The Breeding Herd 399 
sucks. In this way the pig is receiving extra feed without 
knowing it, and without losing the habit of sucking the 
sow. Itis very difficult to get pigs to suck after they have 
been hand-fed; so that hand-feeding should be resorted 
to only in cases of the absolute failure of the sow. If the 
sow has more milk than the pigs can take during the 
first few days, a husky, hungry pig from another sow may 
be allowed to suckle out the teats which the little pigs 
do not empty; this is the best way to prevent caked 
udders, and at the same time keep the teats in good con- 
dition, so that they will be available for the little pigs 
when they need them all. If the sow has an insufficient 
quantity of milk, the pigs are likely to follow her around 
the pen, and some of them be trampled upon. 
After a week or ten days, or sooner if the pigs are 
taking all the sow’s milk, she should be put on full feed 
of a milk-forming ration. The aim should be to main- 
tain the sow’s flesh, although this is almost impossible if 
she is a heavy milker. Since the gains on young pigs are 
the most economical which they make, it is desirable that 
as rapid gains as possible be secured during the milking 
period. In late spring or early summer the sow should 
be turned into pasture if at all convenient, but care 
should be taken to prevent the pigs from contracting 
pneumonia when first turned out into pasture. Sows with 
fall-farrowed pigs should be given abundance of succulent 
feed along with their grain feed. 
CASTRATION 
Castrated pigs will make more satisfactory gains them- 
selves and will allow other pigs to gain more satisfac- 
torily. The meat from castrated pigs, or barrows, is more 
palatable than that from boars, and the reproduction of 
