154 JOL'KNAL Ul' THE J )i:r AKTMKM 0¥ A(<KI< I LT I Uli.— A I <• . . \\)T^ . 



PIG-FARMING IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



III. 



]iy W. A. K. MoKKEL, M.Sc, Lectuier in Animal Husliandiy, and 

 A'ice-Priiicipal, P^lspiiburo- School of Aj^'ricnltiirc. ^[iilders V1«m. 



orH MOKE IMPORTAXT PRKKDS ()F \nGH—(Contnniruh. 



Bekkshtkes. 



(a) The (rri(jin of the Jieiksliirt', like that of the Lai^e JUack 

 breed, is also to some extent veiled in obscurity. The breed originated 

 in England, particularly in the counties of Berkshire and Wilts, 

 about 1780. The original colour of the Berkshire was black, red, and 

 white spotted. In those early dajs the Berkshire varied equally as 

 much in body conformation as he did in colour from our present-day 

 lepresentative of the breed. He was distinctly long in the face and 

 body, had sharp pricked ears, was very fine boned, and distinctly 

 leggy. Even at that time the Berkshire was noted for dressing out 

 a Jiigh precentage of carcass to live weight, and was therefore very 

 ])opular among bacon cnrers in certain counties, particularly AViit- 

 shire. The popularity of the ]?erkshire and Berkshire cross-breds was 

 also due to the high quality f)f meat produced. Some authorities 

 believe that this characteristic was inherited from the Black Siamese 

 boars, others that it should be credited to the White, also Black and 

 White, C'hinese boars that were imported into England almost two 

 centuries ago. 



The Berkshire must be credited with the great improvement made 

 in the Irish pigs that have in recent years been responsible for the 

 world-famed Irish bacon. About 1870 the Berkshire was taken uj) 

 l)y the Americans, who had come over to England particularly for the 

 purpose of purchasing high-class Shorthorn cattle. The breed became 

 very popular in the States and, to a lesser extent, in Canada, and 

 lieing in the hands of the wealthy class, utility was to some extent 

 sacrificed for fancy points. Hence we find that the stubby snouted, 

 very compact, and rather small-sized Berkshire was evolved. The 

 Hritish l)reeders naturally catered for this demand for a time, because 

 of the high prices they received, but like their American cousins they 

 soon reverted to the utility type with more size, length of body and 

 face, and absence of pronounced shouldei- development. 



The Berkshire is to-day the best known and most widely 

 distributed representative of all the British breeds of pigs, and is 

 among the oldest known of our improved breeds of swine. The Berk- 

 shire is most popular in its native country, England, but is also well 



