Rearing and Fattening of Pigs. 



7 



for a sow should see the dam ; if this be not possible, then 

 purchase the yelt only from some pig-breeder who has the credit 

 of being a good pig-master ; the extra cost will be more than 

 repaid in the returns from the first litter of pigs. The young 

 sow chosen should be of good size and quality, light in the 

 fore-quarters, and have at least twelve teats, evenly placed, 

 and commencing as nearly as possible behind the fore legs. 

 Many sows have teats of varying size, others have so-called blind 

 teats ; avoid these, as they will only lead to the starvation and 

 death of the unfortunate piglings which select those teats foi 

 their very own. Be certain that the dam was prolific and a 

 good suckler or milker ; these qualities are very important and 

 are also hereditary to a great extent. The hair, the skin, and 

 the bone should all be fine as well as the quality of flesh ; with 

 these possessions early maturity is surely indicated. 



Having purchased such a young yelt as I have endeavoured 

 to pourtray, keep it well and give it plenty of exercise until it 

 has attained the age of eight to ten months, and then have it 

 mated with a young pure-bred boar bred on similar lines. When 

 the young sow is about half gone with pig she should be fed 

 liberally on good and nutritious food, and allowed her liberty as 

 far as possible. It is always better to have a down-pigging yelt 

 in fresh rather than low condition, since if she be, as she ought to 

 be, a good suckler and prolific, she is certain to become poor ere 

 her pigs are weaned. There is a difference of opinion as to the 

 number of pigs which the young sow should be allowed to rear. 

 Probably the question does not arise so frequently as it should, 

 since so few pig-breeders have paid sufficient attention to the 

 fecundity of their sows, but I have known yelts produce as 

 many as nineteen youngsters ; on occasions such as this a 

 decision has to be arrived at as to how many of the piglings shall 

 be left on the mother. I am inclined to think that it is advisable 

 to leave as many pigs on the young sow as she can, with good 

 food and attention, rear properly, even if the sow has to be 

 rested for a short time after the pigs are weaned, or the little 

 ones are allowed to continue on the sow for as long a period as 

 three months. It is held by many observant men that the pigs 

 of the subsequent litters which suck those teats which were 

 utilised with the first litter thrive better than those youngsters 



