33 



application for such to the local agricultural society. The society by a committee 

 inspects the premises and, if conditions as regards equipment are suitable, the matter 

 is so reported to tRe government. The Commission in charge of the district then makes 

 an examination of the stock, and if this is found to be of pure breeding of either 

 Landrace or Yorkshire breeds, and of good quality, the breeding centre is established. 

 The committee make careful note of the vigor, uniformity, and breed type of the pigs, 

 having in mind always the production of large litters of strong pigs capable of making 

 first-class bacon at low cost. Each centre is visited at least once a year by the Com- 

 mission, and as often as possible by the secretary who makes careful note of all details 

 useful to the department in its work of administration. No centre is recognized which 

 has not been on trial under the local agricultural society one year. The recognized 

 centres have to submit to an inspection by a veterinary officer and must stop the sale 

 of breeding stock if contagious disease is discovered among the animals. The owner 

 must keep an accurate record of the breeding, number of pigs born, number weaned, 

 and the disposal of each. If at any time the Commission finds sows or boars used for 

 breeding that are not up to the standard it has power to forbid the produce of such 

 being sold for breeding and, if thought necessary, to close the centre as a government 

 recognized and subsidized institution. The government assists the breeding centres 

 to the extent of 45,000 kroners ($12,000) a year. This is divided according to the 

 merits of the stations and stock, and the number of animals sold. The policy of the 

 department in assisting breeding centres is to enable them to sell to farmers young 

 pigs of high quality for breeding purposes at a reasonable price. This for two-months 

 pigs is generally 25 kroners ($6.50) each. For older stock the price is correspondingly 

 higher, but what may be termed fancy prices are not permitted to be charged. 



There are scattered over Denmark 95 breeding centres for the Landrace breed and 

 20 for the Yorkshire. The former have 121 selected boars and 683 selected sows; 

 ■while of the Yorkshire there are 27 boars and 143 sows. These centres are operated 

 under 66 agricultural societies. 



The breeding centres, it will be seen, are a wide spread movement recognized and 

 patronized as the chief source of improved breeding swine. The movement has had a 

 rapid and popular development. In 1898, 67 centres were in operation, with 68 boars 

 and 351 sows. The numbers have gradually increased and are still growing. An 

 examination of the reports of the Live Stock Commissioner show that while a small 

 number of centres have ceased to exist as such many have continued from the begin- 

 ning until the present day. During the ten years ending August 31, 1908, there were 

 sold of the Landrace breed 21,601 sows and 5,427 boars. The total number of York- 

 shires sold is not available but during 1907-08 it reached 555 boars and about an equal 

 number of sows. 



The members of the Commission visited several centres for each breed. They 

 were most hospitably received and entertained. The uniform excellence of the stock 

 was pronounced. They were given to understand that great improvement and increased 

 imiformity had been brought about in the native breed during the past five or six 

 years. While coarseness and unevenness have been greatly diminished, the qualities 

 of motherhood and stamina, for which the breed is famous, have not been sacrificed. 



When the centres were established nothing definite was known of the ancestors 

 of the foundation stock. Many animals were therefore selected that proved unsatis- 

 factory breeders. By the system of keeping records followed, the poor breeders were 

 gradually weeded out. Good families were discovered and when the services of specially 

 good boars had to be dispensed with, exchanges between centres were made. By this 

 and other means the stock of the centres has reached a high standard. The secretary 

 of the central committee for each district keeps a pedigree journal of all the stock 

 under his supervision. 



The work of the Department to maintain and develop vigor and prolificacy has 

 been productive of good results. The records show that in the year commencing Octo- 

 ber 1, 1906, a total of 1,700 litters were farrowed, comprising 18,093 pigs, of which 

 2270-3 



