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THE BERKSHIRE. 



The Berkshire is one of the best known and most widely 

 distributed breeds of British pigs. It was the first to be improved, 

 and, being suitable to American conditions, it has become one of 

 the most successful breeds in that country. Extensive exports 

 have also been made to the Colonies and other countries, especially 

 Canada, Australia, South Africa, the Argentine, Russia, Germany, 

 and Brazil. 



Older Types of the Breed. The colour mentioned by Professor 

 Low in Domesticated Animals of the British Isles, 1845, and illus- 

 trated in an oil painting now in Edinburgh University, was 

 chestnut with dark patches through it. Russet spots now and 

 then still appear on well-bred Berkshires, and the colour comes 

 out strongly in second crosses with pigs of white breeds. The 

 Complete Grazier (1805) described the breed, after it had been 

 materially improved from the standard of the earlier records, as 

 " Colour reddish brown, with brown or black spots, sides very 

 broad, legs flat, ears large and pendulous over eyes, body thick, 

 close and well made." 



Modern Type. The modern type of the breed is black in colour, 

 with four white feet, white tip to tail, and white on face. The 

 body is long, low, level, and deep, with a highly set tail and straight 

 back. The head is of moderate length and dished. The ears are 

 wide apart, fairly erect not drooping and fringed with hair. The 

 legs should be strong, straight, and squarely set ; the hair firm, but 

 plentiful all over the body and free from " swirls." 



The British Berkshire Society (founded 1884) has recommended 

 to judges making awards at shows that " a perfectly black face, a 

 black foot, a black tail, a roach back or inbent knees should 

 disqualify a pig in the show yard, as should white or sandy spots 

 on the top or sides of the animal, or a decidedly white ear." Boars 

 which have only one testicle down or which are ruptured, and sows 

 with irregularly placed or blind teats or with injured or diseased 

 udders, are also disqualified. 



William Hewer, of Sevenhampton, and the Rev. H. Bailey, of 

 Swindon, were two pioneers in the improvement of the breed about 

 1862, when the Royal Agricultural Society gave it the distinction 

 of a separate class at the Annual Show. The late Heber Humfrey 

 was one of the most extensive breeders and exporters. He was a 

 chief mover in founding the Breed Society, and for 20 years he 

 compiled the Herd Book and edited its proceedings. 



Characteristics of the Breed. Berkshires would be classed as 

 medium size pigs, and they attain about the same weight as the Middle 

 Whites. They are distinguished by their hardiness, activity, and 

 general quality of conformation and carcase, while they are unsur- 

 passed as grazers and foragers. The sows as a rule are not 

 remarkable for their prolificacy, and the young pigs are somewhat 

 slow in growth, but as they can be kept very well and cheaply on 

 pasture when growing, this is not such a serious defect as it might 

 appear to be at first sight. The quality of carcase is indicated by 

 the fact that during the past nine years in the Carcase Competition 

 at the Smithfield Show, Berkshires have been awarded 8 Champion- 

 ships and 8 Reserve Championships, also 80 prizes out of a possible 



