MULE-FOOT SWINE 349 



Scale op Points. 



Head. — Short to medium in length, short in proportion to length 



of body . , g 



Face. — Somewhat dished and wide between the eyes 8 



Jowl. — Medium in fulness .... 3 

 Ears. — Small, fine, erect, and in old animals slightly pointing 



forward .... 5 



Neck. — Short and broad . 3 



Shoulders. — Broad, full and deep . 6 



Girth. — Around heart . ' . . 8 



Back. — Long, broad and straight nearly to root of tail 10 



Side. — Deep and full, nearly straight on bottom line . 7 

 Flank. — Well back and low down, making flank girth nearly 



equal to heart girth 3 



Hams. — Broad and nearly straight with back, and running down 



well over toward hock . 10 



Legs. — Small and shm, set well apart, supporting body well on 



toes ..... , . . 10 



Tail. — Small, slim and tapering .... 3 



Hair. — Fine, medium in thickness and quantity . 3 

 Color. — White, and colored hairs to disqualify, color or spots in 



skin objectionable . . 2 



Skin. — Fine and pliable, small blue spots objectionable, but 



allowable ... 3 



Symmetry. — Animal well proportioned, handsome and stylish 8 



Total . . 100 



Mule-foot Swine. — The Mule-foot breed of swine derives 

 its name from the pecuUar structure of the foot which does 

 not have the cleft or division in the hoof. The origin is not 

 authoritatively known. The breed has been introduced in a 

 few states, principally through the middle west, but has not 

 gained a wide foothold. The breed is medium in size, solid 

 black in color and only fair in refinement and maturing 

 qualities. A few herds have been shown at various fairs 

 throughout the country where they have attracted special 

 attention from the standpoint of curiosity. One of the 

 serious objections to the breed is its inability to with- 

 stand heavy feeding. Moderate or excessive weight causes 

 animals to break down in the pasterns or weaken otherwise 

 in the feet which are small, narrow, and contracted. The 

 breed has been advertised as being immune from cholera 

 infestation, but practical tests have not indicated the relia- 

 bility of these statements. The breed is not important at the 

 present time. It is more interesting from an authoritative 

 and breed-description standpoint than from practical utility. 

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