412 Pork Production 



general lack of symmetry. On the other hand, the small 

 kinds tend towards the extremely short, thick, "dumpy" 

 type, inclining their pigs more to fat and early maturity 

 than to bone development and growth. To a large extent 

 this is probably due, not so much to the fact that symmetry 

 of form and large size are necessarily opposed to one 

 another, but because of the tendency of the breeder to 

 neglect the form in his constant effort to obtain size. A 

 wide spring of rib and a balanced symmetrical conforma- 

 tion are possible in individuals of great size. If individ- 

 uals possessing this desirable combination can be pro- 

 duced, it means that whole herds of this type are possible. 



Feet and legs. 



In the mature sow and boar, the legs should be of 

 medium length, neither too short nor too long. Pigs 

 should appear a trifle upstanding. The bone should not 

 be fine, but medium to large in size, and clean cut, hard, 

 and strong in appearance. The legs should be straight 

 viewed from the side, front, or rear, attached squarely 

 under each corner of the body, and particularly strong 

 at the hocks, knees, and pasterns. The pasterns should 

 be short also, and the feet strong and symmetrically 

 shaped. 



Breeders who select for fine bone in their hogs usually 

 lose size, constitution, and general ruggedness. And, 

 on the other hand, those who value heavy bone as a merit 

 in itself are in danger of sacrificing quality, smoothness, 

 and early maturity. Since the ideal hog must have 

 size with quality, and ruggedness with smoothness and 

 early maturity, the wise course for the breeder to pursue 

 would seem to be one which lay between these two ex- 

 tremes. 



