GUIDE TO DAIRYING IN SOUTH AFRICA 



maturity, we must undoubtedly use the Berkshire 

 and Large Black. They may be bred either way, 

 but a Berkshire boar with a Large Black sow will 

 produce a pig that is hardy in constitution, a quick 

 grower, a thrifty animal, growing to a large size, 

 and making excellent gains on skim milk and 

 crushed mealies. 



The Tamworth crossed with either Berkshire or 

 Large Black gives the ideal bacon pig, but although 

 it will grow to a large size it does not grow so 

 quickly as the above-mentioned cross, Although 

 the bacon factories pay more for a Tamworth cross, 

 it is a questionable point whether the extra \d. or 

 \d.> as the case may be, pays. For being a slower- 

 growing animal it takes longer to reach the desired 

 weights, and therefore requires more food. 



In crossing with Tamworth pigs, only the Tam- 

 worth boar should be used, as the sow of this breed 

 produces a small litter. When the Berkshire or 

 Large Black sow is used with the Tamworth boar 

 the litters are good in numbers. These are points 

 which have to be considered in the economic pro- 

 duction of bacon pigs. 



Breeding Sows. 



In dealing with breeding sows and boars it is 

 impossible to lay down any hard-and-fast system 

 as to how they should be managed, for this will 



