THE SOW'S UDDER
One of the most important points in connection with the reproduction of
the species of our various domestic animals is the provision of a full
supply of milk for the young in the early portion of their existence.
Nature herself has set us a good example in a duplicated source of milk
supply even amongst animals which usually produce only one animal at a
birth. If this duplication be necessary under such conditions, it must
be imperative on us to select those sow pigs which are intended for
breeding pigs which possess a well-formed udder, having a full supply of
teats, and these of good shape and properly placed on the belly of the
sow. Not only is this necessary to ensure the rearing of a fairly
numerous litter of pigs in a satisfactory manner, but it is held that
the number of teats possessed by a sow indicates to a remarkable extent
the probable degree of prolificacy of the sow. One can readily
understand that nature would not be likely to endow a sow with the power
to produce a larger number of young at each birth than she would be able
to rear. Of course it may be said that the sow of the present day is not
as nature first made her, in that, by selection and by feeding, the
number of pigs produced at each birth is now so much larger than the
litters of the wild sows, which have some seven or eight teats and
farrow at each litter a similar number of pigs. On the other hand,
neither the number of teats nor of the young is fixed either in the
domesticated sow, or the sow in a wild state, so that by continued
selection we are able to permanently increase, within limits, the
production of larger litters and the increased supply of milk for their
sustenance when young.
The provision of a suitable udder is even of more importance with the
domesticated than with the sow running wild, since the latter produces
each year one litter only, and that in the season of the year when the
young are less dependent on their dams; whereas the domesticated sow is
expected to rear at least two litters per year, and frequently owing to
want of care on the part of the owner the young pigs are farrowed at the
most unfavourable time of the year.
Apart from the provision of a certain number of teats there is another
point to be considered, the power of the sow to produce milk enough to
satisfy the given number of pigs. This of course varies with each family
or tribe of pigs, and even with the various members in it, so that to
obtain the best results selection must be made of the produce of those
sows which give the largest quantity of the most nutritious milk. There
exists amongst pig keepers a difference of opinion as to the number of
pigs each sow should be allowed to rear, probably the average of this
number would be ten for a mature sow, and seven or eight for a first
litter. If so, the selected sow pig should possess twelve teats, as
frequently one of these may not give a full supply of milk from either
natural or accidental causes. The teats should be regular in size and
form. It is not uncommon to find one or more of the teats of a sow much
smaller in size than the others. These smaller teats will produce a
reduced quantity of milk, so that the pigling which is unfortunate
enough to decide on making this small teat its very own--and each
pigling is confined by the others to its own special teat--is certain to
be less well developed than its brothers and sisters, even if it should
succeed in surviving.
The necessity for the teats being placed equidistant the one from the
other arises from the desirability of each pig having room to suck
comfortably. Should two of the teats be closely placed the two pigs will
probably fight, when not only will sores be caused on the cheeks of the
pigs, but the milk in the teats not properly drawn will gradually cease
to flow.
Another point of great importance is that the teats should commence as
near as possible to the fore legs--this for two reasons: it gives more
room for the pigs to suck as they grow larger; the other 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.