760 SWINE 



The size of the Mule-Foot places it in the medium class, 

 although on the basis of some claims it might be regarded as a 

 large breed. Dunlap states that the Mule-Foot equals the Poland- 

 China and Duroc-Jersey in size, easily attaining weights from 600 

 to 800 pounds, while Kreglow places the weight for the sows at 

 400 to 500 pounds at maturity, with 100 pounds more for the 

 boar. " Some of our brood sows," he writes, " could be fattened 

 to weigh 700 and one of our herd boars will weigh 1000 pounds." 

 By the standard a boar two years old should weigh 500 pounds, 

 a sow of the same age 450, and a twelve-months boar or sow 

 300 pounds. 



The feeding qualities of Mule-Foot swine are said to rank very 

 well. In recent years they show much sign of improvement and 

 without doubt will fatten satisfactorily. 



The quality of meat of the Mule-Foot ordinarily shows superior 

 mingling of lean and fat and is more comparable with the 

 Berkshire than the Poland-China. Dunlap regards the bacon of 

 this breed as an intermediate between the lard and bacon type. 

 In the more improved form it suggests the lard type. 



The prolificacy of the Mule-Foot swine is of moderate degree. 

 The average size of two hundred litters reported by Kreglow 

 was eight plus, and these included ninety-one gilts with their 

 first litters. 



The prepotency of the Mule-Foot is a pronounced characteristic. 

 Not only is the general conformation and color transmitted but 

 in crossbreeding it is said that the solid hoof is reproduced to 

 "a remarkable degree." 



The immunity of Mule-Foot swine to cholera has been claimed 

 on various occasions, and early in the present century, prior to 

 1910, much publicity was given to this statement. As a fair 

 sample of the claims made in behalf of the breed, the following 

 by R. G. Long is quoted : l " Mule-Foot breeders do claim that 

 their hogs will not take the cholera from being confined with 

 cholera infected hogs, and I believe that their animals have 

 made good on that claim." In 1910 J. H. Dunlap published 

 this statement : 2 



1 Ohio Farmer, July 8, 1911. 



2 National Stockman and Farmer, March 3, 1910. 



