JUDGING THE LARD TYPE OF SWINE 493 



shoulders, slips down toward the end of the rib. This gives 

 a sharply sloping or bevelled appearance on each side of 

 the upper third of the body, the rounded outline that at 

 one time prevailed having disappeared. If the hog is in 

 ideal condition, there is a trim and attractive finish of 

 appearance that is unmistakable. The extremely fat hog 

 in the show ring is not the butcher's ideal as to condition, 

 unless he is seeking a heavyweight from which a special 



Fig. 270. "The extremely fat hog in the show ring is not the butcher's 

 ideal as to condition." 



yield of lard is desired. In scoring, one is justified in dis- 

 criminating more against the extremely fat animal than 

 against the one that is not quite fat enough. Buyers and 

 judges, however, oftentimes give more credit to mere con- 

 dition than they should, especially in show-ring competi- 

 tion. This is illustrated by the fact that judges passing on 

 fat Berkshires at the International Live Stock Exposition, 

 sometimes give the highest awards to very fat animals, 



