33 



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

 foundation stock. Many animals were therefore selected that proved unsatisfactory breeders . 

 By the system of keeping records followed, the poor breeders were gradually dispensed with. 

 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 COMMISSION AT THE HOME OF COUNT SIMONSEN, AARUP, DENMARK. 



Included in the group are Count Simonsen, Commissioner Morkeberg, his assistant Mr. Petersen, 

 and Sanders Spencer of England. 



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 October 1, 1906, 

 a total of 1,700 litters were farrowed, comprising 18,093 pigs, of which practically 80 per 

 cent of vigorous pigs were weaned. The records from which these figures were taken com- 

 prise 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 com- 

 mittee 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 vigorous 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 an average of 16.2 pigs. 



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

 of 338 sows showed that 79 per 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 



