12 SWINE PRACTICE 



hand, will find the problems concerned in fattening of hos's and the 

 production of breeding hogs of paramount importance. 



CHOICE OF BREED 



The breed of hog to be selected is a matter of personal choice with 

 the breeder. In the middle west, the Poland China and Duroc-Jer- 

 sey are the most popular breeds, although practically all breeds have 

 their admirers. In recent years the demand for lighter hogs instead 

 of the very fat animals that formerly topped the market has given 

 great impetus to the raising of Hampshires and other semi-bacon 

 types. 



Many breeders do not consider it necessary to use pure-bred sows 

 in the production of market hogs. However, there seems to be no 

 question among breeders but that pure-bred boars should be used. 

 The grade sow and the pure-bred boar for the production of market 

 hogs are especially favored by the breeders who are limited as to 

 capital. It is also the usual procedure with beginners in the industry. 

 The selection of the breeds is largely a matter of choice with the 

 individual, although we find a great many that favor the pure-bred 

 Poland China boar with the grade Duroc sow, but further investi- 

 gation may show an equal number favoring the pure-bred Duroc 

 boar and the grade Poland China sow. The desideratum is — good 

 feeding qualities, early ihaturity and prolific females. 



Inireeding is a question on which the veterinarian is frequently 

 consulted. Inbreeding once removed is permissible, but continuous 

 inbreeding is usually hazardous as weakly, deformed pigs are likely 

 to result. 



Line-breeding is the mating of related animals that have descended 

 from the same common ancestry. Thus, the defect of inbreeding 

 may also appear in line breeding but by careful selection of the indi- 

 vidual, line breeding has been found to be of value in emphasizing 

 the good points of a particular strain of any breed of hogs. 



Cross-breeding is the mating of pure-bred animals of different 

 breeds. This breeding produces a thrifty and usually hardy type 

 with the first cross but when continued further the progeny degen- 

 erates to uncertain types, a large number being scrubs. 



Grade breeding is the mating of a pure-bred boar with grade sows. 

 If grade breeding is continued sufficiently long, practically a pure- 



