CHAPTER XXXII 
PURE-BRED SWINE 
WHILE pure-bred swine are relatively more numerous 
than pure-bred sheep, cattle, or horses, they do not yet 
produce any large portion of our meat supply. Conse- 
quently the breeders of pure-bred swine are raising breed- 
ing stock rather than producing commercial pork. On 
account of this greater abundance of pure-bred swine and 
the consequent keener competition among the breeders, 
the selection of only the best stock is even more important, 
if possible, than with other animals. The proportion of 
pure-bred hogs which must be sold for pork is large, 
especially in slack times. This condition is very favor- 
able for the development of the industry as a whole, .al- 
though it may make it a little hard financially on the 
amateur who tries to start out with second-grade stuff. 
BREEDS 
The Berkshire, Poland China, Duroc Jersey, and the 
Chester White are the leading breeds in the West. With 
any one of these neither success nor failure can be charged 
to the selection of the breed. The Hampshire is growing 
in popularity and in many places must be counted with 
the standard breeds. The other breeds may be as well 
adapted to western conditions as the five named, but so 
far they must be considered as an experiment. 
429 
