Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1910-02-25

arrerward. UIu sows are much less
liable to trouble at narrowing time.
and they give 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
boar that proves to be satisfactory
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 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 dozen. The
SOW should be taken away as soon as
served and Il record of the service
made. An aged. vigorous boar may
be allowed two sows 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 SO
throughout the winter. Plenty of ex-
ercise is also essential if vigorous pigs
are to be produced.
When the pigs come early and old
sows are used fall filters may often be
raised at profit. This is specially so il
plenty of milk can be had. The cost of
feed is greater with fall filters because
of lack of grass There are also consid
cradle loss and lack Of profitable gains
unless good shelter can be provided
Individual conditions. together with
few trials. will determine whether OF
not fall pigs can be proftably grown
for market When raised for breeding
purposes fall pigs can always be .solt
at good profit as yearlings.
Central Versus Colony System.
n There are two general plans of har
g ding hogs, the centralized system an
s. the colony system. The central sys
lie tenn consists of one large hog hous
where all the hogs are kept both wiz
ter and summer. The colony systel
10 consists of a number of small houses
N each with its pasture. These sma
a houses can be moved up close to tt
- other buildings for convenience in wi
N ter.
10 The central system is an advantas
at in winter, as warmer quarters can
10 provided. 1t is also much more CO.
~ venient to feed and handle hogs whe
IN they are all together in this name
Ia The advantage of the colony systel
~ is that the houses can be moved frol
ali place to place wherever they are neet
- ed. There is less liability of diseas
~ when the hogs are kept In sma
~ droves, and disease can be more rea
~. ily handled il it does break out. III
~ pigs can be sorted according to ST.
~ and will do better than if they all RI
70 70 together. This system also has the a
81. vantage of cheapness. The main di
Nv advantage is that it is great de
~ more work to care for the hogs
=. scattered lots.
~ On most farms combination of tt
NC two systems will be found desirab!
os Some individual houses will be need
~ to house the pigs when they are ru
.ss ming on the different fields and for