Milford chronicle., 1911-04-07

this plan is that 1t saves the expense
OF keeping the sows throughout the
summer If q good pasture is avail.
able. however. this expense will not
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 it has
been found that sows two years old or
over at farrOwing time produce nearly
30 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 farrowing time.
and they give a 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 litters and smaller aud less
vigorous pigs. The boar should be at
least a year old at time Of service. a
boar that proves to be a satisfactory
sire should be Kept until his daughters
reach breeding age, if not longer
If warm farrowing 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 a dozen. The
SOW should be taken away as soon as
served and 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 farrowing |
time comes there is no means Of |
knowing when to expect the pigs |
SOws should not be fat at farrowing |
time. but should be in good thrifty /
condition and should be kept so
throughout the winter Plenty OF ex-
ercise is also essential il vigorous pigs
are TO be produced.
When the pigs come early and old
sowS are used fall litters may often be
raised AT profit This is specially so if
plenty of milk can be had The cost OF
feed is greater with fall litters 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 or
not fall pigs can be proftably grown
for market When raised for breeding
fall pigs can always be sold
at a good profit as yearings.
Central Versus Colony System.
There are two general plans of han
ding hogs. the centralized system and
the colony system. The central sys-
tenn consists Of one large hog house
where all the hogs are kept both win
.er 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
II her buildiugS for convenience in win !
er
The central system is an advantage
n winter. as warmer quarters can be
provided II is also much more con
-enient TO feed and handle hogs when
hey are all together in this manner.
The advantage of the colony system
$ that the houses can be moved from
lace TO place wherever they are need
d. There is less liability Of disease
When the hogs are kept in small
roves. and disease can be more read
" handled If it docs break out. The
igs ran hc Sor'rd according to size
nd will do better than if they all run
ogether. This system also has the ad-
antage Of cheapness. The main dis
dvantage is that it is Il great deal
iore work to care for the hogs in
catered lots.
On most farms a combination of the
vO systems viii be found desirable
ONE individual houses will be needed |
, house the pigs when they are run !
ing on the different fields and for ex