CHAPTER XXXII 



PURE-BRED SWINE 



While pure-bred swine are relatively more numerous 

 than pure-bred sheep, cattle, or horses, they do not yet 

 produce any large portion of our meat supply. Conse- 

 quently the breeders of pure-bred swine are raising breed- 

 ing stock rather than producing commercial pork. On 

 account of this greater abundance of pure-bred swine and 

 the consequent keener competition among the breeders, 

 the selection of only the best stock is even more important, 

 if possible, than with other animals. The proportion of 

 pure-bred hogs which must be sold for pork is large, 

 especially in slack times. This condition is very favor- 

 able for the development of the industry as a whole, al- 

 though it may make it a little hard financially on the 

 amateur who tries to start out with second-grade stuff. 



BREEDS 



The Berkshire, Poland China, Duroc Jersey, and the 

 Chester White are the leading breeds in the West. With 

 any one of these neither success nor failure can be charged 

 to the selection of the breed. The Hampshire is growing 

 in popularity and in many places must be counted with 

 the standard breeds. The other breeds 'may be as well 

 adapted to western conditions as the five named, but so 

 far they must be considered as an experiment. 



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