Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-04-17

is desirable that there be plenty OF
space between the legs.
The back should be examined care
fully 1t is desirable that it be
slightly arched because this gives
strength to the conformation and
provides q means of utilizing the
muscles most effectively in carry
ing young in the case of the fe--
and uniform in width from end to
end and should blend imperceptibly
into the shoulder and ham. 1t should
be we'll covered with flesh which
firm. Over-arching of the back is
to be avoided and all animals tend
ing to sway back should be avoided.
The sides of a good hog will be full
and deep from top to bottom and
smooth from end to end. The sides
and shoulders and should cut off
straight on the underline. To attain
| this end the ribs must be we'll sprung
so as to provide good barrel for
| the body of the animals. The flank
should be we'll filled and full and
Straight. An animal cut up in the
| flanks will not produce we'll I'LL
ed out ham, and, of course, ham con-
|'stitutes one of the most important
and desirable cuts obtained from
swine. The ham and rump are points
to consider with especial care. The
rump should be straight relatively
speaking, and broad and full. 1t
should also be long and have good
depth. The ham should be we'll fill
| ed, especially at the stifle and heay-
| lily n1oated down to the hook Ii
should be full. not only on the in
| side but the outside as we'll. Where
| these characteristics are found ami
mails when sent to the slaughter Will
from the parts indicated than would
| otherwise be true They are also
more likely to be possessed of a con-
| formation to insure their possessing
| bodily strength and vigor than ami
mails which depart markedly from
| the characteristics indicated.
The feet and legs of breeding ami
They are relatively long-lived animals
or ought to be. They will therefore
have a good deal of weight to carry
about for several years. On this
account it is desirable that the legs
be straight and strong. They should
fairly we'll under the body. The
pasterns should be looked after with
especial care. 1t is desirable that
they be strong. The hoofs should
possess an erect appearance and the
toes should be relatively close to-
gether. Where these characteristics
are met with the animals are much
less liable to break down in the feet
than would otherwise be true, and
many a valuable breeding animal has
been injured or it's mission of -serv-
| ice cut short because of it's inability
to carry around the body weight it
is expected to support. Defective
feet are therefore to be avoided.
The coat Of an animal selected for
breeding purposes is good indica--
ton of it's ability to assimilate and
utilize food with advantage. Breed
ing animals must of necessity pos
sess superior digestive and circula-
tory powers in order to perform the
! service expected Of them satisfac-
torily Especially vigorous animals
a coat which is relatively smooth
and uniform in length. 1t will also
be free from what are known as
swirls and will be relatively fine
as to texture and oily to the touch.
AS animals depart from these char
acteristics they will in the great
majority of cases be found to fall
materially below the standard of
what one should seek in the founda-
ton stock Of a breeding herd
The color of hogs will vary with
the breed. 1t is desirable where a
good breed is selected that the char
acteristic color markings be definite
and pronounced. AS to size that will
vary with the age and breed, but
there are certain standards which
should not be overlooked if we are
to maintain the quality of the ami
mails we, are seeking to develop.
Bears two years of age should not
weigh less than 500 pounds, while
about 400 pounds When boars are
eighteen months Of age they should
weigh Approximately 400 pounds and
the sow 800 pounds. At twelve
months of age the boars will weigh
800 to 325 pounds and the sows $50
to 275 pounds At six months of
age the boars and sows will approx
mate $50 pounds in weight. AS
the animals depart from these stand
ards one of several things is evident.
tben cHo IN vioor va 800 n1,aIi+v or
they have been improperly or insult
ficiently fed. While one of course
can overdo size, there is proably a
tendency to select animals at times
of too much refinement. Undoubt-