34 
BULLETIN 1266, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
six to eight months. This size is much preferred on the British 
bacon market. 
A few pure Yorkshire pigs are bred in Denmark, but Yorkshires 
are used mainly for crossing with the native breed. In the improve- 
ment of the native breed, great credit is due to State Counselor 
Peter A. Morkeberg, who originated and worked out a scientific and 
practicable system of improved pig breeding through the use of 
breeding centers. (Avlscentrer) . 28 Early experimental work 
showed that the best bacon hog produced in Denmark for the British 
market was the first cross from a Danish native sow with an English 
Yorkshire boar. To practice this plan of pig breeding it was nec- 
essary to provide some means of keeping each breed pure. Accord- 
ing to Morkeberg ? s plan, the individuals in each breed possessing 
superior fertility, quality of bacon, and economy in feeding are col- 
lected and bred in their respective breeding centers. These herds 
Fig. 11. — Danish baron-type boar. 
are controlled b/y the expert supervision of a special committee ap- 
pointed jointly by the Government and the National Federation of 
Cooperative Bacon Factories. A small annual government appro- 
priation helps to support the work. In 1922-23 29 there were 150 
breeding centers for the native breed and 32 for the Yorkshire breed. 
According to recent experimental investigations (109 de Beretmng 
fra Forsbgsldboraiorii f. Copenhagen, 1922) conducted by the ex- 
periment stations, the Danish native pig now stands on a par, in 
quality of bacon, with the cross between the native and Yorkshire. 
This achievement must be accredited to the unique but scientific and 
highly practicable Danish system of pig breeding. 
THE COOPERATIVE BACON FACTORIES. 
CHARACTER AM) DEVELOPMENT. 
Cooperative slaughter plants have been established in other 
European countries, but. nowhere has the movement met with a de- 
» Morkeberg, P. \ . <>,,, Svtneavlens Ledelsen i Danmark. 1001. 
•■■ Umdokonomiske Aarbog for L923, p. 48, issued by Det Kgl. Landhusholdnings Selskab, 
Copenbi 
