The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1908-03-13
Razor-backs.

There Is in the piney woods, and
also in the mountainous sections Of
Georgia, a type Of hog known as
~razor-backs. They have pecuIiari-
ties Of form and habit that place them
In class by themselves. Unlike the
Duroc-Jersey, the Poland China or
Berkshire, their characteristics were
not produced by the breeding skill Of
man, but was evolved from nature.
Their form was fashioned by short
rations or an innutritious character,
gathered in uncertain quantities from
widely scattered localities They are
long Of lmib, lean Of side and heavy
Of snout. II is said that specimens
of this breed have been known to
climb trees, scale fences, drink milk
from jugs and do other stunts OF a
similar nature. They usually take
first prize at the county fair as SUI
perior runners. Their admirers claim
that speed Is desirable character
istic in any hog, as they are enabled
to get out OF the way OF thieves. Ex-
treme specimens have been heard Of
that required a considerable weight
attached to their tails to prevent them
from flying up behind when they are
engaged in roofing" for their daily
bread. The slimness of their bodies
testify TO the narrow margin between
their lives and actual starvation.
Theirs is literal case Of root hog
or die.
The razor-back has his advantages,
no doubt, but he can not be counted
an economic factor in present-day
farming. The requirements at this
time is for hog that has the capacity
to turn corn into meat at the greatest
profit and in the shortest time. The
razor-back can do neither. It is I'M
possible to fatten him until~,he Is
three or four years old s.<As good
farming advances towardg the wire
grass the razor-back must retreat and
give room for better hogs.
So much for the razor-back hog.
But what about The razor-back
COW?
Probably there is not distinct
razor-back breed of COWS as there
certainly Is OF hogs, There are. how
ever razor-backs scattered through
ali the breeds. The so-called common
COW Is generglly OF the razor-back
type. although there are some excel
lent COWS amongst them. The so
called dual Purpose cows have o great
many razor-4acks il considered from
2 special purpose standpoint. And
80 the special purpose dairy breeds
have entirely too many razor-backs
LOT the nonor Of their breeders and
Tor the pkofit of their owners.
Inc azor-back is everywhere and
M sgNh proportions that the thor
oughhYed is the exception, while the
razor-back is the rule. The loss sus-
tanned in feeding and milking the
many razor-backs overbalances the
profit made from feeding and milking
the few thoroughbreds. Right here
IL where the dissatisfaction comes
from dairying to those who have tried
It and found that it did not pay.
They were trying to do business with
razor-backs. The razor-back gives
from seventy-five to 150 pounds of
butter per year, which is not enough
20 pay her feed bill; hence there is a
loss in keeping her. The thorough
bred gives from $50 to 500 or more
pounds of butter per year, which is
not only enough to pay her feed bill,
but leaves a handsome profit.
While razor-back COWS can not be
elassed as a distinct breed, they GER
tainly are of distinct type and large
ly prevail in all the breeds. The spe-
cial purpose dairy breeds have, of
course, a smaller percentage of this
type, but even they have entirely too
many. Because a COW may happen
TO be a registered Jersey or Guernsey
or Holstein she is not necessarily out
Of the razor-back class. The registra-
tlon requirements are entirely toe
easy. No cow of whatever breeding
ought to be allowed on the registra-
tion books until she has proven heI
value as producer. A razor-bacB
type Jersey COW is worth no more
than similar cow of mongrel breed
ing.
How then may we know the razor.
back type? What are her peculiari-
ties OF form and feature?
A pair of scales, a Babcock mill
tester and the determination to de.
stroy every COW that fails to measure
up to the. standard Of profit will dc
the business.
But probably you have not The
nerve to sacrifice such large pro,
portion Of your herd. II not, The
sooner You go out Of the business th'
better for you, There is no common