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capacity of individuals of the breed to produce gains in weight. 

 In five feeding trials at the Ontario Agricultural College the 

 Poland-China consumed in the several tests the following amounts 

 of "meal" to make 100 pounds of gain in live weight; namely, 

 4 1 7, 333, 3 8 3> 35, an d 474- In three trials at the Iowa Station, 

 to produce 100 pounds of gain, the Poland-China consumed the 

 following amounts of dry matter ; namely, 424, 392, and 441. In 

 twenty-two tests involving 96 pigs at eight experiment stations 

 and agricultural colleges, as reported by Rommel, it required 

 357 pounds of feed for 100 pounds of gain in live weight. In 

 breed comparisons, results show considerable variation, in which 

 the Poland-China ranged from the poorest to the best. 



The early-maturing qualities of the Poland-China are of the 

 first class, and the breed has been noted in this respect for many 

 years. No other breed, unless the Chester White, will finish off 

 fat so early as this, and this quality is more especially applied to 

 the medium type of the breed, to which reference has already been 

 made. In the change in the market from a large, slow-maturing, 

 older type of fat hog to a smaller, less mature, younger sort, the 

 Poland-China has been an important factor. Until comparatively 

 recently, on the great Chicago hog market the blood of this breed 

 has played a most prominent part, due largely to the ability of 

 feeders to finish off early. 



The adaptability of the Poland-China to environment is at least 

 medium. It is primarily a breed for the corn belt, where it is 

 found in its greatest perfection and where it thrives best. It has 

 never had much of a hold in the more rough or hilly regions East 

 or West nor in the cooler sections of the North. However, with 

 an abundance of food, it adjusts itself to a range of conditions 

 comparable with other breeds. Like other lard breeds Poland- 

 Chinas tend to be phlegmatic in winter, consequently a region 

 relatively free from snow is better suited to them. 



The quality of Poland-China meat has been subject to criticism 

 from certain sources. The export trade has especially called for 

 a lean type of bacon, such as is only produced by a lean type of 

 pig or one that is fed a nitrogenous ration. The Poland-China 

 produces rather more external fat than do most other breeds. 

 This is readily seen in comparing the carcasses of pigs of this 



