SWI>'E GEORGE E. DAY. 



the blood, or how perfect the type from the breeder's stand- 

 point, if the hog does not meet all the requirements of the 

 packer, if it is not suited to paying the rent and lifting the 

 mortgage when placed in the hands of the average farmer, 

 of what avail have been all the efforts that have been put 

 forth in producing this type of animal ? In short, the watch- 

 word of the truly successful breeder must be utility. Utility 

 is the touchstone upon which each breeder's work will be 

 tested. If his work stands the test, it will surely meet with 

 recognition ; if it fails in the test, it will ultimately disappear 

 and be forgotten. In setting up an ideal, therefore, utility 

 is the first great requisite. In establishing a type, nothing 

 must be admitted that will detract from utility. In selecting 

 breeding stock, it must always be the main consideration. 

 When he studies pedigrees, the breeder must ask himself 

 how much the blood lines represented in the pedigree under 

 consideration are likely to enhance the utility of the stock he 

 is breeding. Every step in the breeder's operations must be 

 dominated by this one- great consideration, and if he ever 

 loses sight of the importance of utility, he need never hope 

 to achieve distinction in his calling. 



Butcher and Feeder. Utility must be viewed from t'.vo 

 standpoints. The butcher requires an animal that will give 

 him the largest proportion of valuable meat, and 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 ani- 

 mal did not meet the requirements of the farmer ; neither 

 must the butcher be left out of consideration if a really use- 

 ful animal is to be produced. In breeding operations, there- 

 fore, both these men must be kept in view, and the breeding, 

 feeding, and killing qualities must each receive a due share 

 of attention. This point may be illustrated by a reference 

 to the breeding of swine for bacon production. One import- 

 ant feature of a bacon hog is the length of side, but it is only 

 one thing out of a number of requirements. Some men. 



