Relative proportions of the sexes in litters of pigs

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Property ol the United States Government

Issued July 8, 1907.

epartment of Agriculture,

MAL INDUSTRY— Circular No. 112.

Melvin, Chief of Bureau.

RELATIVE PROPORTIONS OF THE SEXES IN LITTERS OF PIGS.

By George M. Rommel,

Animal Husbandman.

In response to requests, the Animal Husbandry Office of this Bureau
has recently collected information regarding the relative proportions of
the two sexes of pigs at birth, with quite interesting results. This
information is not to be obtained from the herdbooks for the reason
that, while the total number of pigs farrowed is usually given, the num-
ber of each sex is given only for the pigs raised.

Reports were received from 82 breeders, located in 23 States and 2
Territories (Indian Territory and Oklahoma) . Eight breeds were repre-
sented, as follows: Berkshire, Chester White, Duroc Jersey, Hampshire,
Large Yorkshire, Ohio Improved Chester, Poland China, and Tamworth.
•In a few cases the record of litters of grade and mixed breeding was
given; these are included in the results.

The number of sows whose litters were reported was 1,477. The
number of boar pigs was 6,660; the number of sows, 6,625; and the
total, 13,285. The average per sow was as follows: Boars, 4.51; sows,
4.48; total, 8.99. The figures are mainly for litters farrowed during
1906. In 49 cases second litters during the year were reported for the
same sows, which somewhat raises the average per sow.

Boars are seen to be slightly more numerous than sows, but for all
practical purposes the sexes may be regarded as equal in number at
birth. The relative proportion was found to be 1,005 boars to 1,000
sows. Expressed in another way, the proportion is 100.53 boars to 100
sows, which in lowest terms of whole figures is 201 boars to 200 sows.

Approved :

James Wilson,

Secretary of Agriculture.

Washington, D. C., June 17, 1907.

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