The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1896-10-24
FARMER AND PLANTER.
THE AMERICAN HOG.
What Shall be the Type of the Hog of the
Future?

What Shall be the Type of the Hog of the
Future?
Paper read by R. NJ. Smith. Of Pendleton,
KY, before the Kentucky Swine Breeders
association at Danville, KY, August ii, 1885,
"Wihat Shall be the Type Of the Hog
of the Future" We have been watch
ing with considerable interest the COM
ing man and the new woman" and
have seen both approach very nearly
the freak, and, while we hope for great
things, we do not expect to see the hog
of to future astride bicycle nor re-
moved to very great degree from his
present standard of excellence. Ex-
tremes should be avoided, and this is
no less true in swine breeding than
in any other department of life.
A review Of the daily market report
would be a fair guide in the direction
we wish to go, and while excessive
fairness should be avoided, men will
continue to have their hogs in good
flesh SO long as the eye is factor in
estimating the value of the animal.
Like the mantal of charity 1t covers a
multitude of faults and is, in most in
stances, the important item in making
a sale, and while in sentiment we con-
denim it. in practice we approve. The
score card has already given Us a
standard that up to the present we
have failed to reach by about TWEEN
ty per cent, and until we shall
have reached the type as out
/ lined by the score card we
need not concern ourselves about
niger standards, but may very profita-
bly, work out the task already allotted
! rs. A very prominent breeder in the
north told me be thought his prize
winning boar at the st. Louis fair of
1854 had not been surpassed up to this
1 time. After we have attained the
nearest possible approach in essen
t veloping the ornate-color and mark
ings will always be important factors
I in the makeup of the type of the hog
! of the future If there were no red
headed men or breeders of red-haired
swine present l would say the hand
soonest types of each did not have red
hair. The plumage of the pea-fowl is
not to be despised. With our friends,
the breeders of the Thin-Rind and thin
flesh, to stand as beacon lights, warn
ing us of excessive fairness, we may
I hardly expect to see 1900 pound mon
sters in the hog family again, and will
: not be dashed to pieces over the break
ers they SO plainly point out. so may
say here, let us learn from the fears
of our enemies, as well as from the
hopes of our friends, and avoid
every worthy example. This can
best be done by proper mating
and proper care of the young entirely
free from prejudice. Let's build ur
our herds before trying to build ar
fortunes therefrom.
Ill have wearied any of my nearer.
tonight, / could have told you the
type of the hog of the future in fewer
words; but was selected to give yor
facts, unbiased by partisan prejudice
and so / have endeavored to describt
character and not family or breed.
would not expect to influence the
older breeders by anything 1 nigh
say. Some of them are already
committed to - policy, ''lnake o.
bread" but to the young breeder tn,
field of opportunity is not bound b,
the limitations of prejudice, and the
future holds in store its best gifts foi
those who regard individual worth a
paramount and attach more impor
tance to quality than to family Oh
breed. To such is the widest possibl,
range.
In conclusion, let me say that tn
hog of the future will be the produc
of the breeder for quality rather thai
the result of the man who studio
pedigrees without proper regard 70
individual worth. -