488 



JUDGING FARM ANIMALS 



tant, excepting as associated with age. A pig that has been 

 well fed and cared for after being weaned, should gain 

 in weight from three-fourths of a pound to one pound a 

 day. A satisfactory weight of a fat hog at six months of 

 age is about 175 pounds, and at twelve months is about 

 300 pounds. The market demands as to weight vary, some- 

 times heavy hogs being wanted, while again lightweights 

 are preferred. In general, 250 pounds is a satisfactory 



Fig. 266. — "This thick, deep form suggests the very greatest meat-carrying 



capacity." 



weight. In the great Chicago hog market, where nearly 

 nine million hogs have been received in a year, the average 

 weight is not far from 225 pounds per head. Winter 

 weights usually run lighter than those of summer by twenty- 

 five pounds or so. With a standard of four points for per- 

 fect weight, an animal weighing much undar the standard 

 should be scored accordingly. Suppose a weight of 

 225 pounds at one year, then three points might show the 

 measurement for weight of the pig being scored. A greater 



