242 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



has been earnestly at work to induce the board of directors to appropriate 

 for this show, but up to date nothing has been done. 



The American Berkshire Association has given the barrow shows strong 

 support from tlie start, and this year is oiSering the sum of $235 in special 

 premiums, while the secretary of the Yorkshire Association was authorized 

 by the board of directors to appropriate the sum of $190. The Hampshire 

 Association also appropriates annually to this show. These, I believe, are 

 all the associations that so far have shown a disposition to encourage the 

 barrow show. Athough there were thirty-four more barrows entered in 

 1905 than in 1904, yet I do not look for any substantial increase in the 

 number of entries until all the large associations indorse this feature of 

 the show by offering liberal premiums. It may reasonably be expected 

 that the directors of the International Exposition will not increase their 

 appropriations unless the associations make a showing. Unless all the 

 breeds are strongly represented it cannot be expected that the barrow 

 show will ever create much interest among breeders generally, or really 

 do much for the benefit of the swine industry. 



When one considers the magnitude of the swine industry in the corn 

 "belt it would seem as though there should be a great national show for the 

 finished hcg. At the same time, the swine breeder who undertakes to fit 

 barrows for the International is handicapped materially compared with 

 cattlemen. Usually those who exhibit steei-s also have entries in the pure- 

 bred classes. This in the first place cuts the expense of putting the steer 

 on exhibition as compared with the hog. In the second place, the man 

 "who is in attendance with some breeding cattle, and who also shows 

 steers, gets much more effective advertising out of his venture. He has 

 not only a double chance to win premium money, but has, in addition, an 

 opportunity to make sales of pure-bred animals. If competition were keen 

 in the various classes no man could expect his premium money to cover 

 the bill of expense when barrows alone are shown, so that this really calls 

 for sacrifice from the men who enter the contest. Whether it can be built 

 up on this basis or not I hesitate to say. 



Much might be accomplished by the holding of a barrow show to fix 

 a desirable type within the breeds. With the right kind of judges to tie 

 the ribbons it appears that a show of this kind might prove highly educa- 

 tional and go a long way towards settling the kind of finished hog de- 

 manded by the market. We are constantly battling over the makeup of the 

 corn belt hog. Some are for the growthy, somewhat heavy boned, long 

 Tbodied animal, while others through thick and thin stand for the early 

 maturing, low down, somewhat fine boned individual. Of course the matter 

 fOf prolificacy and constitutional vigor cannot be accurately determined 

 by a judge who is passing on the finished animal, at the same time when 

 it has been demonstrated what is the most desirable type on the market 

 sve believe that breeders can get togther in producing that type. 



As stated before, I do not believe that the barrow show held in con- 

 ■nection with the International will materially improve unless all the 

 associations co-operate in putting up premium money. If this were done 

 and then breeders failed to find it to their advantage to unsex some of 

 their best breeding animals, the matter could be permanently dropped; but 

 were it to die out of its own accord as it is run at present there would no 



