The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-01
THE SWINE BREEDERS.
Annual Meeting of the State Association-A
National Convention Proposed-Devel-
opment of the Industry.

The Swine Breeders Association bsgan its
six tn annual session in the rooms OF the State
Board of Agriculture, yesterday afternoon, with
an attendance of between forty and fifty mem
bers representing the different parts of the State.
The business of the meeting was opened with
the customary address from the president, Rich
ard Jones, of Bartholomew county, who spoke
of the progress that had been made during the
last twenty years IN swine breeding. The hog
OF twenty years ago was permitted. he said, to
grow until about eighteen months old. 1t prOba-
ably weighed at the end of that time
about 300, pounds and the meat
was of an inferior quality. Hogs were fed
through two winters, and there was little or no
profit in their production; hence. COMPARE
lively little attention was given the business by
the farmer. The breeds had been gradually i'm
proved, however, until now a hog ten or twelve
months old would weigh from 800 to $50
pounds, and the meat was OF quality at least
20 per cent. better. Pure breeds have been
propagated, and better quality of pork can
now be placed on the market at a smaller cost of
production than formerly The breeding OF
swine, has, in fact become one OF the most
profitable branches of the farmers business
+ W. H. Morris, editor of the Swine
Breeders Journal, of this city, also
addressed the association upon the in
terests of swine breeders generally. Messrs
Hollingsworth of Knox county; 1. N.
Barker, of Boone, and A. s. Gilmore Of Decatur,
were appointed a committee on programme, and
Messrs W. E. Jackson, l. N. Barker and James
Mustard were chosen as a committee to consider
the ACCESSIBILITY of holding a national swine
breeders meeting sometime during the coming
summer or winter.
A regOllitiOn mr. linz hat
sows which have not reared a litter of pigs
within twelve months prior to the time of the
exhibition" shall not be permitted to compete
for premiums at the State fair.
In general discussion upon the breeding Of
swine, Mr. jackson gave it as his opinion
that breeding under maturity destroys the
vitality OF hog. He was strongly opposed to
the system of breeding young because he
thought 1t primarily the caus, Of cholera and
other diseases. As the result of years of expe-
rience. he was satisfied that it was radically
wrong The fattentng of II hog Is giving 1t an
abnormal condition, and breeding before ma
turlty was n violation OF common law of ma
ture, hence his theory that the result would be
disease IN such breeds, and that they would not
possess the best qualities for use as meat.
A leading produce dealer gave 1t as his expe-
rience that 1t was impossible to distinguish be-
tween the breeds of the young hogs and those Of
the older ones, but the general expression OF
opinion was in favor Of the theory of Mr.. Jack
son.
Committees were appointed to prepare scales
OF points on the different breeds, by which hogs
may be judged at the State fair exhibitions.
MesSrs. W. A. Macy, ". G. Williams and ID. L.
Thomas were chosen to prepare the Poland
China scale, and A. s. Gilmore, c. B. Jackson and
J. W. Barker the Berkshire scale. The State
Board of Agriculture was requested to permit
the association to select an expert judge for the
swine department of the State fair, and that the
same person should judge all breeds by the scale
OF points furnished by the association.
The committee on scale of points for Judging
Berkshlres reported the following at the even
ing session, which was adopted: Head, 12
ears, 6; neck, z: shoulders, 10; back, IL; body,
IL; lOins and TANKS, 10; hams / D; tail, 4; legs
and feet, IL; total, 100 points. The committee
on Poland Chinas win report to-day.
Upon recommendation of the committees the
experts for judges of the breeds named at the
next State fair, one of whom will be
chosen: On Poland China-C. w. Jones, of Kala-
mazoo, Mich; E. Munger, of Bentonville, Ind,
and David Prick, of Oxford o. On Berkshlres-
ID. W. Todd, of Urbana, o.; Jacob Kennedy, Liz
ton. Ind, aud Osborn Barnard, of BloOomin eton,
III. The committee on premium lists submitted
a report, recommending an increase of 20 per
cant. In premiums upon Berkshire and Poland
China breeds. The remainder of the evening
lions relating to the interests of swine breeding
1t was decided to hold ma
tonal convention of Swine Breeders
in this city on the first Wednesday in February,
1884, and the committee appointed during the
afternoon to consider the matter was instructed
to make the necessary preliminary arrange
ments for the occasion.
The association will continue in session this
morning The principal feature will be an adj
dress by Governor Porter. The officers for the
next year will be elected, aud the meeting will
adjourn before noon. The Wool-grow ers' Asso-
place, and will continue in session tomorrow.