Pure-bred Swine 433 



these exact dates are not used by all fairs. The pigs must 

 be farrowed as soon as possible after the base date in 

 order that they may be shown with the greatest possible 

 age, weight, and maturity. For example, pigs practically 

 twelve months of age have a great advantage over pigs 

 barely past six months, so much so that in hot competition 

 it is a waste of time to exhibit short aged stock. It there- 

 fore becomes necessary to plan a long time ahead to have 

 the §tock of the right ages. Since the base dates are 

 usually good farrowing dates for climatic reasons, the 

 leading breeders try to have all their farrowing begin 

 at this time regardless of the particular animals they 

 wish to show. 



2p 



