962 CYCLOPEDIA OP LIVE STOCK AND COMPLETE STOCK DOCTOR. 



about medium size and, hence, cannot be placed among the largest breeds. 

 A weight of 500 pounds is sometimes attained by the boars, though they 

 are usually smaller. In ordinary condition, the full-grown sow will 

 weigh about 300 pounds. Barrows often weigh 300 to 400 pounds in 

 high flesh. In a recent International Live Stock Exposition in Chicago, 

 the first prize, five Thin Rinds, averaged 493 pounds each at 18 months 

 of age, and one of these won the championship in the slaughter test. 



A superior characteristic of the Thin Rind pig, is its fecundity. The 

 sows under favorable conditions, will usually farrow litters of ten or 

 twelve pigs, and they make excellent mothers and nurses. In this respect 

 they rank well up with the most prolific breeds of American ancestry. 

 The use of the pure-bred boar on good sows will result in a most prolific 

 stock, with a decided leaning toward the bacon type. Thin Rind boars 

 of superior quality should add vigor and killing quality to the off-spring 

 of a certain class of high-classed sows of pronounced chunky type. 



In Kentucky and elsewhere, the Thin Rind as a grazer ranks high, 

 where pigs range more or less for mast, and seek for feed in field and 

 forest. It is this quality, together with that of fecundity, which add 

 to the popularity of the breed where known. 



It is an admitted fact that the quality of the Thin Rind meat is dis- 

 tinctively superior. The. breed belongs to the bacon cldss. When per- 

 sistently fed corn for generations it, however, loses some of its bacon- 

 producing character. Still, in the slaughter test, these pigs have made a 

 good showing. At a recent International Live Stock Exhibit in Chicago, 

 the second prize, for both pens of five barrows of bacon type, and for 

 carcass, weighing 300 pounds or over, was awarded Thin Rind Barrows, 

 exhibited by Mr. Goodwine of Illinois. Two years later, Mr. E. C. Stone 

 won the Championship in barrow class, over all breeds. 



The Thin Rind meat is of most excellent grain, and has a desirable 

 proportion of lean to fat. 



In Boon county, Kentucky, six farmers organized a farming organiza- 

 tion to promote the Thin Rind interest, under the name of "The Ameri- 

 can Thin Rind Record Association." They have produced about twelve 

 herds of this breed that are eligible for registration, and these are located 

 mainly in Kentucky and Indiana. The distribution of the Thin Rind 

 breed is not extensive. The popularity of the breed has gained percepti- 

 bly in recent years. 



XVIII. Summary of Breeds. 



The English breeds of to-day that have been received with the most 

 general favor in the United States are: First, the Berkshire, next the 

 Essex, and third the Yorkshire. The Berkshire will weigh at full matu- 

 rity 500 pounds, and the Essex 400 pounds. In exceptional cases they 



