Swine Groivers' Association. 333 



Out of the bunch of sixty-five fall pigs of which I gave the 

 history, I kept four gilts and fed to show at Sedalia and Kansas 

 City a year ago in the under 12 Missouri class. They were never 

 confined to less than twenty acres pasture, and when I left home 

 for the fairs, weighed from 440 to 500 pounds, winning first as 

 four best hogs get of one boar, and the 500 pound gilt being placed 

 second in a class of 24 head at Kansas City. 



I will say in conclusion, as proof of the efficacy of my meth- 

 ods, that I have at present in the feed lot seventy-five shoats 

 averaging 220 pounds. These pigs are of average farrow of 

 about May 15th, having sold my March and April pigs December 

 1st at 236 pounds weight. 



THE TYPE OF HOGS THE PACKER DEMANDS. 



(F. D. Winn, Randolph, Missouri.) 



Not taking into consideration the offal, which is of secondary 

 importance, the packer converts a hog carcass into two products, 

 viz : Meat and lard. The best type of hog from a packer's stand- 

 point is, therefore, the one that will cut out on the block the most 

 valuable meat with the smallest per cent of cheap meat and offal, 

 and at the same time furnish a good quantity of lard. During 

 certain seasons of the year the packer looks more to the lard fea- 

 ture and demands hogs larger and fatter, while at other times he 

 favors the lighter weights in the production of the best quality of 

 bacon. This, however, has nothing to do with and does not affect 

 the general type of hog that will for all purposes make him the 

 most money. 



The ideal hog from a packer's standpoint, as I see him — begin- 

 ning at the front end, should have a medium short head with 

 medium to small ear, jowl full but not heavy and baggy, as it fur- 

 nishes cheap meat. One of the best type Poland China sows I 

 have seen for some time, both from a breeder's and packer's 

 standpoint, was turned down for championship last fall at three 

 different fairs, and I think rightly so, because of an abnormal 

 jowl. The neck should be short and full ; shoulders set well in line 

 with sides and rest of body with no tendency to shields or thick 

 hide; chest should be full and well let down, with good width be- 

 tween front legs, and there should be no depression back of the 

 shoulders, either on top or at the sides. The lower line of chest 

 should make a perfectly straight line with lower line of belly and 



