310 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



a sow and pigs for ray own use I would turn her into the clover 

 field and let her alone." 



Mr. Baker again expressed it as his opinion that the sow 

 should be left alone to which Mr. Munson said : "I do 

 not agree with the gentleman at all, because if you are 

 breeding hogs and raising them for breeders you must 

 have them come in March for best results and we all know 

 that in March we have bad weather, I manage to raise large 

 litters simply by staying by my sows. I don't put them in a 

 barrel but I put them up to the mother and she does the rest 

 but I want to be there to keep them from chilling, because some 

 nights it gets pretty cold in the hog house." 



The next paper read was that of L. H. Roberts, of Paton, 

 Iowa, on "Feeding a Show Herd." 



FEEDING THE SHOW HERD. 



L. H. EOBEBTS, PATON, IOWA. 



There are so many factors entering into the preparation or the show 

 hog that the subject of feeding alone cannot be taken up if intelligent 

 consideration of the wtiole matter be given. To begin with, there is 

 the hog himself. At this time there is such excellent material to select 

 from, in all breeds, that the showman does not ?n this respect bave to 

 meet the serious problem that confronted him a dozen years ago. 

 But even now, the competition of the show ring has become so fierce, 

 and the requirements so exacting that the utmost care must be exercised 

 in the choice of stock to be fitted. We will, to begin with, take the 

 case of spring pigs that are to be prepared for the fall fairs. The whole 

 crop of pigs should be carefully examined time and again, and their gen- 

 eral growth and progress noted before any fitting is begun. This is a 

 matter of weeks or months rather than days. Then from those that 

 show a tendency to respond readily to feed, and that have a quiet diS' 

 position, select such individuals as, in your judgment, will more 

 nearly fill the eye of the judge when they get into the ring. A knowl- 

 edge of the habits of growth of the sires and dams, and of the still more 

 remote ancestry, is valuable at this point. Take pigs that are good on 

 feet and legs. The hind legs should be straight. The front legs should 

 be straight, free from any tendency to bend in or be knock-kneed, and 

 set wide apart. The feet should be short in the pastern, toes short and 

 holding close together. Observation of these points will in a great de- 

 gree avoid breaking down on the feet, a fault that has a very ugly look 

 in the ring. I am not an advocate of a coarse boned hog. It is apt to 

 be flabby of muscle, as well as slow in maturing. A well arched back, 

 in which the arch Is not broken by a drop behind the shoulders or slope 



