THE BERKSHIRE 



701 



The style and finish of the Berkshire, when well bred, are of 

 the very best. The symmetrical outline, the shapely head and 

 pricked-up ear, and the easy movement, so characteristic of 

 the breed, add to its popularity. Persons not familiar with the 

 breeds of swine are usually favorably impressed with the appearance 

 of the Berkshire if well cared for and t}'pical of the breed. 



The prolificacy of the Berkshire is of a fair degree of merit. 

 An extensive study of the relative prolificacy of three breeds 



Fig. 330. A Berkshire sow and litter. Owned by Brookline Farm, Aurora, 

 Illinois. From photograph, by courtesy of L. E. Troeger 



of swine (the Berkshire, Poland-China, and Chester White) by 

 Dr. A. W. Bitting shows that the average size of 400 Berkshire 

 litters was 8.22 pigs, while 600 Chester White litters averaged 

 8.96 pigs and 1086 Poland-China litters averaged 7.45. These 

 records were based on herdbook figures of sizes of litters. There 

 are many large litters of Berkshire pigs, and litters of 10 are 

 not uncommon. Walker states that about 7 or 8 at a farrow are 

 reckoned an average family for even the older sows. William 

 Ashcroft, a successful English breeder, is quoted by Professor 

 Long as saying that the tendency to produce medium litters, 

 of say 6 to 8, may be corrected by breeding less closely. " If 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



