The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-04-11
M;he EarttY
BREEDING HOGS.

In the selection Of boar and SOW
for breeding, much more attention and
consideration are requisite than is gen.
eralv imagined 1t is as easy, with a
very little judgment and management,
to procure q good as an inferior breed !;
and the former is much more remuner-
alive, in proportion to the outlay, than
the latter can possibly ever be.
The object of the farmer or breeder
is to produce and retain such an animal
as will be best adapted to the purpose
he has in view, whether that is the
consumption of certain things which
could not otherwise be so we'll disposed
of, the converting into hams, bacon,
and pork, or the raising of sucking
pigs and porkers for the market. AL
most all farmers keep one or more pigs
to devour the ot1al and refuse, which
would otherwise be wasted. This is,
however, matter totally distinct from
breeding swine. In the former case,
the animal or animals are purchased
young for small price, each person
buying as many as he considers he shall
have food enough for, and then sold to
the butcher, or killed, when in proper
condition and thus certain degree
of profit is realized. In the latter
many contingencies must be taken into
account the available means of feeding
them: whether or not the food may be
more prohtably disposed of; the facil-
tiles afforded by railroads, the vicinity
of towns, or large markets, etc, for dis
posing of them.
In the breeding Of swine, as much
as that Of any other live stock, it is
important to pay great attention, not
only to the breed, but also to the
choice of individuals. The SOW should
produce great number of young ones,
and she must be we'll fed to enable
her to support them. Some sows
bring forth ten, twelve, or even fifteen
pigs at birth but eight or nine is
the usual number: and sows which
produce fewer than this must he
rejected. 1t is, however probable that
fecundity depends also on the boar !;
he should, therefore, be chosen from a
race which multiplies quickly
If bacon and late market be OBJ
iects, the large and heavy varieties
should be selected, care being taken
that the breed has the character of
possessing those qualities most likely
to insure heavy return-growth and
facility of taking fat Good one-year
hacon-hogs being in great demand,
they may be known by their long
bodies. low bellies, and short legs
With these qualities are usually coupled
long, pendulous ears, which attract
purchasers. If however, hogs are to
he sold at all seasons to the butchers,
the animals must attain their full
growth and be read, for killing before
they are a year old This quality IS
particularly prominent in the Chester
breed: but among our ordinary varie-
ties. hogs are often met with adapted
for this purpose.
The sow should be chosen from a
breed Of proper size and shape, sound
and free from blemish and defects.
In every case-whethcr the object be
pork or bacon-the points to be looked
for in the sows are a small, lively head;
broad and deep chest; round ribs ;
capacious barrel a haunch falling al
most to the hough deep and broad
loin ample hips; and considerable
length of body, in proportion to its
height One qualification should ever
be kept in view, and, perhaps, should
be the first point to which the attention
should be directed-that is, smalness
of bone She should have at least
twelve teats .or it is observed that
each pig selects teat for himself and
keeps to it, so that pig not having
one belonging to him would be starved.
A good SOW should produce a great
number of pigs, all of equal vigor.
She must be very careful of them and
not crush them by her weight: above
all, she must not be addicted to eating
the afterbirth, and, what may often
follow, her own young. If sow is
tainted with those bad habits, or if she
has difficult labors, or brings forth dead
pigs, she must be spayed forthwith
1t is, THEREFORE well to bring up several
young sOWs at once, so as to keep
those only which are free from defects.
Breeding sows and bears should never
be raised from defective animals
Sows that have very low bellies, almost
touching the ground, seldom produce
large or liue filters. \ good-sized SOW
is generally considered more likely to
prove good breeder and nurse, and to
farrow more easily and safely than