Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-12-25

In treating upon the breeding OF
voupg SONS. the Swine breeders
Manual saws: "As rule, young
sows should not be bred at an earlier
age than eight or ten months, They
will then have their litters when they
are twelve or fourteen months old.
THIS general rule is subject to ma
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, 1t is
troublesome 10 keep open sows safe
from the boar VIXEN 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.
Casually large coarse sows are
sometimes bred at an early age with
view of their becoming finer in
form as they approach maturity. But
with this lineness there is apt TO be an
/ impaired constitution ia tae SOW and
a lack of strength and ylgor IN the
/ pigs.
ETt is thought by some that the
earlier young sowS are bred the better
mixers they VIII become. Close,
observations, however, leads TO the
belief that no practical good is secur-
| ed by such a course of management
1 Early breeding can never bring such
marked improvement in the milking
loualitl.s 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 very young age certainly retards
the growth, and it is doubtful il they
ever afterwards reach the size they
wosld otherwise attain. lima.
"The time ~ the year ut which it is
desired the young pigs should come
often determines the age at which the
sows are bred. For example, those
narrowed 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 II not thus bred when quite young
they must be kept from the bear until
twelve months old or over, TO avoid
their having pigs very late in tie fall
or in the midst of winter.
SIN selecting SOW pigs for breeding
we prefer hose from early spring lit
tiers 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 DO
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 a time Of the year when the young
| PICS with their dams can soon be put
on grass aud have the benefit Of this
and good weather for rapid and
healthy growth.
''If the choice for breeding sows
must be from pigs farrowsd later IN
the spring, they may be bred at eight
months old. Their pigs will then
come when the sows are about a year
| old. bringing them as With the others
to about the time the grass starts ~
1 the spring.
Young sows selected from summer
filters may also be bred when eight or
nine months old, but those from fall
Filters 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 litters and TO rear them well. In
4 fact. some Of the most successful
4 breeders prefer that all their Young
sows. so far as practicable, shall not
be bred until they are about a year
I eld so.tbat thev NAV not farrow until