SWINE GEORGE E. DAY. 



because the belly meat is cheaper than the part above it, as 

 indicated in the diagram. Allowance would have to be 

 made in this connection for a sow that had produced several 

 litters of pigs. It would not be desirable to have her as light 

 in the belly as a boar or a market hog. 



Quality. A fine, smooth coat of hair denotes thriftiness 

 and good quality of flesh. A "swirl" or "rose" in the hair 

 on the back is objected to mainly on account of appearance. 

 Wrinkles on the skin, if at all marked, indicate coarse- 

 grained flesh. Softness and flabbiness of flesh, denote too 

 much fat in proportion to lean. The bone is an extremelv 

 important indication of quality, and is judged by the appear- 

 ance of the bone in the legs. The bacon type of hog has 

 heavier bone than the lard type, because there is a relation 

 between the development of bone and muscle. Very fine 

 bone is usually associated with an excessive development of 

 fat, and, therefore, it is undesirable in a bacon hog, where a 

 large amount of lean in proportion to fat is the object sought. 

 On the other hand, very coarse, puffy bone denotes poor 

 quality of flesh, and is often associated with hard feeding 

 qualities and late maturity. The right kind of bone is 

 somewhere between these two extremes. It should have 

 good weight, but the legs should present a very clean cui 

 appearance. A round, puiify looking leg should not be tol- 

 erated. In the boar, it is difficult to have too heavy bone, 

 so long as it is clean cut, that is, not covered with a coarse, 

 puffy skin. The sow, however, should have much finer 

 bone than the boar, but it should be in proportion to her size 

 and frame. 



Condition. To be able to judge of the proper condition 

 for a market hog, requires considerable practice in examin- 

 ing animals both before and after they are slaughtered. It 

 is customary to show breeding animals in considerably h gher 

 condition than would be desirable in a market hog, but the 

 over-fitting of breeding animals for show should be dis- 

 couraged by the judge. 



