450 Pork Production 



Individuality. 



Individuality is more generally depended on in estimating 

 the future breeding value of a boar or sow. If the animal 

 is too young to have mature offspring and his pedigree or 

 breeding is unknown, it is the sole dependence in selection. 

 By individuality is meant everything about the animal 

 which can be seen or judged, such as size, conformation, 

 feet and legs, breed type features, and the like. (See 

 Chapter XVII.) Show-ring judging is based entirely on 

 individuality. 



That the merit of an animal in individuality is an indi- 

 cation of his probable value as a breeder is proved by the 

 experience and observations of every breeder. This is 

 another way of saying that like tends to produce like. 

 It is the maxim on which all breed development has been 

 built. Of two animals raised under the same conditions, 

 one good in individuality and one inferior, the better 

 one almost invariably proves the better producer. Some- 

 times, however, the reverse is true. The individuality of 

 an animal is the product of his inheritance plus his oppor- 

 tunities for development. He may be well bred but 

 poorly fed, in which case he would probably prove a 

 better breeder than another which was ordinary in breed- 

 ing but which had every advantage for full develop- 

 ment. However, this is the exception and not the 

 rule. 



The ultimate injiu-y to a breed through the pursuit by 

 breeders of certain non-essentials and fads of color or 

 family name, is due to the fact that imder these conditions 

 individuality is often ignored. No matter how attrac- 

 tive the pedigree in real merit, if the individuality is 

 below standard he should be rejected. A good pedigree 

 is of the highest value only when there is good individual- 



