AUTHOR'S METHOD OF FEEDING 167 



Thus it is seen that a pig is subject to the environment 

 under which he is kept and is always subject to a con- 

 siderable extent to habit or training. If a pig has gotten 

 into the habit of taking considerable exercise, he will be 

 a much better pig than if he is trained to keep quiet. This, 

 of course, is more important during early life than during 

 the fattening stage. However, it is believed that even a 

 fattening hog will do better with a certain amount of 

 exercise. 



INFLUENCE OF PREVIOUS GENERATIONS. 



Under this head may be considered very properly the 

 subject of breeding in so far as it applies to the acquisi- 

 tion of different characteristics. It is generally recog- 

 nized that if pigs are selected and bred for a number of 

 years along certain lines, they will produce results accord- 

 ingly. That is, if pigs are bred to a small type, they will 

 not make as large gains as those that are bred to a larger 

 type. Again, certain conditions produce hogs of the fat or 

 lard type, while other conditions produce bacon hogs, etc. 

 The influence of various conditions under which previous 

 generations were kept is then transmitted to the offspring 

 in the form of acquired characteristics, and a pig will pro- 

 duce results largely in accordance with the manner in 

 which he has been bred. 



The influence exerted by the immediate ancestors is not 

 so generally recognized. It, however, seems to be a fact 

 that the manner in which a pig develops depends very 

 largely upon the conditions under which the dam was 

 kept as well as on the manner in which she was fed. A 

 sow that has been improperly developed is not likely to 

 produce either as many -or as good pigs as one that was 

 properly developed. The sire also exerts his influence. 



