86 PROFITABLE STOCK RAISING 



of moderate abundance, thus keeping the wool in 

 a healthy condition. 



Probably no animal on the farm will make money 

 more rapidly than the hog. Hogs are easily kept, 

 large litters are produced that can be sent to mar- 

 ket at nine months, thus enabling the farmer to 

 turn his money quick. There are many varieties 

 of hogs in the United States, but the most desir- 

 able type of any breed, as the animal is kept solely 

 for pork, is the one that possesses compactness of 

 form, breadth of back, large hams, strength of limb 

 and a capacity to fatten rapidly and mature early. 

 The American desires a type of hog that carries a 

 large amount of fat. It represents the extreme type 

 of meat production and, of course, is the most 

 popular in the corn states. In other countries this 

 type of hog is not looked upon with favor, as a 

 bacon animal is preferred, but here bacon hogs are 

 not very numerous and under the conditions exist- 

 ing in nearly every part of the country, even the 

 bacon hogs begin to take on the fat-producing form 

 after they have been bred for a number of years. 

 It may be taken for granted, then, as a rule, that 

 the hog popular in the corn belt is true to American 

 type. In general, a profitable pork-producing hog 

 should be compact and big of body, with a short, 

 well-formed head, broad back, large, heavy hams, 

 short legs, plenty of quality, as shown by an abun- 

 dance of fine hair, strong bones and joints. In 

 disposition the animal should be mild, so that he 

 will fatten easily. 



The size is largely determined by the demands 

 of the market. At some markets hogs ranging 

 from 220 to 230 pounds are most popular, while at 

 others considerably heavier ones bring the best 

 prices. It is pretty hard to breed for the ones 



