The Pig Part 1

The Pig.

by Sanders Spencer.

INTRODUCTION

There are few points in the breeding of stock on which a greater variation of opinion has been confidently expressed than on the origin of the domesticated pig. It has been contended that our various types had a common origin in the wild hog, and that the difference in form, colour, and character amongst the local breeds is due, in the main, to the requirements, imaginary or real, of the interested residents in the particular districts. On the other hand, it is a.s.serted with equal confidence, and probably with the same amount of actual proof, that it would be impossible so to improve the wild hog by selection as to render it the equal of the domesticated hog. There must, therefore, have been an infusion of blood of a cultivated breed of pigs to acquire even that amount of success which was noticeable in the improved pig of a century, or less, ago. Unfortunately, for this argument, it has not been possible to obtain any information of value as to the alleged source of origin of this cultivated breed of pigs.

Again, those pigs which possess in a marked degree early maturity, fine quality of flesh, and those other characteristics of the improved pig, are so various in colour, that one cultivated breed only could not have been utilised in the general improvement.

All the ancient writers on pigs appear to have experienced the same difficulty when endeavouring to discover the sources of origin of the material which might have been used in the production of the pig which in their time was looked upon as the domesticated and improved pig of the period. This difficulty extends even to the present day. So far as is known there exists no actual proof that the domesticated hog has been evolved in any particular way other than by continued selection of those animals for breeding purposes which possessed in the greatest degree those particular qualities held in the highest estimation at the time.

Of course, the soil, climate, etc., of the district in which pigs are reared have a certain amount of influence, but this is noticeable to a much lesser extent with pigs than with horses, cattle, or sheep, since under the present system of pig-breeding the greater portion of the food used in the different districts is of a very similar character--indeed, much of it has a common origin--having been imported from abroad.

As a rule, comparatively speaking very little difference is noticeable in the development, form, and character of pigs bred in the various parts of the country, whereas with some of the other domesticated animals a very considerable change follows the removal of sheep of a pure breed from one district to another. The quality and quant.i.ty of the wool, flesh, and bone are all affected. An exactly similar effect is noticeable when horses of a particular breed are moved from one district to another. For instance, a s.h.i.+re foal bred in the Fens may possess the characteristic bone, flesh, and hair, yet if it be moved into portions of the Eastern counties where the soil is of a totally different character, it will when matured have lost, to a very considerable extent, its peculiar characteristics of bone and hair. The changes wrought may be due in small measure to climate, but the predominant cause must be due to the variation in the food grown on soils of a different character.

This question of the original cause or causes of the varying colour of the pigs in different localities appears to be equally difficult of solution. As to the continuation in certain districts of pigs of one colour, custom and even prejudice have a great effect. So strong is this prejudice that some persons will even declare that the pork of pigs of the fas.h.i.+onable colour in the neighbourhood is superior to that from pigs of any other colour. As this weakness is common in districts where black and where white pigs are kept it must be admitted that prejudice alone must be the foundation of the belief.

Probably the safest conclusion to arrive at with respect to the variation in colour of the pigs noticeable in certain districts is that in the long ago the native pig in the wild state was of the colour of the soil and the herbage in which it sheltered, and was thus less conspicuous to its enemies, whether human or animal. A marked instance of this is to be found in the colour of the common or original pig found in some parts of the country where the soil is of a decidedly red colour. In the district referred to one actually hears some farms spoken of as "red land farms." What more natural than to find in the districts in which land of this hue predominates that the pigs should be a red rusty hue such as was the original colour of that breed of pigs now called the Tamworth breed.

Some persons, who do not agree with this theory of the origin of the various coloured pigs, cite as a proof of their belief the fact that in so many districts the pigs are of a mixed colour, and that this peculiar marking is equally as general in localities as is any particular or special colour in the pigs. This is perfectly true, and it is probably due to exactly the same causes, fancy, prejudice, or custom. The residents in certain districts have grown accustomed to certain things or certain forms, and are loth to change; the manufacturer of any article must humour the actual or fancied requirements of his customers if he is to secure success; and in a similar manner the breeder of pigs has to consider and to produce pigs of the form, size, and colour which are most in demand. Further if, as confidently alleged, there is a preference in some districts for pork from pigs of a certain colour, then the butcher naturally offers a higher price for pigs of that colour which most fully satisfy the fancies of his customers, and thus we find a similarity of form and colour in the pigs of various districts.

