112 BREEDS OP SWINE 



coining popular with the general farmer, and it is perhaps 

 better suited to the requirements of the cottager, who wishes 

 to keep a pig with a minimum outlay for feed. He does not 

 have so many pounds of pork, but he has a fat hog with a 

 small outlay. It has never been demonstrated that the Essex 

 requires less feed for a pound of gain than other breeds, but 

 there is no doubt that it is an economical producer of meat. 

 The meat is fine-grained, but excessively fat. 



The Essex is suitable for crossing upon extremely coarse 

 breeds, and in the past it played an important part in the 

 improvement of other breeds. At present there is less need 

 for this sort of work, and the field of usefulness for the Essex 

 has been greatly restricted. It is being used, however, for 

 improving the Eazor-back of the South. 



The Essex is not regarded as prolific, but a great deal 

 depends upon how the sows are managed. 



Essex Score Card — Following is the scale of points adopted 

 by the American Essex Association : 



Counts. 



Color — Black 2, 



Bead — Small, broad, and face dished 3 



Ears — Fine, erect, slightly drooping with age 2 



Jowl — Full and neat 1 



Neck — Short, full, well arched 3 



Shoulders — Broad and deep 7 



Girth around Heart 6 



Back — Straight, broad, and level 12 



Sides — Deep and full 6 



Rihs — -Well sp'rung 7 



Loin — Broad and strong 12 



Flank — Well let down 2 



Sam — Broad, full, and deep 12 



Tail — Medium, fine, and curled 2 



Legs — Fine, straight, and tapering 3 



