1922.] 



Berkshire Pigs. 



887 



BERKSHIRE PIGS. 



Sanders Spencer. 



It would appear to be probable that the breeders of Berkshire 

 pigs would be able to raake good their claim that there has 

 existed a so-called Berkshire breed of pigs for a longer period 

 than of any other of the present-day breeds, since pigs called 

 Berkshires were exhibited at the Eoyal Agricultural Society's 

 Show^s nearly seventy years ago. It may be true that there 

 was not a separate class for pigs of the Berkshire breed in the 

 prize schedule, nor was there a class for any other special breed, 

 since the classification is said to have been for white pigs and 

 for coloured pigs. 



From the illustrations published at the time, the Berkshire 

 pigs which were successful at the earlier shows of the' 

 Royal AgTicultural Society were of a black, red and white 

 spotted colour. So far as one can form a judgment from the 

 idealised sketches, the Berkshire of that period varied in form 

 quite as much as in colour from the pig of that breed of to-day, 

 as it was represented as long in the face, with prick ears, long 

 body with good hams, rather high on leg and an infinitesimally 

 small amount of bone. This length of body and lightness of 

 head and offal were together most probably the chief causes 

 for the great popularity of the Berkshire pig with the bacon 

 curers in both England and Ireland about half a century since. 

 The importation of Berkshire boars into the latter country by 

 those interested in the bacon curing industry is said to have 

 immensely improved the form of the native Irish pig and t© 

 have vastly increased the proportion of lean to fat in its carcass. 

 This most estimable and valuable quality of cutting a large 

 proportion of lean to fat meat is still retained to its full extent 

 in the present-day Berkshire pig. Of this, abundant evidence 

 is yearly afforded in the carcass classes at the Show of the 

 Smithfield Club held annually in December at the Royal 

 Agricultural Hall, w^here year after year the Berkshire exhibits 

 have won the champion prizes in competition with' nearly all 

 the other breeds and crosses of pigs. Not only do we find 

 evidence of the grand fleshing qualities of the Berkshire pig 

 in the carcass section of this Show, but its success has been 

 nearly as great in the live stock section, as most frequently the 

 championships have been won by Berkshire pigs or by pigs 

 of a first cross or those containing a larger or smaller proportion 



