680 
Management of Berkshire Pigs, 
shouldered boar, one should have the foundation of a good herd 
at a small outlay. To obtain these one may attend an adver- 
tised sale, or communicate with one of the many breeders of the 
class required. Care must be exercised in order to obtain sows 
with as much quality as possible. The coat and skin are, as in 
other animals, the best indications of quality ; the former should 
be fairly long and fine, while the latter should be smooth 
and free from wrinkles of any sort. I have been often asked 
whether the boar or the sow has the greater influence on the pro- 
geny. I am inclined to favour the sow, from the fact of having 
had many sows breed good pigs from different boars. At the 
same time I would not use anything but a good boar. 
In breeding from elts the latter should in no case be allowed 
to have their first litter till they are twelve months old ; if bred 
from earlier they seldom reach that size which we like to see in the 
brood sow. Similarly with the young boar ; never use him till 
nine months old, and then sparingly, bringing the sows to him 
and taking them away as soon as served. I have known two or 
three good young boars spoiled through being allowed to run with 
elts and getting overworked, and refusing to notice sows after- 
wards for many months. 
When a sow is farrowing the herdsman should be always 
present ; he will know when to expect the little ones by occa- 
sionally trying the sow’s teats. About twelve hours after the milk 
appears she generally commences farrowing. 
As the young pigs come on the scene they should each one 
be taken away and put into a box or hamper kept in readiness, 
and their little teeth nipped off by pliers made for the purpose. 
There are eight teeth, two on each side of the upper, and two 
on each side of the lower jaw : they are as sharp as needles, and 
if not cut off they punish the sow considerably. This causes her 
to be uneasy, and in getting up and down she usually kills 
some of the youngsters. I am sure I save a great many pigs 
each year by insisting upon having the teeth attended to ; if 
the little pigs are many days overdue the teeth appear extra 
long, no doubt making additional growth in the sow. In cold 
weather the tails of the little pigs should be rubbed at the 
root with lard or lard-oil for a week or ten days after birth, 
say each alternate morning ; it prevents their getting chapped 
and falling off, and thereby saves a great loss in the value of 
breeding or show pigs. 
I like to place the sow in her sty about a week before 
she is due to farrow, at the same time giving her a little exer- 
cise every day unless the sty is unusually large ; the same after 
farrowing, exercise being very essential for moving off the urine, 
