714 SWINE 



of the breed. In the experience of the writer in which the Duroc- 

 Jersey has been under observation along with other breeds during 

 the past twenty-five years, it has attained a greater size of the 

 same age than any other breed excepting the Large Yorkshire. 

 It may not mature or finish off so quickly as the Poland-China 

 or Chester White, but it will attain a most satisfactory weight 

 for the age, which is not always the case with other breeds. 



The quality of Duroc- Jersey pork in time past has been subject 

 to unfavorable comment. Twenty-five years ago this was an un- 

 popular breed with the packers, their reasons being that there was 

 too much waste in killing and the fat was too soft and oily. How- 

 ever, the breed has been so improved that this criticism no longer 

 prevails. In slaughter tests, however, the Duroc-Jersey has not 

 attained so high a place as the Berkshire, Poland-China, or Chester 

 White. In carcass studies in breed tests at the Iowa Station, the 

 Duroc-Jersey yielded less lard than any other breed except the 

 Chester White. There was a total of 20. 3 5 pounds of lard and more 

 total guts than any other breed excepting the Berkshire, though 

 the difference was not great. In killing, the Yorkshire led with 

 79.18 per cent dressed meat, while the Duroc-Jersey was fifth, 

 with 77.05 per cent. In the carcass contest at the International 

 Live-Stock Exposition there have been but few entries of the 

 Duroc-Jersey, and while the breed has won no championship, it has 

 made some creditable records. In 1908 the first-prize heavy carcass 

 was of a Duroc-Jersey, weighing 466 pounds cold, that dressed out 

 89.6 per cent, the highest dressing of the prize-winning carcasses. 

 This same year the first-prize light-weight carcass was of a Duroc- 

 Jersey dressing out 88.6 per cent. In 1910 second place was 

 awarded in both medium and light-weight carcasses, the former 

 dressing out 83.2 per cent and the latter 81.8 per cent. 



The crossbred or grade Duroc-Jersey pig is to-day a common 

 sight in the markets of the great corn-producing section of the 

 Mississippi Valley. Duroc-Jersey boars are now widely used in 

 herds where grade sows are the rule, and pigs of such breeding 

 feed well, tend to good size while growing, and mature early. 

 Crossed on any of the lard breeds, satisfactory results may be ex- 

 pected, although the Poland-China and Berkshire nick especially 

 well with the Duroc-Jersey. The use of the Berkshire male on 



