HOW TO PROFITABLY INCREASE
 LITTER SIZE
 K. L. Durrance and A. C. Warnick1
A. Select gilts on following points:
 Sound underline 14 or more prominent
 teats.
 From lines and families with high fer-
 tility (large litter size) and early sexual
 maturity.
 Heavy muscling and rapid rate of gain,
 with good feed efficiency.
 Structurally correct, with sound feet and
 legs and quality bone.
 Select at approximately 4 months or 150
 to 200 pounds.
 Healthy individuals and from healthy
 herds.
 Utilize littermate records from Swine
 Evaluation Center.
B. Management of replacement gilts
 Feed 3- 6 lb. growing ration (16% pro-
 tein content) for adequate gains.
 Provide lush pasture where possible.
 a. Winter oats, rye and clover
 b. Summer Pearlmillet and grasses
 Check feet and trim if needed.
C. Herd Health
 Vaccinations for:
 a. Hog cholera (pigs at 6 to 9 weeks and
 sows yearly)
 b. Leptospirosis (at least 2 weeks before
 breeding)
 c. Erysilpelas (pigs at 8 to 12 weeks and
 sows 2 weeks before each breeding
 season)
 Testing. Blood test all gilts and sows
 annually at least three weeks before
 breeding for Brucellosis and Leptospirosis.
 Isolate all purchased breeding stock for
 at least 30 days before adding to herd.

 1Associate animal husbandman, Agricultural Extension Service and
animal physiologist, Agricultural Experiment Stations.