64 



DISEASES OF SWINE 



General Characteristics. — The American Hampshire is a me- 

 dium-sized animal of the bacon type, the most prominent charac- 

 teristic of which is the presence of a white-colored stripe or belt 

 extending around the body at the level of the front feet and shoul- 

 ders. The front limbs are also white in color. Some breeders 

 cross with the purpose of eliminating this white belt and producing 

 an animal that is entirely black. 



The head is of medium size and of the straight-faced type, 

 rather than of the dished appearance seen in the small type of York- 

 shire pigs. Shoulders and hams are only of medium fulness; 

 back average in length, moderately wide, and well supported. 



Fig. 29. — Hampshire sow. 



Sides are of the bacon rather than lard type. The legs are in- 

 clined to be rather long, but are well boned, firmly placed, and have 

 good feet and pasterns. 



The average weight of the Hampshire hog is about 400 to 500 

 pounds. A pen of this breed, which won the prize at the Inter- 

 national Stock Show in Chicago a few years ago, averaged 493 

 pounds. 



Good Breeders. — As a breeder the Hampshire is quite prolific, 

 producing a litter of 10 to 12 pigs. The sows are good mothers, 

 good milkers, and easily managed. The hog crosses fairly well 

 with the short, blocky type of grade sows, and gives them greater 



