700 SWINE 



relied upon for securing superior quality. Where properly fed 

 this breed makes a bacon pig of high class, and is so regarded 

 in Great Britain, though it may not be the equal of the Large 

 Yorkshire or Tamworth in this respect. 



In carcass contests at the International Live-Stock Exposition 

 the Berkshire has won a high place. In 1917 the Berkshire not 

 only was awarded grand-champion carcass but won more carcass 

 prizes than any other breed. In 1916 the grand-champion carcass 

 was a Berkshire. At the Smithfield Club shows in London, 

 from 1904 to 1916 inclusive, Berkshire carcasses won all the 

 championships, a remarkable showing. Not only this, but the 

 first prizes in every class have been won every time by Berkshires, 

 excepting on six occasions, and on two of these the winners were 

 Berkshire crossbreds. 



The crossbred or grade Berkshire, where fair samples of pigs 

 are used in breeding, merit high praise. A cross of Berkshire 

 boar on Poland-China sows produces offspring that feed rapidly 

 and sell well, the two breeds blending admirably. This cross 

 gives more vigor and a 'better feeder. Also a cross of the 

 Berkshire on the Chester White female is productive of a better 

 feeder than the sire, with a class of pork superior to that of the 

 dam. The great value of the Berkshire in crossing is amply 

 demonstrated from the fact that the blood of the breed has been 

 used to improve that of other breeds for over a century, and no 

 doubt has done much to help the most prominent breeds of 

 to-day in their early stages. Sidney states that Fisher Hobbs, 

 who did much in improving British pigs, used the Berkshire as 

 a cross on his Essex pigs, and thereby size and condition were 

 materially affected. In fact, so strong was the Berkshire influence 

 that some twenty-eight years after the cross was made some, of 

 the young Essex reverted to their alien ancestor and were, in 

 reality, exact types of the true Berkshire pig. Mr. W. H. Wykes, 

 an experienced breeder, according to Long, finds that the best 

 crosses are made by the Berkshire on the Black Suffolk and the 

 Tamworth. The value of the Berkshire boar in grading up a herd 

 is unquestioned. Feeders of such blood always command the top 

 price in America and are purchased by discriminating buyers who 

 recognize the place the well-finished feeder has in the market. 



