BREEDS OF PIGS. 15 



little permanency of character about them. They are 

 constantly changing, just as the management of their own- 

 ers varies. 



A breed possesses fixed characteristics. If fully estab- 

 lished, and the conditions of feeding and management are 

 not changed, these characteristics are transmitted from 

 generation to generation. In pigs, owing to their fecund- 

 ity, it is a comparatively easy matter to establish a breed. 



Man does not create a breed. God alone creates. All 

 that we can do is to avail ourselves of that inherent dis- 

 position which animals have of adapting themselves to 

 the conditions in which they are placed. The conditions 

 are under our control. Let the breeder first make up his 

 mind what system of feeding and management he will 

 adopt. Then let him steadily and perseveringly adhere 

 to it. An unstable man can never be a successful breeder. 

 If he wishes a breed that will grow moderately 0n a mod- 

 erate allowance of food, and arrive at maturity in two or 

 three years, he can attain his object by feeding moderately 

 and selecting such pigs to breed from, as come nearest his 

 wishes. If any pigs in the litter manifest a disposition to 

 grow rapidly, they must be rejected. Such pigs are not 

 suited to a moderate allowance of food. Their offspring 

 will certainly degenerate. Better select those which 

 make the slowest growth, and which are consequently 

 least likely to experience the injurious effects of starva- 

 tion. By steadily pursuing this method, a breed can be 

 obtained which will eat little and grow slowly, and yet 

 remain healthy. If it is desired to have them attain a 

 greater weight without increasing the daily allowance of 

 food,' attention must be directed to this object. Do not 

 let either the sow or the boar breed until they have at- 

 tained their fullest growth, say at three, four, or five years 

 of age. 



The advantage of such a breed lies in the fact that it 

 would suffer less from occasional starvation, than breeds 



