Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 154, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 June 1911 — HOW CAN WE INCREASE THE SIZE OF THE LITTER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HOW CAN WE INCREASE THE SIZE OF THE LITTER

By Prof. W. W. SMITH

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Purdue University Agricultural Extension.

The success end ultimate welfare of the hog business rests upon the old sow with the capacity for raising large Utters. This is the most essential and fundamental fact Involved in practical pork production. Some sows are kept for "looks," and others for producing pork; but the breeder who thus allows his stock to be classified is not laying the foundation for a successful herd. We want all the "looks" we can get with usefulness, but utility should be insisted upon first. Good looks which contribute to good performance should be our standard. How can we increase the site of the Utter? First —Choose the breeding gilts from the large Utters. This is the safest single guide. The characteristic of prolific breeding quality is transmitted from parent to offspring, and 4 the pigs' of good mothers should always be given the preference. It is usually true that the litter of 8 is as thoroughly nourished as the litter of 8 or 4. The prolific breeders are invariably the heavy milkers. Second—Don’t sell the mature sows which are good breeders. Greatest reliance should be placed upon the sow that has demonstrated by actual performance her ability as a breeder. The gilt la more uncertain, and her ability to successfully nourish a large litter, limited. Age affects the number of pigs quite markedly. Actual observations Would indicate that, on the average. the number of pigs in the litter increases with the age of the sow up to 4 years, when the maximum number Is produced. Another important fact is the general observation that the mature sow produces the stronger, more vigorous, and more even litters. Third —Have the sow in strong health, and gaining, when bred. The number of pigs depend upon the number of fertilized eggs. The number of

pigs cannot exceed the number of eggs produced by the mother. Since the supply of male cells are normally excessive in number compared with the number of egg cells of the female, the sow has most to do in determining the number of pigs. When in good health and slightly gaining in fleSh the sow is supposed to most surely and regularly come lu heat, and at each heat period, produce the maximum number of eggs. This fact is strongly supported by experience. Sows that have been maintained during the summer on grass alone can be most successfully handled during the breeding season in November and December. Fourth—Select the boar from the large litters. Free and fertile breeding quality is inherited from the sow and boar equally. Although the number of pigs is determined chiefly by the sow, in the second and future generations their influence is equal. _ Fifth—When buying a sow prefer the individual that is roomy in the middle, long and deep of sides and that shows a strong development of twelve teats. Though actual performance Is a much safer guide than Individuality alone, nevertheless, there is a relation between the two. Sixth —Exercise and proper feeding and care during the winter are necessary to bring the pigs in embryo to successful maturity at birth. Lack of exercise, and excessive corn feeding mean weak pigs, a high rate of mortality after birth, a feverish, bad-temp-ered sow, and an inefficient milk supply. Seventh —We should remember that the number of pigs a sow produces is more’a matter of individuality than of breed or strain or family. Every breed has prolific individuals, and if care and judgment are exercised in selecting the breeding stock there will be no occasion for changing breeds.

Thirteen, Original Litter—Two Whites and One Black Died.