Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-02-20
Selecting the
Best Herd Boar

Best Herd Boar
The selection Of boar which will
actually impeJve q mans herd is no
easy task.
One Of the greatest mistakes made
In selecting boar comes in not
getting him early enough. Very
often market hog men In particular
wait until they actually need boar
before going out to look for one. This
means that the choice Ii limited and
In many instances the seeker Of a
boar takes what he can get. Quite
often it Is q ''taN ender' bought
cheap.
such bears are usually taken home
and turned out with q bunch OF sows,
sometimes q few. and often too many.
often the boar isn't In condition for
heavy service and poor results are
obtained. Then again. o man will
sometimes wait until q neighbor IL
through with q boar. This 10 all
right if the boar has proved himself.
and isn't oyerused, but often such
boars are in mighty poor shape to be
taken into the second herd.
Let's get this boar four or six
weeks ahead Of breeding time. Get
as good a boar as can he obtained
with the money availaple. then take
this boar home and put him ~ q
small pasture lot one-fourth acre -
size. Then grow this botr % much
as possible with feeds like oats: tank
age. skinlmilk. niddlings and just
enough corn to keep him In fair nesn.
In this way the boar can be brought
a. hrnnAfn0 In the
best Of condition. Too many confine
their bears too closely during the
breeding season. This tends to make
a boar q less certain breeder 20 well
as q slow breeder.
It ID advisable to get boar from
a good sized litter Of pigs weaned.
Like begets like. and It IL to be ex-
pected that the boar win transmit the
qualities of his dam to his gifts. A
good sized litter of seven. eight or
more pigs weaned means that the
dam was a good mixer and possess
ed good teats. II Is q pretty good
plan to avoid boars from filters OF
two or three.
It is always advisable to see the
sire and dam of the boar selected. be-
cause they are the best gauge one
has to so by as to what the boar may
become.
For the most part spring pigs are
used for breeding purposes. ana
where the pigs are well grown and
not used too heavily. good results are
obtained. 1t must be conceded, how
ever, that more age on the boar iS q
good thing. Young boars and old
sows. or old boars and young sows
maks the best matings, that Is. where
young stock of either sex is used.
Fall boars and spring gifts are
satisfactory. Get as early a far
rowed boar as possible and once a
boar has proved himself good
breeder Of market pigs. keep hin, as
long as possible.
The type of boar will depend in
a large measure upon the type of
sows to be bred. II one has q
medium type of SOW. with not much
stretch it Is wise to look for q boar
one has real stretchy, outstanding
formation may be used. Certainly
extremes both ways must be avoided.
A boar to be good getter OF pigs
must possess masculinity, q quality
which is shown In the rusEedness of
Ills anu III XIV At~S~ s-fAe
head. The face should be rather long
but wide enough between the eyes so
that he does not appear weak. This
type Of a head is usually associated
with a similar type on the pigs which
means easier narrowing. whereas the
short, blocky head predisposes
trouble at narrowing. A large. bright
eve Is also indicative Of strength and
strong reproductive ability.
The body must be well made. that
10. possessing plenty Of length. depth
and width so as to make a well
balanced hog. The back should be
slightly arched. and the width Of
back and body uniform. 1t is very
advisable to discriminate against the
heavy shouldered boar with
tendency to be SHELBY and wrinkied
on the sides. The boar should also
have a deep, broad. fairly plump
ham. carrying down well toward the
hook.
The boar must be well grown Tor
his age. Size for age is important
and he should be a boar that Is up
to weight for his age and the breed
qualifications. This means he must
possess a good frame with strong
clean bone. 1t is very essential TO get
a straight legged, short pasterned
hoar. because If otherwise as he
takes on weight and with service. ne
is likely to break down. 1t Is always
we'll to pick the boar with well de-
yeloped testicles. 1t is not advisable
to choose q boar that shows Dut one
testicle.
A boar is best cared for when ne
has a small lot to run In and Is pro-
yided with a small house for shelter.
II Ia not advisable to have this lot
next to where the brood sows are,
although with older boars there ID
little objection.
The boar should come up TO breed
ing season In good flesh. vet not rat,
There is little question but what tne
fat boar is very likely to sire weak
and small filters. A good ration Tor
the young growing boar Just prior
and at time of breeding may consist
of oats 40 parts. corn 40 parts. mid
dlings Is and tankage parts.
Heavy slopping is not advisable.
The heavily used boar should ne
exercised and fed heavily OF protein
feeds. Purebred breeders have been
known 70 feed as many as a dozen
eggs per day to their boars under
heavy service.
After the breeding season Is over,
the boar can he fed lighter and car
ried along with a little grain. with
access to q pasture. where he can
exercise az he wishes.