9 



• PART III.— BREEDING FOR BACON. 



To produce the best type of hog for bacon production, care must be 

 taken in the selection of breeding stock. There are those who claim that it is 

 oractically all a matter of feeding; but this is a very serious mistake. It is 

 true that by careful feeding an objectionable type of hog can be greatly im- 

 proved but it can never be made to produce an ideal side of bacon. io 

 produce the best bacon, both the breeding and the feeding must receive careful 



attention. 



Breeds O" Swink. 



In 1896 an experiment was commenced for the purpose of comparing six 

 breeds of swine, both as regards economy of gain and suitability for the export 

 trade. The breeds used were Berkshire, Yorkshire, Tamworth, Chester White, 

 Poland China, and Duroc Jersey. The experiment was repeated in 1897, 1898, 

 1899. and 1900, making five carefully conducted tests. In each of the five years, 

 six pigs of each bree^d were used for the test. In 1901 the same breeds were 

 again fed under the same conditions, using a larger number of each breed. 

 This experiment, however, was conducted for the purpose of comparing out- 

 side with inside feeding, and no attempt was made to compare the relative 

 cost of production in the different breeds. The breeds were compared how- 

 ever as to suitability for export. 



Altogether, therefore, we had five experiments in which the six breeds 

 were compared as to cost of producing 100 pounds gain, live weight; and six 

 experiments in which the six breeds were compared as to their suitability for 

 export. 



The Relation of Breed to Economy of Production. 



The table given below shows the average amount of meal required for 100 

 pounds gain, live weight, in the five experiments. In the making up of this 

 table only the meal has been considered. Such foods as dairy by-products 

 and green feed, which were fed sometimes, were the same for all breeds, and 

 have been omitted to simplify the comparison. 



The following shows the average amount of meal consumed for 100 pounds 

 gain, live weight, in five experiments: 



Pounds. 



Berkshire 36445 



Yorkshire 369.51 



Tamworth 380.47 



Pounds. 



Duroc Jersey 384-23 



Chester White 387.89 



Poland China 391-42 



Before any conclusions are drawn from the table given above, a_ second 

 table will be presented for consideration in connection with it. This table 

 shows the standing of the breeds for each year, each column being ranked in 

 order of economy of gain: 



Table showing the dilTerent breeds ranked in order of economy of gain 

 for each year of the experiment: 



2 Bull. 129 



