BREEDING AND SELECTION 



37 



it came to a choice between two boars, one of which was fine 

 and effeminate, and the other inclining to coarseness but 

 strongly masculine, the writer's experience would lead him 

 to choose the latter, other things being equal. 



Selection of the Sow. For the production of market hogs 

 it is not essential that a sow should be pure-bred. A grade 



FIG. 12. An excellent type of breeding sow. She possesses length, depth, smooth- 

 ness, and quality. The head shows strength and docility, and is truly feminine. The well- 

 developed and well placed teats denote prolificacy and good milking qualities. 



sow of good type and parentage will usually produce very 

 satisfactory pigs for market purposes, if mated with a boar 

 of good breeding and quality, but, of course, none of her boar 

 pigs should be kept for breeding purposes. 



Whether pure-bred or grade, a sow selected for breeding 

 should be from a prolific mother, and by a boar that comes 



