26 SWINE IN AMERICA 



such as will result in the greatest profit from the material 

 most abundantly at hand. In selecting a breed the buy- 

 er's personal preference is likely to exert a controlling 

 influence, but this should be governed by his location and 

 purposes, although the characteristics of any breed can 

 be in a considerable degree modified by feeding and 

 environment. 



As a rule, the extensive concerns that slaughter the 

 bulk of the country's hogs have but slight preference 

 for any one breed. Questions are frequently raised as 

 to whether the red hogs are supplanting the black breeds, 

 and whether the white types are on the increase, and the 

 packers, better than all others, are in position to observe 

 the facts. The following opinions of different packers 

 on these questions were given to the author in Septem- 

 ber, 1907: 



Armour & Company. Chicago — We have had a very 

 decided increase of red hogs and hogs of red mixture, 

 particularly in the last two or three years. We think 

 about 25 per cent of the hogs are of that type. We see 

 no decided increase in white liogs. Ten per cent would 

 cover the number, and the remaining 65 per cent are of 

 black or black mixtures. We have no preference for 

 breed if the hogs are well formed and well fattened. 



Armour Packing Company, Kansas City — Sixty per 

 cent of the hogs received at the Kansas City market are 

 black, and black and white spotted, black predominating. 

 Thirty per cent are red, and red and black spotted, and 

 10 per cent are white. The red and the red and black 

 spotted hogs are increasing in numbers every year. 



