504 



FARMER' 8 CYCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK 



acterized by early maturity and nearly 

 perfect form of the lard hog type, being 

 very blocky and compact. Boars at two 

 years of age should weigh 600 pounds 

 and sows 500 pounds. 



There are five record companies in 

 the United States which register Po- 

 land-China hogs. (See appendix.) 



Berkshires_The Berkshire breed is 

 of English origin and stands next to the 

 Poland-China in popularity in America. 

 It was first brought to this country 

 about 1830. It is a black hog, with 

 six white points, marked much like the 

 Poland-China, white on feet, face and 

 tip of tail. The face is dished, ears 

 short and erect or slightly inclined for- 



is not positively known. Eed hogs were 

 known to exist in New York as early as 

 1823 and in Connecticut in 1830. Red 

 hogs were imported into New Jersey 

 from Spain in 1832, and in 1850 into 

 Kentucky from either Spain or Portu- 

 gal. In New Jersey, they were first ad- 

 vertised in 1870 as Jersey Reds. In New 

 York, the breed was called Duroc, after 

 a noted stallion, as early as 1823. These 

 two families of hogs possessed like char- 

 acteristics and were undoubtedly of the 

 same origin. 



In form, the Duroc-Jerseys closely re- 

 semble the Poland-Chinas, but are red in 

 color. The standard is a cherry red 

 without spots. It is a coarser breed 



Fig. 320 — champion poland-china sow 



ward, the neck very short and the back 

 arched. The feet of the Berkshire are 

 not as strong as those of the Poland- 

 China. While the Berkshire in England 

 is largely used for bacon, under Ameri- 

 can influences it has developed into the 

 lard hog type. They are of about the 

 same size as the Poland-Chinas and pos- 

 sess about the same qualities. Good hogs 

 weigh 240 to 300 pounds nine to 12 

 months of age, and mature hogs 500 to 

 600 pounds. The specially good points 

 in regard to the Berkshire are its early 

 maturity, good grazing qualities, adapt- 

 ability and excellent carcass. It is one 

 of the most popular breeds in the South. 

 Duroc-Jerseys — This is an American 

 developed breed. Its origin, however, 



than either the Poland-China or Berk- 

 shire, with lop ears and numerous wrin- 

 kles and creases about the back and 

 hind quarters. 



The breed is chiefly notable for its 

 great fecundity and remarkably good 

 grazing powers. At six months of age, 

 good specimens of the breed should 

 Weigh 150 pounds and at eight or nine 

 months, the average should be 275 

 pounds. Mature hogs in good condition 

 average 500 to 600 pounds in weight. 

 The breed is of a quiet disposition, easily 

 handled, have vigorous appetites and 

 fatten rapidly. They are one of the best 

 of all breeds for the South, as they never 

 sun scald. The breed is most popular in 

 New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New 



