444 Pork Production 



hogs is the opportunity afforded of selecting the sows from 

 a breed or of a type known to be unusually prolific and 

 heavy milkers and the use on these of a boar possessing 

 the type which will insure by the cross sufficient early 

 maturity and market qualities in the pigs produced. 



But even from the standpoint of the farmer who is 

 producing only grade or market hogs, cross-breeding 

 presents certain difficulties and disadvantages. It neces- 

 sitates the maintenance of two distinct herds, a small one 

 for the production of the brood sows and a larger herd 

 made up of the cross-bred feeder pigs. A second and more 

 important objection to cross-breeding as usually conducted 

 is the tendency to retain for breeding purposes some of the 

 cross-bred pigs. The temptation to do this is strong, with 

 the usual result that in a very short time the herd presents 

 all varieties of color and type. 



The reason why cross-breeding cannot be generally 

 recommended is not so much from any evil in the practice 

 itself when systematically pursued, but rather because 

 when once begun it too frequently degenerates into mixed 

 and indiscriminate mating with its attendant evils. It 

 should also be understood that even at its best, cross-breed- 

 ing is not a method of live-stock improvement. Its sole 

 purpose is to produce a more profitable type of market 

 animal through the use of the improved blood of two dis- 

 tinct breeds or types. 



Although the crossing of two distinct and carefully 

 bred strains of the same breed has a reinvigorating effect 

 on the pigs so produced, it finally results in a splitting up 

 of type and the production of reversions in later genera- 

 tions. This result explains why the breeder of pedigreed 

 hogs is always loath to introduce into his carefully bred 

 herd blood from some unrelated strain. The surest way 



