26 PRINCIPLES OF SWINE BREEDING 



be invested in the enterprise, it will amount to nothing unless 

 the breeder has a clearly defined object in view. 



He will meet with many things to try his faith, but he 

 must not waver; he will be frequently cast dovsm, but he must 

 not despair. Difficulties, disappointments, and hope deferred 

 are part of the heritage of the breeder, and he requires the 

 highest class of courage to be able to " 'stick to his guns " and 

 eventually bring victory out of what appeared to be certain 

 defeat. 



There is no royal road to success as a breeder, and, while 

 there may be few who attain to greatness, there is no reason 

 why any man should not attain a reasonable degree of success 

 in breeding swine, providing he possesses a liking for these 

 animals and a determination to conquer the difficulties incident 

 to the undertaking. 



Utility. — Every breeder should ask himself why he is 

 breeding the animals of his choice. Is it to humor the whims 

 of the few or to meet the demands of the many ? If his work 

 as a breeder is to be a success, he must never lose sight of the 

 requirements of the man who produces the market hog for 

 the money that is in it. 'No matter how pure the blood or how 

 perfect the type from the breeder's stand-point, if the hog 

 does not meet the requirements of the packer, if it is not suited 

 to paying the rent and lifting the mortgage when placed in 

 the hands of the average farmer, then all the effort employed 

 in its production has been wasted. The watchword of the 

 truly successful breeder must be utility. Utility is the touch- 

 stone upon which each breeder's work will be tested. If his 

 work stands the test it will surely meet with recognition, but 

 if it fails in the test it will ultimately disappear and be for- 

 gotten. Every step in the breeder's operations must be dom- 

 inated by this one great consideration, and if he ever loses 



