SWINE GEORGE E. DAY. 33 



Characteristics. Large Yorkshires are one of the 

 largest breeds of swine. They vary considerably in type, 

 and it requires skill in selection to breed them of uniform 

 character. When intelligently selected, they are profitable 

 feeders, growing rapidly, and becoming ready for the 

 packer at an early age. As previously noted, they are well 

 adapted to produce bacon for the English market, as they 

 furnish a long side, and a good proportion of lean to fat. 

 They are reasonably hardy and very prolific. Being more 

 than ordinarily prepotent, they are exceptionally valuable 

 for crossing on the fatter types of hogs, giving to the prog- 

 eny greater length and less tendency to excessive fatness. 

 They are rather better adapted to pen feeding than to 

 grazing. 



Hints on Selection. Large Yorkshires vary consider- 

 ably in type and general qualities. The more old fashioned 

 strains frequently possessed extremely short, turned-up 

 snouts, with the lower jaw projecting beyond the upper. 

 While many good hogs possess this peculiarity, it is too com- 

 monly associated with very undesirable qualities to deserve 

 popularity. Animals with this peculiarity of snout often 

 have a heavy jowl, neck, and shoulder, a short side, and a 

 general lack of quality. Then there is another extreme : the 

 long, scrawny neck, narrow chest, long, coarse-boned, puffy 

 legs, and bristly coat. This type is even more objectionable 

 than the other. Hogs of this type frequently have good 

 length, but they are not a good bacon type, because they lack 

 quality, which is essential to the production of the best 

 bacon. They are also hard feeders, and a good bacon hog 

 is an economical producer. Coarseness is more objection- 

 able in the sow than in the boar, but care must be taken not 

 to get the bone too fine. The bone of the sow should be 

 strong, but should be very clean-cut in appearance, and the 

 legs should be of only medium length- In addition to the 

 things looked for in any boar of bacon breed, the Large 

 Yorkshire boar should possess a large ear, and heavy bone. 



