Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1910-02-23


this plan is that it saves the expense
of keeping the sows throughout the
summer. If a good pasture is avail
able, however, this expense will not
amount 10 much. The use of mature
sows will bring in profit that will
much more than pay the cost of keep
ing them throughout the summer. In
a number of experiments that have
been conducted along this line it has
been found that sows two years old or
over at narrowing time produce nearly
80 per cent more pigs than yearling
sows. The pigs from the two-year-old
sows were considerably larger at birth
and made 25 per cent faster gains
afterward. Old sows are much less
liable to trouble at narrowing time,
and they give a great deal more milk
than young sows do.
Another general practice is to use
seven or eight months old boar for
breeding purposes. This results in
smaller filters and smaller and less
vigorous pigs. The boar should be at
least year old at time of service. A
sire should be kept until his daughters
reach breeding age. if not longer.
If warm narrowing quarters can be
provided, late March or early April is
the best time for the sows to farrow.
The pigs are then in good shape to
make rapid gains on grass all sum-
mer. Where the climate is cold or
good accommodations for the sows
cannot be provided it is better to have
the pigs come little later.
" The boar should be kept in a pen by
himself or with a few bred sows if he
worries too much and the sows are
| brought to him to be bred. One serv-
| ice is as good as half a dozen. The
SOW should be taken away as soon as
served and a record of the service
made An aged, vigorous boar may
be allowed two sows a day when
handled in this way A breeding
crate is an advantage unless the boar
and SOW are about the same size.
When the boar is allowed to run
with the sows all the time his
strength is wasted by worrying and
repeated services. and he is less sure
The dates of breeding cannot be kept
in this way, so that when narrowing
time comes there is no means Of
knowing when to expect the pigs
Sows should not be fat at narrowing
time, but should be in good thrifty
condition and should be kept 81
throughout the winter. Plenty of ex
ercise is also essential if vigorous pig:
are to be produced.
When the pigs come early and ole
sows are used fall filters may often bt
raised at a profit This is specially so i
plenty Of milk can be had The cost Of
feed is greater with fall filters becaus
of lack of grass There are also consid
cradle loss and lack Of profitable gain!
unless good shelter can be provided
Individual conditions, together with ;
few trials, will determine whether o.
not fall pigs can be profitably grow
for market. When raised for breedin,
purposes fall pigs can always be solt
at good profit as yearlings.
Central Versus Colony System.
There are two general plans Of han
ding hogs. the centralized system an
the colony system. The central sys
tenn consists Of one large hog hous
where all the hogs are kept both win
ter and summer The colony system
, consists Of a number Of small houses
each with its pasture. These SINAI
houses can be moved up close to tn
other buildings for convenience in wiz
, ter.
: The central system is an advantag
in winter, as warmer quarters can
provided. 1t is also much more cor
venient to feed and handle hogs whe
they are all together in this manner
The advantage of the colony systel
lis that the houses can be moved frol
place to place wherever they are neeC
ed. There is less liability~of diseas
when the hogs are kept in sma
droves. and disease can be more rea(
, lily handled if it does break out. TT
pigs can be sorted according to siz
and will do better than if they all ru
together. This system also has the az
vantage of cheapness. The main di
: advantage is that it is a great de-
more work to care for the hogs
scattered lots.
, On most farms a combination of tt
i two systems will be found desirab l
Some individual houses will be needle
to house the pigs when they are rul
ming on the different fields and for e,