THE PIGGERY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1211, 17 May 1895, Page 6

THE PIGGERY.

A FRESH STANDARD FOR PIGS.

At the last meeting of the National Pig breeders’ Association in .London, the '• editing committee reported that they had met to discuss the descriptions of the various breeds of pigs, and agreed upon the following as a standard of excellence for large, middle, and small whites and Tam worths. STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE. LARGE WHITE Colour. —White, free from black hairs, and as far as possible from blue spots on the skin. Head. Moderately long; face slightly dished, snout broad, not too much turned up, jowl not too heavy, wide between the ears. Ears.—Long, thin, slightly inclined forward, fringed with fine hair. Neck.—Long, and proportionately full to the shoulder. Chest.—Wide and deep. Shoulders. Level across the top, not too wide, free from coarseness. Legs.—Straight and well set, level with the outside of the body, with fiat bone. Pastern. —Short and springy. Feet.—Strong, even and wide. Back.—Long, level and wide from neck to rump. Loin.—Broad. Tail.—Set high, stout and long, but not coarse, with tassel of fine hair. Sides.—Deep. Ribs.—Well sprung. Belly.—Full, but not flabby, and straight underline. Flank.—Thick and well let down. Quarters. —Long and wide. Hams.— Broad, full and deep to hocks. Coat.—Long and moderately fine. Action. —Firm and free. Skin.—Not too thick and quite free from wrinkles Remarks.— Large bred pigs do not develop their points fully till some months old, the pig at five months often proving at a year or 15 months old a much better animal than could be anticipated at the earlier age, and vice versa : but size and quality a most important point. Objections. Black hairs, black spots, a curly coat, a coarse mane, short snout, in-bent knees, hollowness at back of the shoulders. MIDDLE WHITE. Colour.—White, Hree from black hairs or blue spots on the skin. Head.—Moderately short; face dished, snout broad and turned up, jowl full, wide between the ears. Ears.—Fairly lai’ge, carried erect, and fringed with fine hair. Neck.—Medium length, proportionately full to shoulder. Chest.—Wide and deep. Shoulders.—Level across the top, moderately wide, free from coarseness. Legs.—Straight and well set, level with the outside of the body, with fine bone. Pasterns. —Short and springy. Feet. —Strong, even and wide. Back.—Long, level and wide from rump.

Loin.—Broad. Tail.—Set high, moderate length, but not coarse, with tassel of fine hair. Sides. —Deep. Bibs. —Well sprung. Belly. Full, but not flabby, and straight underline. Blank Thick and well let down. Quarters. —Long and wide. Hams. —Broad, full and deep to hocks. Coat.—Long, fine and silky. Action. —Firm and free. Skin. —Fine and quite free from wrinkles. Objections. —Black hairs, black or blue spots, a coarse mane, in-bent knees, hollowness at back of shoulders, wrinkled skins.

SMALL WHITE. Colour. —Pure white. Head.—Very short and dished ; snout broad and turned up, jowl very full, broad between the ears. Ears.—Small, short and erect. Neck. —Short and thick. Chest. —Full and broad. Shoulders. —Full and wide. Legs.— Shoit, set well outside body, fine bone. Pasterns —Short and springy. Feet.—Small. Back.—Broad, level and straight. Loin.—Wide. Tail, High set, small and fine, with tassel of fine hair. Girth.—As deep as possible consistent with length. Sides. Deep. Ribs.—Well sprung. Bejly.—Deep and near the ground. Flank.—Thick and well let down. Quarters. —Wide and full. Haras. —Deep, wide, full and well rounded. Coat.—Fine and silky. Action.—Free and firm. Skin.—Fine, quite free from wrinkles. Remarks.—The general appearance of animals small, thick and compact when compared with other breeds. Objections.—Black hairs, black or blue spots, coarse hair, in-bent knees, hollowness at back of shoulder, wrinkled skin. TAMWORTH. Colour. —Golden-red hair, on a fleshcoloured skin free from black. Plead.—Fairly long; snout moderately long and quite straight, face slightly dished, wide between the ears. Ears.—Rather largo with fine fringe, carried rigid, but inclined > slightly forward. Neck.—Fairly long and muscular, especially in boar. Chest.—Wide and deep. Shoulders. —Fine, slanting and well set. Legs.—Strong and shapely with plenty of bone, set well outside body. Pasterns. —Strong and sloping. Feet.—Strong and of fair size. Back. Long and straight. Loin.—Strong and broad. Tail.—Set on high and well tasselled. Girth.—Deep and full round heart. Sides;-—Long and deep. Ribs.—Well sprung and extending well up the flank. Belly.—Deep, with straight underline. Flank. —Full and well let down. Quarters. —Long, wide and straight from hip to tail. Hams.—Broad and full, well let down to hocks. Coat.—Abundant, long, straight and fine. Action.—Firm and free. Objections.—Black hair, very light or ginger hair, curly coat, coarse mane, black spots on skin, slouch or drooping ears, short or turned up snout, heavy shoulders, wrinkled skin, in-bent Rnees, hollowness at back of shoulders.