As to the origin of these parti-coloured pigs, the explanation offered is that even in pre-railway times there was a certain amount of interchange of the different local breeds of stock. This would be affected in various ways, which need not be specified.

At the present time we have several defined and distinct breeds of pigs which have secured recognition at our princ.i.p.al agricultural shows.

Indeed it may be claimed that the exhibitions of live stock which have become so general in all parts of the country have been one of the chief factors in fixing to a certain extent the type and character of certain local breeds. Within the memory of the present writer the cla.s.sification of pigs at our princ.i.p.al shows was of a very simple character; it consisted of cla.s.ses for pigs of a white colour and for pigs of any other colour. There was no attempt at any definition as to size, form, and quality of the pigs. These points were left entirely to the judges, who naturally were led to favour pigs of the type which they bred. There was thus a greater amount of uncertainty as to the success of an exhibitor's stock than at the present time. This uncertainty--save as to the members of the Show Committees or their friends--was increased by the unfair system of withholding from the knowledge of the average exhibitor the names of those selected to judge.

The necessity of some definition, if only of colour, quickly became obvious. At first cla.s.ses were established for pigs of certain colours; then the prizes were offered for pigs of certain breeds, which were more or less loosely defined. Now at the chief shows the pigs exhibited in the various cla.s.ses must be qualified for entry in the herd books of the particular breeds.

At the Royal Agricultural Shows there have been cla.s.ses for pigs of the Large White, Middle White, Berks.h.i.+re, Tamworth, Large Black and Lincolns.h.i.+re Curly Coated breeds; whilst for the next show cla.s.ses for pigs of the so-called Gloucesters.h.i.+re Old Spots breed are to be included. As showing the changes which are in progress it may be noted that two breeds of pigs which had cla.s.ses provided for them at the Royal and some other Shows have become extinct. These were the Small White and the Small Black breeds--the sole cause of their disappearance being the unsuitability of the pigs of the breeds to supply the present requirements of the consumer.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Photo, Sport and General._

LARGE BLACK BOAR, "DRAYTON KING."

Owner, Terah F. Hooley. 1st Prize, Somerset County Agricultural Show, 1913.

To face page 16.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Block kindly supplied by E. F. Ca.s.swell, Manor House, Graby, Folkingham._

PAIR OF L.C.C. GILTS, Exhibited at SMITHFIELD SHOW 1914. 1st Prize. Age 8 months, 1 week, 5 days. Weight 7 cwts.

To face page 17.]

THE PIG

CHAPTER I

NON-PEDIGREE PIGS

Although the more general use of so-called pedigree pigs has tended to modify the characteristics of the various local breeds of pigs, yet it is possible to find a certain number of pig breeders who adhere to the type of pig which has been in the past most generally found in their district. This type was undoubtedly fixed by the wants or fancies of those resident in the particular portions of the country.

In the past it has been the practice when describing these local breeds to write as though they were confined to certain counties. It may be that pigs of a peculiar or characteristic type are more numerous within the borders of various counties, but this is by no means always the case. The habits and pursuits of the inhabitants rather than the soil and climate--as with horses, cattle and sheep--have the greatest influence on the form, size and quality of the local pigs, whilst use and custom appear to determine the colour of the pig. We are of opinion that it will be more instructive if we give a short description of some of the more common types of these local breeds of pigs, and mention the names of those counties in which they are more generally found.

Amongst the most distinct of these local breeds is that which is variously termed the sheeted or saddle-backed pig, which in the United States has a society to look after its interests, and where it bears the name of

THE HAMPs.h.i.+RE

Just why our American cousins should have decided to call these sheeted pigs Hamps.h.i.+res is not on the surface, since the oldest writers on pigs give to the county of Suss.e.x the credit of being their original home.

The description given by Sidney of the Hamps.h.i.+re pig is that "it is a coa.r.s.e and useful black pig, inferior to the Berks.h.i.+re, and not in the same refined cla.s.s as the Ess.e.x." Richardson writes "The Hamps.h.i.+re breed is not infrequently confounded with the Berks.h.i.+re; but its body is longer and its sides flatter; the head is long and the snout sharp. The colour of the breed is usually dark spotted; but it is sometimes black altogether, and more frequently white."

The sheeted pig has also been bred in the county of Ess.e.x for over a century, but it is recorded that it was introduced into this county by a Mr. Western who subsequently became Lord Western, and whose estate was situated in Ess.e.x.

