382 Types and Market Classes of Live Stock 



United States are of this type and some of the breeds which we have im- 

 ported have been remodeled so as to more closely conform to this type. 



In early times in the United States there was a large demand for 

 cured meats. In mining camps, lumber camps, and frontier sections, 

 and on sea-going ships, mess pork was in great demand because it 

 could be easily kept in storage for long periods. It could be transported 

 long distances overland in wagons, or overseas in sailing vessels, or on 

 inland waterways in flat boats, without deterioration. In those days 

 only cured meats were in demand in commerce because there were no 

 refrigeration facilities and transportation was slow. Except in winter 

 there were no refrigeration facilities for slaughtering or for storage. 



The best mess pork is the fattest pork, because it requires less 

 salt to cure it and it absorbs less salt and is more palatable than lean 

 salt pork. Furthermore, fat meat contains more energy than lean 

 meat and is therefore more economical and valuable, particularly for 

 laborers at hard work in cold weather. 



The foreign demand for cheap meats also afforded a large outlet 

 for fat pork made from low-priced corn. This trade was a considerable 

 factor in the early development of our hog and corn industries, and 

 our export trade still affords a market for a considerable percentage of 

 our pork and lard and thereby for a considerable share of our corn crop. 



Thus we see that there was need of a particular type of hog adapted 

 to our special requirements, and that there was a vast and increasing 

 field for this new type as the country was settled and as the corn belt 

 was developed. Since an early day there has been every incentive to 

 pay particular attention to pork production and to hog breeding in 

 this country. For many years past the improvement of our American 

 breeds and of our imported breeds, and the maintenance of purebred 

 herds for the purpose of supplying boars and sows for use in farm herds, 

 has commanded the best efforts of a large number of our stockmen. 



The number of hogs on farms in the United States on census dates 

 grew from 26 million in 1840, to 34 million in 1860, 48 in 1880, 57 in 

 1890, and 63 in 1900, and then declined to 58 in 1910 and 59 in 1920. 

 The census date was June 1 until 1910, when it was changed to April 

 15. It was changed to January 1 in 1920. 



The number of hogs on farms in the United States on January 1 

 of the various years, as estimated by the U. S. Department of Agricul- 

 ture, was 34 million in 1880, 52 in 1890, 37 in 1900, 48 in 1910, and 72 

 in 1920. ^ These estimates recently have been revised, using census 

 data as a basis. The revised estimates are 51 million in 1880, 59 in 

 1890, 54 in 1900, 57 in 1910, and 59 in 1920. ^ 



lU. S. Dept. Agr. Yearbook, 1920, p. 753. 

 2U. S. Dept. Agr. Yearbook, 1922, p. 192. 



