PRINCIPLES OF SWINE BREEDING 33 



required is such that success is possible with but remark- 

 ably few men. Less than ten per cent of those who enter 

 the business remain in it longer than ten years and make 

 what would ordinarily be called a success. 



Future of pure-bred swine business. — The pure-bred 

 swine business is at the very foundation of our entire 

 pork-producing industry. Naturally, as in the past, the 

 pure-bred herds will be called on in the future more and 

 more to improve our pork-producing herds and maintain 

 the perfection which has already been attained. The 

 necessity of a liberal use of pure blood is recognized by 

 pork producers, and the outlook for pure-bred swine is 

 good, to say the least. A careful review of the pork 

 industry in southern states in general will show that there 

 is a very profitable future near at hand for producers of 

 pure-bred swine of the right sort. 



Pure-bred swine business looks tempting. — Far too 



many men enter the pure-bred swine business with inade- 

 quate capital and experience, and they are unwilling to 

 give the business the time and care it demands, which, of 

 course, means ultimate failure. True, all breeders who 

 have accomplished anything to be proud of have only 

 done so after failures and disappointments, but these dis- 

 appointments would be fewer if we took greater precau- 

 tions in starting. 



Number of hogs to grow. — The number of hogs which 

 one can conveniently and profitably produce will depend 

 to a great extent on the factor of food supply. Therefore, 

 in the contemplation of swine production, one of the first 

 considerations should be that of available food supply. 

 This will, of course, depend on the feeds and the quanti- 

 ties which one expects to feed. A probably easier method 



