CHOOSING AND JUDGING SWINE 459 



Detail characters of the lard-hog 



Since the individuals are small and the drove often composed 

 of a large number, the beginner is likely to neglect the detail 

 examination, with the result that many poor individuals find 

 their way into the beginner's herd. Individuahty among swine 

 is just as great as among fat cattle. The breeder or feeder in 

 choosing his swine should carefully observe each character, and 

 in order that none go unnoticed they may be considered in the 

 following order : — 



The head should be short and broad. No facial character 

 among any class of farm animals is more variable than the hog's 

 snout. In some breeds, notably the Tamworths and Hamp- 

 shires, the snout is very long and straight from the ears to the 

 tip of the nose ; in other breeds, as the Yorkshires, it is long and 

 dished ; while in others it is short and straight, as in the Poland 

 China ; and in still others it is short and very much dished, as 

 in the Berkshires. The eyes should be wide apart, clear, and 

 prominent. Folds of fat about the eyes, while rather common, 

 are very objectionable. In heavy fat-hogs these patches of 

 fat are often so prominent as entirely to close the eye. The 

 ears should be of medium size for the breed and fine in texture. 

 The way the ear is carried depends on the breed, being erect 

 in the Berkshire and Yorkshire ; half drooping in others, as the 

 Poland China and Duroc Jerseys; and wholly pendent in still 

 others, as the Chester White breed. Whatever the carriage, 

 ears should be neatly attached to the head. Large and coarse 

 ears are usually associated with heavy coarse bone and are, 

 therefore, objectionable on any breed. 



The jowls should be firm, smooth, of medium size, and not 

 pendulous. Jowls that are flabby, owing to the excessive amount 

 of fat, are very objectionable. They should be firm, indicating 

 an intermixture of lean meat. The size of the jowls is rather 

 a breed characteristic, being rather large in the Poland China 



