THE BOAR : SELECTION AND MANAGEMENT 89 



When a new boar is brought to strange surroundings 

 or a new home the change should preferably be made 

 some six or eight weeks before he is needed for service. 

 If from a distance or by shipment he should be dipped, 

 and isolated or quarantined for half of this period to 

 guard against the possible introduction by him of any 

 disease. No matter how little liability to disease may 

 come from his former home there is still the chance that 

 lie may have acquired deadly germs in transit. Preven- 

 tion is always safe. 



If the trip has been a long or hard one he should l)e 

 lightly fed at first, and any desirable changes from the 

 feed to which he has been accustomed should be made 

 gradually. Time is necessary in a majority of instances 

 to get the boar into good breeding condition, which us- 

 ually means, if he is from the shows or auctions, that he 

 will need more muscular development and less fat. Ex- 

 ercise antl flesh-forming foods should enter into his care 

 at this period. Exercise is important to the boar when 

 he is not in service and essential to develop his muscle and 

 vigor. 



PlJIZi:-\\I\MXG NOT PROOF OF EXCELLENCE 



The fact that either a boar or sow has been awarded a 

 prize, of whatever grade, at an exhibition, does not neces- 

 sarily prove possession of unusual excellence, nor should 

 such an award alone be accepted for a moment as proof 

 of superiority unless the circumstances of its making and 

 tlie extent and character of the competition met are 

 carefully considered. The prize mav have been unavoid- 

 ably i)laced where it was ])ecause of little or no hi<>;li-class 



