SIXTH ANNUAL YEAB BOOK — PART VIII. 645 



In this way the score card has been instrumental in introducing system 

 into his work. When the student has familiarized himself with the dif- 

 ferent points, the valuations of each, and on the whole summed up what 

 it takes ta make a correct type of beef animal, he is then ready to com- 

 pare one animal with another. This is the work of the score card in 

 assisting the student to form a correct estimate of his aimal, and hence 

 correct judgment. 



B-- -Regarding Hogs. 



BREEDING AND FEEDING OF HOGS. 



C E. SMITH, CASS COUNTY, INDIANA, IN BREEDERS' GAZETTE. 



No farming industry during the past few years has produced better 

 results than the breeding and raising of hogs. The best breeds are those 

 which feed best. While it may not be of any great importance to choose 

 a particular breed, it is very desirable that special care be exercised in 

 the selection of sows from which to breed. Endeavor to select sows of 

 strength and activity; if they are strong they are better able to resist 

 disease and endure the strain which naturally comes at the time of farrow- 

 ing. If active they make the best feeders. If the bodies are short they 

 will not produce the required amount of bacon. The size of the sow 

 should also be considered. One less than 200 pounds weight is too small. 

 I would prefer one of 300 pounds and not less than 12 months old at the 

 time of breeding. 



The boar should be not less than 18 months old, of 300 pounds with 

 strainght back, and should be heavily shouldered and hammed. In other 

 features he should be similar to the sow described. As it is physiologi- 

 cally true that animals sired by one past his meridian of strength are 

 less active, more liable to disease and have less strength to overcome it, 

 a boar of more than four and a half years is not desirable from which 

 to breed. 



Many say that the form of the head is of little or no consequence; 

 that a good hog may have an ugly head, it being no affair of anybody but 

 the animal himself, which has to carry it. Nevertheless the head is one 

 of the principal points in which pure or impure breeding will be most 

 obviously indicated. A highly bred animal will invariably be found to ar- 

 rive more speedily at maturity, to take flesh earlier and with greater facil- 

 ity and altogether to turn out more profitably than one questionable or 

 impure stock. This being the case, the head of the hog is by no means a 

 point to be overlooked by the intending purchaser. The description of 



