er and more
important one is that the teats most forward on the udder of the sow
produce the larger quantity of milk, or milk of a better quality. It
will be almost invariably found that the pigs sucking the foremost teats
thrive the best.

It is advisable to avoid the selection of a female pig for breeding
purposes from a sow which has large and coarse teats, as these
invariably accompany coarseness of skin, bone, hair, and flesh, this in
turn affects the sale value of the carcase. It will also be found that
those sows with a neat and compact udder, with fine teats, will give
more milk and a better quality than sows possessing a coarse and flabby
udder.

Another weakness to be avoided when selecting a sow pig for breeding
purposes is that which is commonly termed a blind teat, since it is
undoubtedly hereditary in addition to being useless for the purpose of
rearing pigs. The normal teat projects boldly from the udder, whereas
the blind teat is almost flat or on a level with the udder. In
appearance it resembles a ring of skin with a depressed nipple in its
centre. At the time of parturition the blind teat contains milk to the
same extent as do the other teats, but it promptly dries up since it is
impossible for the little pigs to extract the milk from it since the
nipple recedes as soon as the pigling attempts to clasp it with its lips
and tongue, instead of becoming more extended so that the little pig can
suck the milk from it.

An ideal udder can be briefly described as one possessing at least
twelve fully developed teats, the more the better--these should commence
from a point as near the fore legs of the sow as possible, and be placed
as nearly as possible an equal distance the one from the other.

Some persons hold that large teats and much loose skin are sure
indications that the sow has proved to be a good milker. This is a
mistaken view; it is with sows as with cows, the most prolific milkers
are those with well formed and soft udders which almost disappear when
the lactation period has passed.

CHAPTER VIII

MATING THE YOUNG SOW

As in most other details in the management of our domesticated animals
there exists a variety of opinion as to the age at which the young sow,
or, as it is commonly locally termed, a gilt, yelt, yilt, hilt, elt,
etc., should be mated with the boar. Perhaps the most important point to
consider is the time of the year when the anticipated pigs should
arrive. If possi