BREEDING AND SELECTION 27 



sight of the importance of utility, he need never hope to achieve 

 lasting distinction as a breeder. 



Utility must be viewed from two stand-points: (1) The 

 butcher requires an animal that will give him the largest pro- 

 portion of valuable meat, and (2) the farmer requires an 

 animal that will reproduce its kind in profitable numbers and 

 make rapid and economical gains. There would be little use 

 in aiming to please the butcher if the animal did not meet the 

 requirements of the farmer, but the butcher must not be left 

 out of consideration if a really useful animal is to be produced. 

 In breeding operations, therefore, both these men must be kept 

 in view, and the breeding, feeding, and killing qualities must 

 each receive a due share of attention. 



In-breeding. — It is not intended to attempt a general dis- 

 cussion of the principles of breeding; but the question of in- 

 breeding — that is, the mating of animals that are closely related 

 — is of such importance that it is deserving of some notice in 

 a publication dealing with swine husbandry. 



Advice of a Breeder. — That very successful Berkshire 

 breeder, N. H. Gentry, read a paper before the American 

 Swine Breeders' Association, in which he gave his experience 

 with in-breeding of Berkshires. His experience extends over a 

 considerable number of years, and the following statement is 

 taken from his paper: 



" Neither in-breeding nor the reverse will be a success un- 

 less matings are made with animals suited to each other, — 

 that is, having no weakness in common if possible, and as 

 much good in common as possible. This, in my opinion, is 

 the key to success in all breeding operations, and success will 

 come in no other way. In my opinion, in-breeding, as a rule, is 

 very good or very bad. If you intensify the blood of animals 

 that are good, you do good, but if they are bad, you go wrong 



