406 Pork Production 



JUDGING BREEDING HOGS OF THE LARD TYPE 



In judging breeding hogs, the essential duties which 

 they have to perform should be kept uppermost in mind. 

 To judge the brood sow by fat barrow standards is to 

 neglect to consider many of the features most closely 

 associated with breeding performance. This is true of 

 breeding animals in show condition as well as for those 

 in ordinary flesh. 



The breeder's requirements. 



The duties of the brood sow are much more complex 

 than those of the finished barrow ready for market. 

 First, and most important, the brood sow should be a 

 prolific and regular breeder; second, she should be able 

 to produce the kind of pigs which meet the demands of the 

 feeder with regard to their ability to make rapid gains 

 and the disposition to be finished or mature at market 

 age ; and third, she should produce a type of pig which 

 will give the maximum returns as a killer when he goes 

 to the butcher or packer. These statements #pply also 

 to the boar. Every breeder is striving to produce the 

 type of hog which he believes will be most successful 

 in meeting these demands. 



A standard of excellence. 



Breeders are not agreed on what constitutes the ideal 

 type of hog. Even those who profess allegiance to the 

 same breed differ in what they believe to be the best and 

 most profitable type to produce. The essential differences 

 between the various breeds of lard hogs are due chiefly 

 to the varying emphasis placed by the breeders on the 

 fundamental requirements, breeding qualities, feeding 

 qualities, and killing qualities. Although there are breed 



