. 
One should not buy a grade boar, or one which the owner 
says is of pure blood, but on which the registration papers 
have not been kept up. If such a boar is found to be an 
exceptionally good breeder and the new owner wants to 
pass him on to some one else, the next person will be 
sure to insist on the papers. A runt from a good herd 
should not be purchased merely because he is cheap. One 
should not buya boar of one breed when his sows are pure- 
bred and of some other breed, nor should a pig under 
five months of age be purchased for immediate service. 
When the boar has been secured, one should not turn 
him out in a lot with strange hogs, because there may be 
brood sows in heat, and other hogs may fight him. Over 
six sows should not be bred a week, nor more than two 
in one day with a boar under a year, and over eight a 
week with a mature boar. 
A boar six months old can get pigs, but a boar should not 
be used until he is eight months old, and but sparingly 
at that age. The way the young boar is used has a great 
deal to do with his length of life and his utility. If de- 
sirable to try him out, it may be done with only a small 
number of sows, and then his usefulness will not be im- 
paired. Many breeders waste much money by procuring 
