THE BREEDS OF SWINE 



101 



early days, Richard Astly and Lord Barrington did much to 

 improve the Berkshire. This hog was first brought to 

 America in 1823 by an English farmer who lived in New 

 Jersey. Soon after others were imported, and since then 

 large numbers of these pigs have been brought to the United 

 States and Canada. 



The following are some of the most important features 

 of the Berkshire today. The color is black, with more or 

 less white on the face, feet, and tail. When all four legs, the 



Fig. 56. The champion Berkshire boar at Ohio State Fair 1911. Photograph 

 from Graham Tanner. 



face, and tail are marked thus, they are termed the "six 

 white points." The head is fairly "short, the nose slightly 

 curved up or the head "dish faced/' as it is termed, and the 

 ears are erect and pointing slightly forward. The head of 

 the Berkshire is one of its most important breed characters. 

 The size is medium to large, mature boars often weighing 

 500 pounds, and sows about 400. Occasionally a boar in 

 show flesh weighs from 700 to 800 pounds. The Berkshire 

 should have a wide, strong back, but not much arched, and 



