. Southern pork production. als in trying tostamp or fix a certain character into the herd. Thismethod of improvement also has its drawbacks, for whilewe are establishing some good characteristics we mayalso be fixing and magnifying undesirable examples of this are seen in those extremely well-bred animals that in reality do not have the individualityto merit registration. Nevertheless, in spite of its draw-backs, our most successful breeders have made free useof it. At present it is about the quickest way we have tomagnify and fix a character. The main thing is in know-ing the
. Southern pork production. als in trying tostamp or fix a certain character into the herd. Thismethod of improvement also has its drawbacks, for whilewe are establishing some good characteristics we mayalso be fixing and magnifying undesirable examples of this are seen in those extremely well-bred animals that in reality do not have the individualityto merit registration. Nevertheless, in spite of its draw-backs, our most successful breeders have made free useof it. At present it is about the quickest way we have tomagnify and fix a character. The main thing is in know-ing the character and in realizing its value, and to havethe courage and conviction to stick to the character onceit is known. 24 SOUTHERN PORK PRODUCTION Cross-breeding.—Strictly speaking, by cross-breedingwe refer to the crossing of two different breeds, yet fromthe standpoint of breeding it may refer to the crossing ofdifferent types or strains. This crossing is often madeuse of in our breeding operations where increased size,. Successful swine breeding is dependent on the reproductiveprocess. Courtesy Joe R. Martin of Georgia. vigor, thrift and fertility are sought. Many highly bredfemales will not conceive to their kind, and a differentstrain must be used. While, of course, there are advan-tages to be gained by cross-breeding, it is not withoutdisadvantages. It always results in more or less in-stability, and one cannot foretell with what success thecross is being made. For this reason it is better to alwaysmake moderate crosses only, for radical crosses moreoften result unsatisfactorily, the instability of typeprobably running several generations before beingre-established. The reproductive process.—In order that a breeder maycarry on his work with intelligence, he should become PRINCIPLES OF SWINE BREEDING 25 first well informed on the general principles of biologythat underlie reproduction. He cannot appreciate theimportance of heredity, the necessity of selection and theva
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