THE PIGGERY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1653, 21 January 1913, Page 8

THE PIGGERY.

POINTS OF A' GOOD SOW. ' Referring to the, points of a good sow, an espart on. pigs /says jt is not such a difficult matter: as might be expected to go into.a-piggery with a largs number of crossbred, and mongrel sows and. pick out those which .produce the best litters. Milk production and general, maternal capacity are associated with certain, characteristics in pjgs iis-in' dairj l cattle, and a little: study .of 'type in; pigs will enable anyone to. pick 6ut .tho' most profitable sow to use for .breeding purposes. The pretty •little sow. is : acharming,picturesque animal, small points and fine bone, just the sort, to make a butcher glad; and such, is her best destination.. In (lie.'breeding pen her litters will-he small, . her milk secretion light,' find her: progeny will not 'develop with the intensity of vigour which is tho best thing'to.drive pigs to a profitable death. It will be found, according to 'the authority in question; ,that in most •instances the so'w'which ,is - tho very, antithesis of this,is the .best parent: Her, bQdy'should bo long, deep, and comparatively narrow. I-It should bs remembered that;.'the'digestive '.organs,of.'•the brood sow play perhaps'the most important part in.her career., They are called upon to do more Hvork at certain times .than the digestive organs of any other animal, and the succession of litters is largely determined-by the amount of food which can 'be.made ready for conversion into milk. Hence it is that length and depth in body are 'exceedingly 'important .features iii.,a. breedng' sow.. .The next' thing to. look'for'is,a w«ll r formed iidd-sr, free from badly developed patdhes or calloused parts.- The phlegmatic', sleepy, sow is to be avoided. Good mothets are generally ' 1 somewhat nervous; like ! dairy cows. Milk' secretion' has \been proved to bo largely-'i,.nervous 'function, and tho :dull'somnolent sow is seldom a mother oMiigh order.';-A'good backlineis a useful point: ■ Hollowed backs.: are riot • to ' be sought aftei*>t]ie back should at least-be, level, .and, .if slightly, arched, so much the better.. ' •• • ■