366 



BERKSHIRES. 



THE Berkshire is one of the oldest English breeds, it having maintained a high reputa 

 tion for centuries; in fact, it seems to have taken the place among swine that the 

 thoroughbred has among horses, type of the highest style of breeding. These 

 hogs are noted for compact form, Tine bone, large muscles, and for furnishing excellent hams 

 and shoulders. They produce more lean meat of excellent quality, well distributed, than 

 many other breeds, and consequently a less proportionate amount of lard and other fat. 



A good American authority says, &quot;It has been generally said of the Berkshires that 

 they were more likely to bring a large number of pigs at a litter than any other breed of 

 swine. This, as a rule, has probably been the case in times past. &quot;What was true in this 

 respect was also true as to their ability to rear their pigs, for they were good nurses, having 

 abundance of milk. But from the laws, conditions, and habits which govern the breeding 

 and nursing capacities of domestic animals in general, the hog is not by any means exempt. 



When the Berkshire brood sow, through breeding for fancy and fafc the effort in these 

 directions having been pushed to extremes parts with her proverbial fecundity, taking her 

 position alongside of other high-bred swine, this must be regarded in the same way as are 

 the results of any other radical change in organization. 



The fair-sized medium fatteners are the breeders for stocking the farm with pigs ; and as 

 the highest model for profit must be the same in every kind or breed of farm stock bred for 

 its flesh, it follows that the different breeds of swine, as they take on this model, must, in 

 obedience to inflexible laws, approach a common standard in the matter of increase. If the 

 Berkshires were, as the evidences for a good many years seemed to show, superior to other 

 breeds in bringing large litters, no one need be surprised if, in the hands of certain Ameri 

 can and English breeders, they drop down in numbers as they change in refinement and ten 

 dency to obesity.&quot; 



Description. The Berkshire is characterized by a uniform black color, with white 

 marking in the dish of the face, on the feet, and the brush of the tail. Sometimes a white 

 spot or two appears on the other parts of the body, but such are generally discarded for 

 breeding purposes, as the above color and markings are considered most desirable. They 

 breed with great uniformity, although there are occasional indications seen of a reversion of 

 the original color, by the appearance of reddish brown or bluish spots. 



The improved Berkshires of the present day are a remarkably well defined breed, pos 

 sessing in an eminent degree many valuable qualities. They may be described as follows: 

 Face short, broad, and well dished; forehead broad, eyes rather large and bright; snout short, 

 ears of medium size, thin, and soft, and carried rather upright; jowls full; neck rather short 

 .and thick; shoulders broad at the top, and deep through the chest; back broad; ribs long 

 and well sprung, giving rotundity to body; hams thick, round, and deep, thickness extending 

 well down on the back, causing the legs to stand well apart; legs short and fine, but straight 

 and strong, with hoofs erect, tail tapering and rather fine; size medium; bones fine and com 

 pact; hair rather fine and soft; color of body black, with smooth, plum-colored skin; feet 

 and tip of the tail white, with usually a dash of white in the face, and not unfrequently a 

 white nose. 



The large, heavy-boned Berkshire has been greatly modified, having lost its coarseness 



