HANDLING SHOW HERD IN THE RING 69 



This is a great mistake, and if these show animals are expected 

 to go on and prove what they should be, desirable and regular 

 breeders, they must be. handled very carefully. 



The first thing I would advise on return from the shows, would 

 be to quarantine the show herd on a portion of the farm or 

 some other place where they would not come in contact with 

 the home herd. They should be placed on good, green, succulent 

 pasture, if possible, and if not possible, should have some kind 

 of green feed to take the place of pasture. They should be fed 

 quite a little less than while on the show circuit, and no fat- 

 making feed, and be made to take all the exercise possible, so that 

 they may be reduced in flesh somewhat not by starving, but by 

 lighter feeding and abundant exercise and if they have not been 

 too strongly fitted, they will soon be in prime condition to breed. 



The show herd should be kept in quarantine about three weeks, 

 and if no symptoms of disease appear by that time, it would be 

 safe to put them with the home herd. 



Now that we can procure a reliable hog cholera serum I would 

 advise all hog men making the fair circuits to give each show 

 animal a large dose of serum (no virus) about a week before leav- 

 ing home for the fairs, unless they have positive knowledge that 

 every animal in their show herd has been properly and permanently 

 immuned by the simultaneous treatment. 



A large percent of bran and oats mixed with a small amount 

 of middlings and cornmeal is an excellent feed to use during the 

 reducing period. They must have exercise and if necessary see 

 that they get it by driving daily. This is very important and 

 must not be overlooked. 



A part of the ration may consist of whole oats scattered freely 

 in a clean place, as the oats themselves are an excellent feed, and 

 they will get considerable exercise while eating them. 



I might say right here that with many exhibitors it is a cus- 

 tom to breed the show sows a month before starting out on the 

 fair circuit, and if successful in settling them, so much the better, 

 even though the litter comes at an unfavorable time of the year. It 

 simply keeps the animals breeding, and it is much better for them. 



