638 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



bo but little difference in their feeding qualities. It is a fact, however, 

 that certain breeds are especially adapted to certain conditions, and in 

 localities where a breed has become popularized, it is best to stick to that 

 breed. Community interests are strengthened by breeding stock of a 

 uniform kind. One of the most extensive stock breeders and feeders in 

 Illinois once related to me how he came to adopt a certain breed of hogs 

 and commence raising pure breds after having for many years raised 

 grades. This feeder usually fed several hundred steers each year and 

 as a rule would have about two hogs to each steer in the feed lots. These 

 hogs were of all breeds and crosses as most of them were bought from 

 the neighboring farmers. Here is the story: "A few years ago I had 

 about one hundred steers on feed with around 200 hogs and pigs follow- 

 ing. Among these hogs were several sows with litters, and two of these 

 sows happened to be pure-bred Berkshires with large litters of pigs, six 

 or eight weeks old. Early one morning I was awakened by a man who 

 drove into the yard to tell me that my steers and hogs had broken out 

 and could be found several miles down the road. I immediately started 

 after them and in the first mile or two I passed a number of my hogs. 

 When I overtook the main body of cattle fully four miles from home I 

 was greatly surprised to see the two Berkshire sows with all their pigs 

 close up to the cattle and industriously w^orking over the droppings from 

 the steers. As these were the only Berkshires I owned and as they were 

 the only hogs that followed the cattle more than two miles, I was very 

 much impressed by such a display of vigor and 'industry' and I at once 

 determined thereafter to keep only pure-bred Berkshires on my farm." 

 I may add that since that time, this man has sold upwards of $40,000 

 worth of Berkshires from his farm in one year, and now owns one of the 

 most noted herds of the breed in the world. 



The producer who grows hogs for the market shpuld use only pure- 

 bred sires and while, of course, pure-bred sows are the more desirable, 

 one can by intelligent care in selecting breeding sows from among the 

 grades, establish a profitable and uniform breeding herd. To be on the 

 safe side the grower of market hogs should change boars each year, or at 

 all events, avoid in-breeding. It is unv/ise to use immature boars, and 

 under no circumstances should much dependence be placed on boars under 

 twelve to fifteen months of age. Too many farmers use boars of eight 

 or nine months and frequent disappointments are the result. While an 

 eight-months-old boar may be used with safety on three or four sows, 

 to attempt to breed upwards of ten to twenty sows to a boar under 

 one year old is bound to result disastrously. In the selection of gilts to 

 be used as breeders one should pick those that incline somewhat to coarse- 

 ness rather than one which is fine of bone and inclined to compactness 

 of form. As a rule, the coarser type will be far more satisfactory in that 

 they will produce larger litters and possess the ability to raise them. 

 The brood sow should have good width between the eyes, great depth, a 

 broad, level, or slightly arched back and large bones of good quality. 

 "Quality in the bone is indicated by the absence of unduly large and 

 loose joints. Never select for a breeding animal one which shows a droop 

 immediately back of the shoulder, as such weakness is a sure indication 



