34 



practically 80 per cent of vigorous pigs were weaned. The records from which these 

 figures were taken comprise the yield of each and every sow kept for breeding at the 

 breeding centres. These are kept by the owners of the herds, they are recorded by the 

 secretary of the district committee and transferred by him to the department at 

 Copenhagen. Unless a sow proves a good mother she is discarded and sent to the block. 

 The statistics for the two breeds kept show the native sows to be somewhat more prolific 

 and vigourous than the Yorkshire. In one district, which is taken to fairly represent 

 the conditions over the whole country, 93 native sows weaned 19-3 pigs per sow in two 

 litters during one year, while 25 Yorkshires weaned in two litters an average of 16-2 

 pigs per sow. 



Pigs sent out from the centres are watched as far as possible. Replies from pur- 

 chasers of 338 sows showed that 79 i)er cent of first litters consisted of 9 pigs or more; 

 80 per cent of sows were good milkers, 93 per cent were attentive mothers, and further 

 that 89 per cent of 338 were ready for the slaughterhouse at the age of from 5 to 7 

 months. The above data has reference chiefly to sows of the native breed. Information 

 regarding boars sent out is also secured and recorded. It is shown that in 1906-7, 

 236 boars sent out were bred to 17,124 sows, and that 82 per cent of the boars did well; 

 94 per cent of the offspring are described as exceedingly good. It will be seen that no 

 pains are spared to improve the native breed in every possible way. So much attention 

 to the Yorkshire breed is not considered necessary as this sort is looked upon as having 

 been brought to a high degree of perfection in England. Boars of this kind are sent 

 out chiefly for crossing on the native sows, and in almost every case the results are 

 satisfactory. 



Swine Breeding^ Societies. 



Swine breeding centres are owned and operated by individual farmers. In addition 

 to these there are pig breeding societies formed here and there in Denmark for the 

 object of helping the cause of swine breeding. These correspond with the agricultural 

 societies as maintained in Canada. Of these there were in 1907 207, each receiving 

 a small government grant. These societies kept 282 boars for service, of which 154 

 were Yorkshire and 128 native. Each society has about 25 members, each owning an 

 average of about two breeding sows. They secure boars from the breeding centres. 

 By this agency individual farmers are relieved of the necessity of keeping stock boars. 

 The average Danish farmer much prefers to become a member of a pig breeding 

 society, and for a less premium than he would otherwise pay he obtains the services 

 of a selected boar, and has the additional advantage of expert advice as to the most 

 suitable mating. 



Information concerning the work of these societies is collected. It is shown that 

 845 litters from native selected boars contained 8,785 pigs, of which 7.322 were weaned. 

 307 litters from Yorkshire boars contained 3,441 pigs, and of these 2,852 were ^'-eaned. 



Reports concerning a large number of the offspring of Landrace and Yorkshire 

 boars delivered at packing houses show them to have classed respectively as follows: — 



Landrace. Yorkshire. 



27-9 per cent, class 1, 38-3 per cent, class 1. 



32-7 " " 2, 24-5 " " 2. 



39-3 " " 3, 37-2 " " 3. 



0-1 " " 4. 



In will be seen from all this that in Denmark nothing is too much trouble that 

 would tend to improve the pigs, both from the standpoint of breeding quality and that 

 of suitability for the British market. The department is constantly alive to the 

 question of improvement, and having the verv' general co-operation of the farmers 

 throughout the country, rapid advancement is made. Following is a copy of the 

 regulations governing the co-operative management of swine associations and swine 

 breeding centres : — 



