SWTNE MANAGEMENT. 



25 



such gilts as show oxcoptional type and conformation should 

 chosen to replace or augment the sows in the herd. No male ani- 

 mals should be saved entire unless the breeder is growing pure-bred 

 registered swine. When they are so saved, their care and feeding is 

 similar to that of the gilts. 



The breeding stock must not be pampered. This does not mean 

 to neglect them, but it is not best to house them as carefully or feed 

 them as heavily as the fattening stock. Sows should be trained to 

 resist the weather and to utilize forage crops, that they may have 

 vitality and the ability to eat cheap feeds. Pasture should be fur- 

 nished in abundance to these young gilts, particularly such crops as 

 the legumes. It is best to feed some grain to the breeding stock to 

 keep them growing nicely, but they must never be pushed, for the 

 whole object in their feeding is to make them stretch out and develop 

 bone and muscle in place of fat. A grain ration containing more 

 protein than is fed to fattening stock is very good for breeding ani- 

 mals, an ideal ration being similar to the ones previously given as 

 weaning rations. Two pounds for each 100 pounds live weight is 

 about the right amount to feed. The gilts are kept on the same feed 

 until time to breed for the first litter, after which they are main- 

 tained in much the same fashion as the old sows during pregnancy, 

 except that they are fed a heavier ration. The gilt at this time must 

 not only grow the unborn litter, but must be furnished nutriment to 

 continue her own growth. 



THE FATTENING STOCK. 



After weaning, the stock selected for fattening is fed in two 

 periods — first, the growing period, from weaning until approximately 

 6 weeks to 2 months of the marketing date; and, second, the finish- 

 ing period, from that time up to marketing. During the first or 

 growing period the ration is much the same as that given to tlie 

 breeding stock — that is, all of the nutritious pasture they need but 

 with a heavier grain ration of slightly wider ^ nutritive ratio. The 

 object is to grow a pig with plenty of size and scale and one that will 

 fatten quickly and economically. Some feeders use the self-feeder 

 at this period and obtain excellent results, giving the pigs free access 

 to such feeds as corn, mill feeds, and tankage while on pasture. The 

 practice tends to shorten the feeding period and produces pork with 

 slightly less grain per unit of gain. Under these conditions pigs do 

 not neglect their forage but really make more economical use of it 

 than when the grain is limited. In feeding a limited grain ration on 

 pasture more success has been attained by giving an amount equal 

 to 3 per cent of the body weight than when fed in lesser amounts. 



1 See footnote on p. 21. 



