The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1910-02-11
PAGE 3

summer. II good pasture is avail
amount to much. The use Of mature
sows will bring In a 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 1t 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 % per cent faster gains
afterward. Old 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 a
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 a 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 a 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 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 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 a profit. This is specially so IL
plenty of milk can be had. The cost of
feed is greater with fall filters because
cradle loss and lack Of profitable gains
unless good shelter can be provided.
Individual conditions, together with
few trials. will determine whether or
not fall pigs can be profitably grown
for market. When raised for breeding
purposes fall pigs can always be sold
at good profit as yearlings.
Central Versus Colony System.
There are two general plans of han
ding hogs. the centralized system and
the colony system. The central sys-
TEN consists of one large hog house
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 small
houses can be moved up close to the
other buildings for convenience in win
ter
The central system is an advantage
in winter, as warmer quarters can be
provided. 1t is also much more con-
venient to feed and handle hogs when
they are all together in this manner.
The advantage of the colony system
is that the houses can be moved from
place to place wherever they are need
ed. There is less liability Of disease
when the hogs are kept in small
droves. and disease can be more read
lily handled IL it does break out. The
pigs can be sorted according to size
and will do better than If they all run
This system also has the ad-
Of cheapness. The main dis
advantage is that it is a great deal
more work to care for the hogs in
scattered lots.
On most farms combination of the
.wo systems will be found desirable.
Some individual houses will be needed
% house the pigs when they are run
hing on the different fields and for ex-