112 BREEDS OF SWINE 



coming popular with the general farmer, and it is perhaps 

 better suited to the requirements of the cottager, who wishes 

 to keep a pig with a minimum outlay for feed. He does not 

 have so many pounds of pork, but he has a fat hog with a 

 small outlay. It has never been demonstrated that the Essex 

 requires less feed for a pound of gain than other breeds, but 

 there is no doubt that it is an economical producer of meat. 

 The meat is fine-grained, but excessively fat. 



The Essex is suitable for crossing upon extremely coarse 

 breeds, and in the ^past it played an important part in the 

 improvement of other breeds. At present there is less need 

 for this sort of work, and the field of usefulness for the Essex 

 has been greatly restricted. It is being used, however, for 

 improving the Razor-back of the South. 



The Essex is not regarded as prolific, but a great deal 

 depends upon how the sows are managed. 



Essex Score Card. Following is the scale of points adopted 

 by the American Essex Association : 



Counts. 



Color Black 2 



Head Small, broad, and face dished 3 



Ears Fine, erect, slightly drooping with age 2 



Jowl Full and neat 1 



Neck Short, full, well arched 3 



Shoulders Broad and deep 7 



Girth around Heart 6 



Back Straight, broad, and level 12 



Sides Deep and full . 6 



Ribs .Well sprung 7 



Loin Broad and strong 12 



Flank Well let down 



Ham Broad, full, and deep 12 



Tail Medium, fine, and curled 2 



straight, and tapering 3 



