66 



SOUTHERN PORK PRODUCTION 



color is suited to our climate, and, being an early maturer 

 and a good grazer, it meets our requirements well. It is 

 one of the best feeders and fatteners we have, making 

 gains rapidly and economically. It is not of the quiet 



disposition of some breeds, and 

 is therefore not easily confined. 

 It is a good rustler, however, 

 and if there is anything to be 

 found to eat, it will take care of 

 itself. It is almost as prolific as 

 the Duroc-Jersey, and the sows 

 show themselves to be excellent 

 mothers and less apt to lie upon 

 their pigs than the Durocs. 

 The quality of the pork is un- 

 surpassed, having a very high 

 percentage of lean. This breed 

 had been used extensively in 

 crossing, both in grading up and 

 in crossing with other breeds, 

 Crossed with the Duroc-Jersey, 

 an ideal pork animal is pro- 

 duced. Their fecundity and 

 breeding capacity is high. Dr. 

 A. W. Bitting 1 found 400 litters 



to average 8.22 pigs each, which must be considered high. 

 The boars are quite prepotent on account of the age of 

 the breed, and they stamp their type strongly on un- 

 improved and grade animals. 



As a breed they are widely distributed over the South, 

 but they are not so numerous as the Duroc-Jersey. They 

 have sold in the past at rather fancy prices, but they do 



'Tenth Ann. Rept. Ind. Agr. Exp. Sta. (1897). 



Blood lines of the Berk- 

 shire. 



