PIGS FOR BACON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23228, 23 December 1938, Page 4

PIGS FOR BACON

BODY LENGTH A FACTOR MIDDLE COURSE ADVISABLE It is an observed fact that all animals which aro long—in legs, head and bot]y —tend to bo loan, hence long-bodied pigs have a greater proportion of lean to fat than short-bodied pigs. Measurements have shown that, at about 1201b. dressed weight, long-bodied pigs possess as thick, if not thicker, streaks of lean meat than short pigs, and as lean bacon is at present in demand, it pays to breed the long and leggy typo of PigLength and leanness in one feature is invariably accompanied by similar characteristics in other features, thug the long-nosed pig is long-bodied and long-legged. It is also usually light in the shoulder, and tends to bo sided. Tho fact that length and leanness are frequently associated with weakness is a point which should bo kept in mind by pig-breeders. It is also certain that long, leggy and lean animals are slower in reaching maturity, and require a greater amount of food to fatten them than short, thick pigs. While the demands of the market must be met as far as is possible, it would bo well for farmers who wish to avoid losses to keep to "a happy medium in the length of their pigs.