In Sidney's book _The Pig_, we read, "West Suss.e.x, Hamps.h.i.+re, Berks.h.i.+re, Dorset, Shrops.h.i.+re and Wales had indigenous black or red and black breeds of swine; and between the whites, the blacks and the reds the parti-colours were produced which have since in a great degree disappeared under the influence of prizes, generally awarded to pure breeds of single colours."

Sidney also states "that Youatt and all the authors who have followed him down to the latest work published on the subject, occupy s.p.a.ce in describing various county pigs which have long ceased to possess, if they ever possessed, any merit worth the attention of the breeder."

The Rudgwick, which is another name for the sheeted pig, is included in the list. Richardson at a still earlier date describes the Suss.e.x breed as "black and white in colour, but not _spotted_; that is to say, these colours are distributed in very large patches; one half--say, for instance, the fore part of the body white and the hinder end black; or sometimes both ends black and the middle white or _vice versa_; these pigs are in no way remarkable; they seldom feed to over twenty stone.

They are well made, of middle size, and their skin covered with scanty bristles. The snout tapering and firm, the ears upright and pointed, the jowl deep and the body compactly round. They arrive at early maturity, fatten quickly, and the flesh is excellent."

Richardson also writes, "There is another improved Ess.e.x breed, called the Ess.e.x Half-Blacks, resembling that which I have described in colour, said to be descended from the Berks.h.i.+re. This breed was originally introduced by Lord Western, and obtained much celebrity," etc. etc.

He then quotes from _The Complete Grazier_, sixth edition, as follows: "They are black and white, short haired, fine skinned with smaller heads and ears than the Berks.h.i.+re, but feathered with inside hair which is a distinctive mark of both; have short snubby noses, very fine bone, broad and deep in the belly, full in the hind quarters, but light in the bone and offal. They feed remarkably fast and are of an excellent quality of meat. The sows are good breeders, and bring litters of from eight to twelve; but they have the character of being bad nurses." If this allegation were true at the time it was written, it is not at the present time as the Half-Blacks or sheeted sows are both prolific and first-rate mothers.

Malden describes the Suss.e.x: "A large breed called the Rudgwick, was one of the largest in England. There appears to be a doubt as to whether the coloured pig was descended from the spotted Berks.h.i.+re or the black and white Ess.e.x. They were of medium size, of good quality generally, but of somewhat heavy bone." The generally accepted view is that the Ess.e.x sheeted pig was descended from importations from the county of Suss.e.x.

These sheeted pigs are still occasionally met with in Ess.e.x, but the system of crossing which is generally followed by pig breeders in the county is gradually reducing its number, although even amongst the cross-breeds the peculiar marking occasionally shows itself. At the time of writing there is a movement on foot to form a society for the purpose of reviving the breed. From the utility point of view the sheeted pig has much to recommend it, but whether or not one or more of the breeds of pigs whose pedigrees are already recorded do not possess at least equal merits must be left for decision by others.

SPOTTED PIGS

In many districts are found other parti-coloured pigs, but in these the black, the white, and the red colours show themselves in spots of varying size and extent. Probably amongst the best types of these spotted pigs is the one found over the greater part of the county of Northampton, and portions of the counties of Leicester and Oxford adjoining. In the former county the pigs have more of black than white in their colouring, whilst in the two latter red spots are more often seen. This is probably due to a stronger infusion of the blood of the Staffords.h.i.+re red pig which is now known as the Tamworth. The blood of the Neapolitan pig through the Berks.h.i.+re or the Small Black is credited with being the origin of the darker coloured Northamptons.h.i.+re spotted pig. The qualities claimed for these spotted or "plum pudding" pigs as they are locally termed, are prolificacy, quick growth, hardihood, and the production of pork possessing a large proportion of lean to fat meat. They are also good grazers, and grow to a size quite the equal of the Berks.h.i.+re. In form they are perhaps more suited for the fresh pork trade than for the manufacture of bacon of the kind now so much in demand.

THE LARGE WHITE AND BLUE PIGS

Those large, coa.r.s.e-boned pigs with hair of a white colour and skins more or less mottled with blue are gradually giving place to pigs with finer hair, skin, bone, and quality of meat. The coa.r.s.e lop ears are being reduced in size and thickness, whilst the pig itself is becoming less gaunt and its early maturity considerably increased by crossing with the better quality Large White and the quickly maturing Middle White. These coa.r.s.e white with blue markings pigs were common in the Fens of Cambridges.h.i.+re, Norfolk, the Isle of Ely and Lincolns.h.i.+re, and in the counties of Bedford, Ches.h.i.+re, etc.

WHITE PIGS