482 THE PIG 



of litters. There are many large litters of Berkshire pigs, and 

 litters of ten are not uncommon. Walker states that about seven 

 or eight at a farrow are reckoned an average family for even the 

 older sows. William Ashcroft, a successful English breeder, is 

 quoted by Professor Long as saying that the tendency to pro- 

 duce medium litters, of say six to eight, may be corrected by 

 breeding less closely. " If unrelated stock pigs are used," says 

 Ashcroft, "the litters will come pretty regularly twice a year, 

 and average about eight to eleven." In the United States the 

 tendency with the heavily corn-fed sow is to produce smaller 

 litters than would be the case with a less-fattening diet. In 

 general the Berkshire is not lacking in fecundity. As nurses 

 and mothers the sows may be regarded as in the first class. 



The prepotency of the Berkshire is of high merit. Being one 

 of the oldest breeds, long bred with care, its prepotency has 

 become well established. No breed of swine has a more beauti- 

 ful conformation, and where bred pure this is easily transmitted 

 from generation to generation. 



The style and finish of the Berkshire are worthy of comment. 

 By many it is rightly regarded as the aristocrat of the swine 

 family. The symmetrical outline, with pricked-up ear and well- 

 turned head, give an attractive finish and style which assists 

 materially in making this breed popular with many people. 



The distribution of the Berkshire pig is very widespread. It is 

 found in various parts of England, although more generally in the 

 south section. It is also found to some extent in Scotland, Wales, 

 and Ireland. On the continent of Europe the breed is not so com- 

 mon, although it has been more or less exported to the various 

 European countries. In the British provinces of Canada and 

 Australasia the Berkshire is common. In the United States no 

 breed is more widely distributed than this, and it is generally 

 found all over the Union, although it is perhaps most common 

 in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Wiscon- 

 sin, lUinois, Iowa, and Missouri. 



Organizations for the promotion of the Berkshire pig exist in 

 England and the United States. The American Berkshire 

 Swine Breeders' Association was organized in 1875 at Spring- 

 field, Illinois, since which time to January, 1906, twenty-five 



