62 SOUTHERN PORK PRODUCTION 



Berkshire boar with sows of this breed. The fecundity 

 of the breed is high, and the sows have comparatively 

 large litters. In a study of the prolificacy of breeds of 

 swine, Dr. Rommel 1 of the United States Department of 

 Agriculture found that 21,652 litters of this breed aver- 

 aged 9.26 to the litter, which must be considered as quite 

 high and above the average for pure-bred swine. The 

 breed, having been bred along definite lines for many 

 years, is quite prepotent, and the boars seem to stamp 

 their type and color well on all their offspring, the result 

 of the first generation when they are crossed onto grade 

 or common stock being of the red color and possessing 

 to a considerable degree the desirable characteristics of 

 the breed. 



The breed is one of the most widely distributed and 

 probably enjoys the widest distribution of any of the 

 breeds in the South. In prices they range all along from 

 rather high to lower and average prices. It is especially 

 to be recommended for southern use for several reasons, 

 as mentioned above. Its quietness of disposition is a 

 most admirable quality, which makes it easily confined. 

 The registration and the interests of the breed are fos- 

 tered by two associations, the American Duroc-Jersey 

 Swine Breeders' Association (1883), R. J. Evans, Secre- 

 tary, with offices at Chicago, 111., and the National Duroc- 

 Jersey Record Association (1891), J. R. Pfander, Secre- 

 tary, with offices located at Peoria, 111. 



The Essex. This is an old English breed that origi- 

 nated in the County of Essex in England, from whence 

 the breed gets its name. The stock used in its foundation 

 were principally Neapolitan, Black Suffolk and Berkshire. 



1 U. S. Dept. Agr. B. A. I. Circ. 95. 



