Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-12-25
Breeding Young SOMS.

In treating upon the breeding of
young sows, the Swine Breeders
Manual says: ''As rule, young
sows should not be bred at an earlier
age than eight or ten months They
will then have their filters when they
are twelve or fourteen months old.
THIS general rule Is subject to nu-
merous variations and for obvious
reasons.
"Many sows are bred when they are
quite young because their owners
have not the patience to wait until
they are better grown. Besides, il is
troublesome to keep open sOws safe
from the boar when they are in sea-
son. Those, however, of the smaller
and earlier maturing breeds may of
ten, Without disadvantage, be allowed
to breed when younger than others.
Usually large coarse sows are
sometimes bred at an early age with
view of their becoming finer ia
form as they approach maturity. But
with this fneness there is apt to be an
impaired constitution in tie SOW and
a lack of strength and vigor in the
pigs.
sit is thought by some that the
earlier young sows are bred the better
mixers they Will become. Close
observations, however, leads to the
belief that no practical good is secur-
ed by such a course of management.
Early breeding can never bring such
marked improvement In the milking
qualities of sows as can be secured by
careful selection and proper feeding
when young. Adopting the latter
course we are in line for improve
ment in other directions, while by
the former method serious injury is
often done the young sows Breeding
at a very young age certainly retards
the growth, and it is doubtful If they
ever afterwards reach the size they
would otherwise attain.
''The time of the year at which it is
desired the young pigs should come
often determines the age at which the
sows are bred. For example, those
farrowed in October or November are
often bred at less than eight months
old in order that their pigs may come
early as possible the following fall;
for if not thus bred when quite young
they must be kept from the boar until
twelve months old or over, to avoid
their having pigs very late in the fall
or In the midst of winter.
''In selecting SOW pigs for breeding
we prefer those from early spring lit
ters. Such will have the advantage
of their first summers growth of
grass, while at the same time they
are given whatever grain or other
feed, according to location, may be
thought best for their highest physical
development If well kept until they
are nine months old they may then be
bred They will then have their first
litter at thirteen months of age, and
at time of the year when the young
pigs with their dams can soon be put
on grass and have the benefit of this
and good weather for rapid and
healthy growth.
eff the choice for breeding sows
must be from pigs narrowed later in
the spring, they may be bred at eight
months old. Their pigs will then
come when the sows are about year
old, bringing them as with the others
to about the time the grass starts in
the spring.
young sows selected from summer
filters may also be bred when eight or
nine months old, but those from fall
litters had better be kept from the
boar until they are at least twelve
months of age, as above mentioned.
This may seem long time to wait.
but sows seldom fail to produce first
class htters and to rear them well. In
fact, some of the most successful
breeders prefer that all their Young
scws, SO far as practicable, shall not
be bred until they are about year
old, so that they may not farrow until
they are sixteen months of age"