FORTY-THIRD ANNUAL CONVENTION 269 



Femininity and Masculinity 



In our breeding stock we should consider sex characteristics, 

 as they are strong factors in the production of desirable market 

 hogs. The brood sow should be a good breeder, a good feeder, 

 and of good type in order that she may transmit these character- 

 istics to her offspring. She should be short-faced and wide be- 

 tween the eyes. She should be long, deep and roomy in body, 

 wide through the hips, large and full in the heart girth. She 

 should have good quality, good bone, fine hair and be refined 

 about the head and ears. Her back should have a strong arch, 

 her rump should be level and full, carrying its width to the tail 

 head. Her neck should be light on top behind the ears but 

 blending smoothly into the shoulder. Twelve well-developed 

 teats on a neat, nearly straight belly line should be found. The 

 male should be similar save the refinement; that is, he should 

 be heavier in shoulder and possess a rugged masculine appear- 

 ance. In neither male nor female should the jowl be flabby, 

 coarse, or wrinkled; it should be full, firm, and compact. 



Disposition 



Bright expressive eyes and an active disposition are essen- 

 tial. These will insure exercise, which is necessary. A wild, 

 nervous, mean sow will ofttimes kill her young either through 

 accident or design. On the other hand, a lazy, sluggish sow 

 that will not exercise is very likely to crush her pigs by accident. 

 Breed Characteristics 



While all breeds of the same type have the same general 

 characteristics, each breed has its own special characteristics. 

 These are manifested by color, markings, set of ears, shape of 

 dish of face, etc. We should select breeding stock that is true 

 to breed type and characteristics, for such are more apt to be 

 "prepotent and prolific'' (which big-sounding words simply 

 mean that they will produce pigs like themselves and have large 

 litters). Study Farmers' Bulletin 765, Breeds of Swine, to 

 learn the breed characteristics. 



Constitutional Vigor 



In order that young pigs may be thrifty, active, good 

 feeders they must inherit good constitutions. Evidence of a 

 good constitution is to be found by examining the heart girth, 

 chest, and fore flank. 



