422 Pork Production 



Hamilton. The breed originated from a composite stock 

 of great variety. The Warren County pig, which was the 

 widely known hog of this district from 1816 to 1835, was 

 the product of crossing the medium-sized Big China on the 

 larger, coarser Russian and Byfield stock. All these hogs 

 were mostly white. From 1835 to 1839, Berkshire blood 

 was introduced in considerable quantities. The color and 

 much of the early maturity and quality which later 

 distinguished the breed undoubtedly came from this 

 source. In 1839 a few white hogs were imported from 

 Ireland, called the Irish Grazier. It is claimed that no 

 outside blood has been introduced since 1845. 



The development of the breed from that time until 

 recently has been in the direction of great refinement, 

 remarkable early maturity, and quality. A more brilliant 

 demonstration of the fine art of the breeder is probably 

 not to be found in the whole history of live-stock improve- 

 ment than that furnished by the perfection of form and 

 show-ring quality attained by this breed according to 

 the standards then set. Since about 1914 the breeder's 

 ideal has radically changed in response to the feeder's 

 demand for more ruggedness and size and the breeder's 

 demand for more reliable breeding habits. Where 

 extreme quality was formerly sought, extreme size is 

 now demanded. The change of type which has been 

 brought about in the short space of five years is a remark- 

 able demonstration of the possibilities of the breed and 

 of the resourcefulness of the breeders in meeting the new 

 demand. At the present time, the breed is rapidly 

 advancing towards greater uniformity of type and the 

 ideal which demands great size, but which also requires 

 sufficient symmetry of form and early maturity to meet 

 the practical demands of the feeder and market. 



