Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-07-10
HOW TO SELECT A PIG

amount of variation in pigs of diff
ferent breeds as we'll as of the same
breed. The one best adapted to use
for a given purpose is not always
much in individuality as in type. A
boy who has joined the pig club
wishes to be able to pick a winner
and for the purpose of aiding him in
this momentous matter, some sug-
gestions have been prepared by the
Georgia State College of Agriculture
They are incorporated in the text
The boys should read these advices
over very carefully and also get
them in determining just how to pick
a hog that is most likely to feed
out and make a prize winner next
fall.
No one breed is best. Ali of the
recognized breeds of hogs are good
proper attention is given them. Any
breed will treat you well if you
treat it well. In choosing a breed,
however one must consider. the ad-
vantages that will accrue from Sc
lecting a breed that is permanently
and substantially established in the
community. If the majority of ones
neighbors are breeding a certain
breed and join their ranks. That
community will more than likely be
breed of hogs, and this feature will
furnish a greater appeal to the gen.
eral public than that coming from a
community where several different
breeds are raised but where none are
made particular speciality.
The popularity of the various
breeds is a point that should be
given careful consideration. The
breed selected should be one that is
popular and looked upon with favor
by the public. A visit to the larger
fairs Of the. state will afford the
portunity to. study various charac-
teristics of the different breeds that
tend to most accurately satisfy the
demands Of the breeders and Of the
| buying public.
Finally, the point of greatest i'm
portance is that one should select
the breed that best satisfies his own
fancy. Every one has his person
al peculiarities. A breed that sat-
Isles, one ne man may not in any way
both breeds may be of the very
highest standard. The matter OF
personal preference is of the great
est importance and one should be
upon the breed to select
No matter of what breed or how
well bred an individual may be, it
will be improbable unless given
the proper care and attention.
The individual is of more import
be. symmetrical, vigorous Compact,
but not short. should stand squarely
on its legs, show a long, strong and
well arched back and a straight un-
| derl1ne. The face should show good
| length and breadth and these dimen-
sions should be well balanced. Mar
rowness between the eyes is to be
| avoided and the region Immediately
surrounding the eye should be
| smooth and free from wrinkles. The
or fiabby, and the throat should be
neat and clean. The neck should be
comparatively short and blend
smoothly into the shoulder. Viewing
| the pig from in front the shoulders
should not show undue prominence
| out uniformly from head to rump.
The back should be wide and uni
form throughout and should be ac-
companied by liberal spring Of rib. A
side view of the pig should reveal a
well arched top line from nose to
| pact body, underpinned by strong
boned, straight legs. The pig should
stand UP well on his toes. The chest
| should be deep and roomy and the
and smoothness behind the shoulders.
| Good length and depth of shoulder,
| side and ham are desired. The en-
| tire body should be we'll covered
with firm, but not coarse flesh, and
| should show freedom from deep folds
| or wrinkles.
From the rear it is desired to notice
| broad, deep, uniform and well-bal-
anced hind quarter, with a ten
| dency to flesh well down to the hook.
| The rump should be long, wide and
| level, with the tail setting at a good
| height.
In summary, the pig should pre-
sent a well-balanced and attractive
| general appearance, a clean bone and
| a fine, silky coat of hair which sig
must conform to the breed type of
| the breed he represents.
Pig club members are urged to give
| more attention to breed type when Sc
| lecting pure-bred pigs, Excepting
color markings and a few other
minor points, due consideration has
| not been given the important matter
| of breed type. The Pig club ex-
hibits at the various county fairs in
| 1919 revealed the fact that the boys
who showed pigs of good breed type
made higher and more frequent win
nings than did those who showed
pigs that were off type. In selecting
pig, it should be kept in mind THAI
the most desirable pig is the one
| that will most economically put on
| the largest number Of pounds Of
high quality flesh in the shortest
must have good length, width and
depth of body. These three dimen-
sions are of utmost Importance be-
cause they determine to a large ex-
| tent the amount of pork possible to
be grown on. the frame of the pig.
| length, width and depth. An unbal-
anced relation between these points
| is just as serious fault as is a
| defect in the points themselves. The
short-bodied, f1ne-boned, miniature
type of pig which shows a tendency
avoided. Like begets like There
| fore, in selecting pure-bred pigs
| choose wide, stretchy and roomy
kind that have big bone and strong
then consider the less important
points of color, set Of ears, etc.
How to Join Pig Clubs
To become a member of the Boys
| Pig club, application should be made
through the teacher, school superin-
writing the State College Agricul-
ture, Athens, Ga.
1. Any DO between the age Of 10
and IS may become , member -, OF I
age Of of 10 and Il may become a
| member of the Ham and Bacon club.
2. Each boy must secure at least
one pig, and can raise any number
if a record is kept on each.
8. The boy must care for his pig
in person and keep a record of tn:
feed given and the pasturage grazed
He must record the weight of the
pig when it comes into his posses
sion and the date it was farrowed
He must also weigh the pig once a
month to determine gains.
4. Record blanks furnished by the
county agent should be filled out
and signed by the owner of the pig
Members who make meat of theil
pigs should send in their records
when the pigs are ready to be
butchered.
5. Each member must have
owned a pig and kept record of =
for at least four months to com
pete for a prize.
6. Members Of the club mus