230 FARM ANIMALS 



BREEDS 



A few descriptive notes may now be added on 

 the general characters of the different breeds of 

 hogs which are raised in the United States, The 

 intimate connection of the hog and corn industry 

 is clearly shown by the fact that the area of the pro- 

 duction of fine hogs is almost co-extensive with 

 that of the corn belt. In fact, six breeds of 

 improved hogs originated in the corn belt of the 

 United States. These are Chester White, Ohio 

 Improved Chester, Poland China, Cheshire, and 

 Victoria. The breeds of hogs are frequently 

 classified on the basis of their color. If this is 

 done the white breeds are Chester White, Ohio 

 Improved Chester, Yorkshire, Cheshire, Victoria, 

 and Suffolk. The black breeds are Poland China, 

 Berkshire, Hampshire, and Essex, and the red 

 breeds are Duroc Jersey and Tamworth. 



The Poland China. This breed originated in 

 Ohio about twenty-five years ago from a mixture 

 and improvement of the Big China, Poland and 

 Byfield breeds. The Berkshire was also mixed 

 with the Poland China. The present name for 

 the breed was finally adopted in 1872. At first 

 this hog was black and white spotted, but at present 

 the color is black with white on the feet, face 

 and tip of the tail. The face is somewhat dished. 

 The breed at present is about equal to the Berk- 

 shire, matures early and is readily adaptable to 

 all climatic conditions. It is the extreme type 

 of the large lard hog, boars weighing six hundred 

 pounds and sows five hundred pounds at two 

 years of age. Occasionally the Poland China 

 is not so prolific as it should be, but the weak 

 points of the breed are being rapidly overcome. 



