Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-04-09
The Po;and-China Hog.

The Po;and-China Hog.
1t is claimed by some interested in
other breeds, that the Poland-China
are a made up breed. Well, l viii
acknowledge the point; they are a
made-up breed, (but l am prepared to
show the Berkshire is also made-up
breed) but if they are a made-up
breed, they have been bred tortwenty
years, to my knowledge, and much
longer, to the knowledge of older
men. Six crosses OF pure blood in
cattle is called thorough, and is ex-
pected to produce its own likeness,
or near enough for practical purposes.
Now, think of an animal that is as
prolific as the hog, being bred for
nearly half century, and then call
it a madc-up breed. From observa-
ton l am satisfied that wellbred Po-
land-China will reproduce as true as
any imported Berkshire, yet | will
admit there are more grades OF Po-
!and-China sold to those who are not
posted, than there are of Berkshire.
But the breeders succe IS lies in re-
production, (and how a mistake at
the outset multiplies in rcproduction,)
and when men get grades because
they arc cheap, or because they are
ignorant and some one imposes on
them and sells them a grade for Il
thoroughbred, Of course such stock
for breeders will cause dlsappoint-
mcnt and loss, as well rs a prejudice
against the breed. To breed Poland
Cbinas successfully we must begin
with thoroughbred sows. That is all
right, but. WREN we come to a boar, it
is not enough that he should be
Thoroughbred, but here the breeder
must use judgment, or he may lose to
great extent his whole crop, and be
compelled to begin anew. "What
requires more caution than the selcc-
ton Of an animal that will influence
the color, style, form and quality of
our young Stock" and not only our
own but perhaps our neighbors'
stock. Here is where a breeder is
called on to act wisely. The boar
should be of pure blood, as perfect as
possible in all the points which con-
stitute the good qualities Of his no
bic race of swlne,-the Poland-China.
He should be from healthy parents.
He should be finer than the SOW he
is to be bred to; short legs and COM
pactly built; as short a nose and
small an ear as any Of his kind. He
should he spotted, butthe more black
the better. He should be fed well
and never stunted. He should not
run at large, but should have green
pasture, where there are not other
hogs to worry him. He should not
be bred before nine months old, and
then he should weigh over two hun
dred pounds. Here l would say that
l cannot tell what l want to about
the Poland-China without saying
something about others, and l will
only name the three kinds that are
mostly bred in our part of the State
at present, the Poland-C China, Chester
white, and Berkshire. The Poland
China were originated in Butler coun-
ty, Ohio, bv D. NJ. Magic, Alexander
Young, and others. History tells us
of large, dark-colored, lop-eared,
short-legged, prolific Poland hogs be-
ing imported to the United States
from Germany, and being af erwards
generally bred i'll Pennsylvania and
Ohio. After some time they were
crossed with the Byticld, "a made-up
or mixed brced) and about the year
1888, Mr.. William Naff, of Ohio, I'M
ported some Irish Gralzers. They
were Of medium size, fine boned.
white hogs, with deep sides, and
easily fattened. These the Butler
county breeders crossed with the
hogs they had made from the Byfeld
and Poland, and by looking at the
United States Agricultural Report
you will find that they soon beat the
world for heavy hogs, and the result
of these crosses shows 4 breed of
hogs of the most desirable qualities.
They are large and docile, mature
early, and tatten easily at any age
The best average Of hogs ever made
in the United States were Poland
Chinas. We all know that quiet
animal of any kind is the one that
will tattcn easily, and, in short, l be-
lieve the Poland China the best hog
that is living to-day. l have tried
the Berkshires, and have lost much
time, patiencc and money with them.
l have talked with other men who
bred them. Hon. Eli Stilson, OF
Wisconsin, says he has nothing on
his farm but Berkshires, and he keeps
them because others advertise them
and he can sell them, but he thinks
the public will soon find out their
mistake. Mr.. Roberts, of the Agri-
cultural College farm, Ames, Iowa,
told me he had tried the Berkshires
and thought they were good till he
tried the Polan l-China, and he found
them much better hog, and as
thorough bred, He said he could
breed the Berkshire as spotted us the
Poland-China, and then winds up by
saying: II do not want any more OF
the Berkshire in minc."
BY looking over the Agricultural
Department Of the Patent Office Re
ports of ls5o-5l, l lind the Berk-
shires are reported from all parts OF
the United States rs the best hogs,