394 A STUDY OF FARM ANIMALS 



what is called a lop ear. A good head lacks coarseness, and 

 inclines to be wide between the eyes, and is somewhat short, 

 but is never dished. The body form of this breed is quite 

 distinctly its own, the neck being short, the back wide and 

 frequently strongly arched, and the hams highly developed. 

 These features of head, arch of back, and thickness of hams 

 are Poland-China characteristics. In comparatively recent 

 years, dating perhaps with the opening of the present cen- 

 tury, there has been a marked change of type in this breed. 

 The tendency had been to produce a hog deficient in bone, 

 that finished off in feeding into too small or tidy a type, 

 while the sows were seriously criticized for under size and 

 small litters. This criticism resulted in a movement for 

 improvement, out of which has come what is known as the 

 "big-type" Poland-China, a pig of pronounced length of 

 body, great arch of back, immense bone and great weight. 

 In this connection, brood sows of marked increase of size 

 and prolificacy have been developed. In the opinion of com- 

 petent critics, Poland-China breeders are now going to the 

 extreme on weight and bone, for many boars have attained 

 weights of 600 to 700 pounds, while a few have even surpassed 

 1,000 pounds. Unquestionably the present-day movement 

 has revived interest in the breed, which following the World 

 War has undergone great popularity. This is one of the 

 more important breeds in the American corn belt. Poland- 

 Chinas put on fat easily, and are noted as feeders. When 

 properly fattened, the carcass dresses out well and is pop- 

 ular with butchers. 



The Spotted Poland-China is a type of this breed that 

 first began to attract attention about 1912, and has since 

 grown much in favor in the corn belt, especially Ohio, 

 Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa. The body of the Spotted Poland- 

 China is of large size at maturity, is covered with large black 

 and white spots, is strong of bone and hair, and impresses 

 one as being somewhat coarse. This type is promoted by 



