248 



LIVESTOCK ON THE FARM 



before but instead of being reduced to 6 pounds is reduced to 

 only about 9 pounds. 



Mature hogs used for breeding have been worked with in 

 practice in a general way and as far as the writer has been able 

 to observe need approximately from 8 to 10 pounds of water 

 daily for every 100 pounds of live weight. 



Fig. 68. — Water requirement of breeding pigs. 



EXERCISE 



Exercise is very important in the swine-growing industry. 

 This is especially true with young and growing pigs and with 

 those that are being developed and used for breeding purposes. 

 It should begin at a very early age. 



The sow with her litter may be kept in a comparatively 

 small pen until the pigs are about two weeks old. At this 

 time they should get out where they can have range. If 

 they do not take exercise of themselves, they must be com- 

 pelled to take it, though exercise is not so important for pigs 

 being fattened for the market. If a pig has been properly 

 born and handled up to weaning time it can be put into a 

 comparatively small pen and be finished for market without 

 difficulty. If, however, this plan is followed for several genera- 

 tions, a breeding herd is made practically useless for pork- 

 production purposes. A long series of experiments has shown 

 this. 



BULK IN RATION 



By feeding pigs a bulky ration during the early part of 

 their life when their capacity for eating feed is greater than 

 their ability to utilize the digested material, the appetite may 

 be satisfied, the digestible nutrients held down to a proper 



