PIGS FOR BACON.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 15 October 1927, Page 14

PIGS FOR BACON.

PURE BREEDS NOT SUITABLE. In a recent address to students of the North of ‘Scotland College of Agriculture in Aberdeen, Mr. W. A. Stenart, B. Agr. Science, said that for bacon, at present not one of the pure breeds was altogether suitable, but there could be found within several of the breeds, pigs whieh were true to bacon type. Eor breeding bacon, the safest recommendations was to use a Large White boar, known as the Large Yorkshire.

The sows to which the Large White boar was mated could be selected from one of several breeds, but possibly the most popular breeds for supplying suitable sows were the Large Black and the Middle White. The Large Black sow had certain important claims to distinction. She was hardy, prolific, thrifty, and a good mother, but personally he disliked for utility purposes the very big coarse type favoured in certain herds—and he ventured to think, too often preferred in the show|ior no apparend economic reason. In bipeding pigs for present day requirements, it was more than ever important that quality and early maturity should be the watch words. He referred to the special value of the Middle White-Large Blaelc cross, as a dual purpose pig for either pork or bacon, and to the value of the large White Ulster pig.