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CHAPTER XVIII 

 SELECTING AND FITTING THE SHOW HERD 



The selection of the. show herd requires a knowledge of what 

 it takes, when well fitted, to win. One should commence months 

 in advance of the show to make his selections, first making up his 

 mind whether or not he wishes to fill all the various classes fisted 

 in the premium lists, which are now so made up that the same 

 animals can show throughout the circuit without being required 

 to carry along other animals of various ages from those first se- 

 lected to fill the classes. 



In making the selection for the show herd, commence first by 

 selecting the animals that are required to show in the * ' aged class. ' ' 



The aged sow class should be made up of animals that have 

 proven themselves breeders and should show by their appearance 

 that they have been breeders. Le.t them, however, be well fitted 

 without overdoing and as uniform as possible in type and conforma- 

 tion, with an aged boar of the same general type, showing that he 

 has been a breeder, only of a more masculine appearance, thus 

 making up a desirable herd for the aged class. 



The tusks of the boar should be removed before starting out on 

 the show circuit and should be so closely cut that no trace of the 

 same can be seen. This should be done both for the safety of 

 the caretaker and those about the show ring. 



Next, select the senior yearlings, a boar and three sows which 

 should carry as much size, or nearly so as the aged herd, but would 

 naturally be somewhat smoother owing to the difference in age and 

 previous service. Be sure that these are also uniform in type 

 with the aged herd. 



Next select the junior yearling a boar and three sows, which 

 are, generally speaking, the sweetest things in the show ring, and 

 being at an age that shows full development and yet not re- 

 quired to have produced any offspring, naturally will be much 

 smoother and more in bloom. This class is usually the best of 

 all at any breed show. These should be of the same general type 

 as the older ones selected, and should be in the pink of show condi- 

 tion well developed at every point carrying all the flesh that 

 goes to make an ideal show animal, yet under no circumstances 

 to be overly fatted or fleshed to a condition of unevenness or 

 roughness. 



This same careful selection must be carried out also in the boar 

 and three sows under twelve months of age. This is really the 

 hardest class to fill satisfactorily. First, for the reason that the 

 young boar over six and under twelve months of age is passing 



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