CHAPTER V. 

 ESTABLISHING A BREEDING HERD. 



In selecting foundation stock for a breeding herd va- 

 rious considerations are necessary, and the breeder has 

 several alternatives. One of the first questions that pre- 

 sents itself is as to whether market hogs are to be pro- 

 duced exclusively, whether market hogs and breeding 

 hogs are to be produced together, or whether the business 

 is intended primarily for the production of pure-bred 

 stock for breeding purposes. Another question that would 

 naturally arise is the amount of capital available for the 

 establishment of such a business. It is highly important 

 that this matter be given the most serious consideration. 

 Much depends on it. 



The next question of primary importance should be the 

 selection of the individuals. In order to do this properly 

 a man must be able to judge swine, and to be able to do 

 this to the best possible advantage he must be a. good 

 judge of pigs. He must be able to recognize the desirable 

 and undesirable characteristics of the pig before it has ad- 

 vanced very much in age and size. It is true that it is 

 much more difficult to recognize the good and bad points 

 in a small pig than it is in the hog that has reached con- 

 siderable size, but the man who has developed such 

 ability has an advantage over the man who has not this 

 ability that can hardly be estimated. The man, therefore, 

 who is able to judge pigs correctly under three months 



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