432 Western Live-stock Management 



FITTING FOE SHOW OR SALE 



It is demanded that animals brought into the show or 

 sale ring be fat. Plenty of exercise during the fattening 

 process will produce a firmer and smoother flesh than 

 feeding in close confinement. The thinner animals are 

 given the most concentrated and fattening rations, while 

 those that are already fat are given feeds more bulky 

 and less fattening. Oats in this case are used for the larger 

 portion of the ration. Much skill and careful attention is 

 required to get the hogs in condition at just the right time 

 and to hold them in condition until after the show is 

 over. Even more important than skill in feeding is good 

 judgment as to how long it will take to get the animal in 

 condition so as to know just when to start. Early in the 

 fitting process the hogs should be dipped or scrubbed 

 with some standard sheep dip. This, combined with 

 good feed, should soon free the skin from scurf and dead 

 hair. After this an occasional washing is given. The 

 toes are trimmed to keep the feet square and the pasterns 

 straight. AVhen time for showing comes, little more need 

 be done than to brush the hair clean. Sometimes the 

 hair is treated with a mixture of sweet oil and gasoline 

 or of separator oil and alcohol in order to produce a good 

 luster. Black hogs are occasionally greased freely with 

 crude oil. If the fitting has been conducted thoroughly 

 from the start, only very coarse harsh-coated animals will 

 be improved by these treatments. 



AGE OF SHOW PIGS 



All fairs have base dates from which the ages of the 

 pigs are calculated. The usual dates are March 1st 

 for spring pigs and September 1st for fall pigs although 



