32 



Breeding Centres. 



The Government takes a prominent part in all schemes undertaken for the improvement 

 of stock. The full time of several officers is given for direction and supervision, and grants of 

 money are contributed towards the work. To systematize the work the country is divided 

 into seven districts. Each district is managed by a Commission of three men. One member 

 is appointed by the agricultural society in the district, one by the co-operative pig curing 

 society, and the third, who is the secretary of the Commission, is appointed by the Govern- 

 ment. The Secretary of the Commission is responsible to the Live Stock Commissioner 

 of Denmark, P. A. Morkeberg, who organized and directs the whole work. Through this 

 organization breeding centres are established and controlled. These centres are simply 

 breeding farms so stocked and managed as to insure the production of only high class breed- 

 ing stock. When a farmer wishes to have his farm established as a breeding centre, or 

 when a community desires to have a breeding centre established on a particular farm, he or 

 they make application for such to the local agricultural society. This society by a committee 

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

 reported to the 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 Landra 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 Commission, 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 inspec- 

 tion 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 Com- 

 mission find 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 Yorkshire. The former have 121 selected boars and 683 selected sows; while of the 

 Yorkshires there are 27 boars and 143 sows. These centres are operated under 66 agri- 

 cultural 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 beginning until the present day. 

 During the ten years ending August 31st, 1908, there were sold of the Landrace breed 21,601 

 sows and 5,427 boars. The total number of Yorkshires 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 pro- 

 nounced. They were given to understand that great improvement and increased uniformity 

 had been brought about in the native breed during the past five of six years. While coarse- 

 ness and unevenness have been greatly diminished the qualities of motherhood and stamina, 

 for which the breed is famous, have not been sacrificed. 



