II. Hogs Selecting Hogs

Common breeds of hogs can be of 2 types: the lard type and the bacon type. The lard type breeds have a greater tendency to put on fat than those of the bacon type. Besides the fat from which lard is made, considerable meat for bacon and other purposes is obtained from the lard type animals when they are slaughtered. Nowadays the lard type is frequently called the ‘meat type’ of hog.

In selecting a sow, the primary aim is to secure female that will produce large litters оf fast-growing pigs capable of being fattened to marketable weights of about 225lb at an age of 6 months or less.

Hogs of the so called ‘medium type’ are more desirable than either the small type or the large type. Compared with the large type, the medium type produces a better quality of carcass and can be finished for market at a younger age.

The pig at weaning age of about 56 days should weigh at least 30 lb. the best ones reach 50 lb or more. At 6 month old pig in good condition should weigh upward of 200 lb.

Selecting hogs give preference to a body that is wide over the back and loin. Bacon-type hogs are considerably narrower in body than those of the lard type.

The pedigree (a record of animal’s ancestors) of a hog usually includes the date of birth, number of pigs farrowed in the litter of which it was a member, and the number of pigs of each sex raised. The name and registration number of the pig are given, as well as similar information for the sire and dam and the ancestors for two or more generations back.

Speaking about performance pay attention to the number of pigs in each litter that a sow has farrowed, the number of pigs raised per litter, and the weight of the litter at 56 days, the usual weaning time. A superior performance for a sow is to raise 8 or more pigs with a litter weight of 325 lb or more at 56 days.

In inspecting the offspring the tendency toward uniformity or lack of uniformity among the pigs in the litter is important. Information for two or more litters from a sow is a more accurate test of her prepotency than for one litter only.

In selecting a boar take into consideration the following characteristics. A desirable boar is larger than a sow of the same age. The number in the litter is important because the tendency to produce large litters is transmitted, and the boar as well as the sow has an influence on the prolificacy of the offspring. A boar should be of 4 or 6 months of age at the time of selection, since serious defects in type are not likely to develop after this age has been reached.

Exercises

1. Match the word and its translation:

lard

to obtain

a litter

carcass

loin

to farrow

a sow

a boar

a sire

prolificacy

свинья

сало

давать потомство (поросят)

боров

потомство

филейная часть

плодовитость

родитель

корпус

получить

2. Match the beginning and the end of a sentence and translate them:

The lard type is preferable	the date of birth, number of pigs farrowed in the litter of which it was a member, and the number of pigs of each sex raised.
The medium type produces	pay attention to the number of pigs in each litter that a sow has farrowed, the number of pigs raised per litter, and the weight of the litter at 56 days.
The pedigree includes	if the owner breeds animals for meat.
As far as performance is concerned	as much information as possible about prepotency of a sow (her litters).
It is better to find	a better quality of carcass and can be finished for market at a younger age.
Selecting a boar, keep in mind that the tendency to produce large litters is transmitted,	and the boar as well as the sow has an influence on the prolificacy of the offspring.

3. Back translation:

The lard type breeds have a greater tendency to put on fat than those of the bacon type.	Породы, ориентированные на производство сала, имеют свойство набирать вес быстрее тех, что ориентированы на производство бекона.
In selecting a sow, the primary aim is to secure female that will produce large litters оf fast-growing pigs.	Главная цель – выбрать свинью, которая сможет давать быстрорастущее потомство.
Selecting hogs give preference to a body that is wide over the back and loin. Bacon-type hogs are considerably narrower in body than those of the lard type.	Выбирая борова, отдавайте предпочтение тем животным, тело которых широкое по спине и пояснице. Представители пород, ориентированных на производство бекона, обычно уже в теле, чем представители пород, ориентированных на производство сала.
The name and registration number of the pig are given, as well as similar information for the sire and dam and the ancestors for two or more generations back.	Имя и регистрационный номер свиньи предоставляются, так же как подобная информация о родителях и предках двух или более поколений.
Information for two or more litters from a sow is a more accurate test of her prepotency than for one litter only.	Информация о двух или более потомствах свиньи позволит составить наиболее точное представление о ее производительности.

4. Make a plan of the text.

5. Retell the text.