The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-06-20
THE BEST BRED OF SWINE
The Assistant Agriculturist of the North
Carolina z Experiment Station Discusses
the Question-.How to Develop and
Improve the Stock = Best Breeds Not
Adapted to Worst Conditions.

Adapted to Worst Conditions.
Correspondence Of the Progressive Farmer.
The question concerning the best
breed of swine for the average farmer
of North Carolina is very apt to bring
forth various answers from different
breeders, each of whom will contend
that his favorites are the very best and
perhaps the only breed worthy of a
place on any farm in this or any other
of the Southern States. This is a very
natural state of aft airs, and one which
we would not see otherwise il it were
in our power. To be successful with
pure bred swine, cattle or stock Of any
other class, it is essential, or best at
least, for the breeder to think that
for his conditions and those Of his
neigh6ors, he has ia his herd the
very best breed and individuals at
tainable. This idea may lead
him into some mistakes occasion ally.
But if he is proud enough OF his
STOCK to exhibit them at his State
Or local fair yearly, he will soon see
wherein his mistake lies and will dis
cover the proper remedy and the means
Of lis speedy application,
The Pylsnd China man contends that
his is ire beet breed for general pur-
poses; the Berkshire man says his are
best; while the admirers Of the whites
maintain with vigor that the Chester
White, Yorkshire, Victoria, Ches hire
or some other white breed is the only
true pork making animal. The lovers
OF the reds assert their loyalty By
claiming that either the Tam worth or
Duroc Jerseys are superior 70 all others
of the porcine tribe.
The advocates Of each of the several
breeds present facts and figures GO eus-
tain their claims. Taking all Shis into
consideration is it at all surprising
that the farmer who favors no ps7t'cu
lar breed hesitstes in selecting pure
bred animals with which to epGabljsh
or improve an already established herd
Of swim
We are Of the opinion that while
each OF the pure breeds possess many
points Of value to recommend it, no
one can justly lay claim to being supe-
rlOr n aIl respects to all Others. In
other words there is 20 best breed or
swine.
The standard By which al hogs must
be measuged sIIner or later i5 their
capacity or ~caoaOuisy co make good.
fine, sWeeC ana ,en5er PORK IN large
q lanCIties from the coarze and cfUeC
GImes otherwise waste material trim
farm and garden crops and kitcr en-
refuse To be Of much value the hog
must have the ability to c.n72me. d
gest and assimilate a large smrunJ OF
the above materi ala. The hog Cbat will
do this to best advantage has q rather
short, broad di5hing head; medium
sized clear eyes set well apart; ears
rather below medium size, neither TOO
thin aud delicate nor coarse, thick ard
harsn or stiff TO the feal; jlwl rather
large and we'll developed but not 50
heavy 80 TO give il q pendulous or
loose, hanging appearance; neck short
ana lulck aetsiug square and firmly
onto the shoulders, which ahCuld Be
thick ani we'll meaIed, giving them a
fQlare, cold, compact appearance
Wnen viewed either from before, above
or from \ sid the ribs we'll arched,
giving ample room for a strong set of
lungs and good heart development;
the back broad and even from side to
side and level or very slightly arched
from the shoulders to hams; broad,
deep, slightly rounded hams, covered
with thick, firm meat extending we'll
down to the hCCks; broad and level in
the twist or between the hind legs: the
fl lnks coming do IN square and evenly,
giving a good thick side; the belly line
should be nearly smooth and straight
from rear to front the chest broad and
fat; the tail Of medium length. fine
and tapering to the point, tipped with
a foe, soft 0r silk switch; the legs
should be rather small or fine, but
firm ooned, we'll muscled and set
squarely under the body; the skin
should be Of medium thickness, soft
and flexible and covered with a thick
growth Of fine hair incline. to be wavy.
This is our idea OF the most profitable
hog for the breeder, the feeder and the
consumer.
The animal may approach perfection
in many or all Of the above respects,
yet If ne does not possess vigor and a
sound constitution be is undesirable
and very likely Improbable. 1t is
better by far to sacrifice some Of the