JUDGING SWINE 99 



greatest skill are required. The show yards and sale rings 

 assist some in the making of these selections, but for the 

 most part the breeder will have to depend on his own 

 observation and judgment. 



Age of breeding swine. — In the selecting and purchas- 

 ing of swine for breeding purposes there are in the main 

 two methods that can be employed so far as age is con- 

 cerned. The first is to purchase young animals and grow 

 them to maturity, and the other is to purchase older 

 animals that have been used for breeding purposes. The 

 first of these methods is frequently the most economical 

 method of purchasing, but one's expectations are not 

 always fulfilled, and the animals may not develop as they 

 should. The second method has the advantage of being 

 a little surer, which in the long run may be the best 

 policy. In selecting older animals one must be careful 

 to get breeding animals that have been merely tried out 

 and have not been worn out through several seasons of 

 breeding. The most profitable ages are between two and 

 seven years for either sex. 



Mature breeding swine. — The reproductive functions 

 of swine are not fully developed until about the time the 

 individual begins to mature. The sexual organs and 

 instinct develop rapidly as maturity approaches, and we 

 say the breeding age has arrived. Gilts generally arrive 

 at this age a month earlier than males. The age at which 

 the breeding powers become manifested depends on 

 breed, method of handling, feeding and sex. With the 

 gilt the first period is co-existent with the bursting of 

 the Graffian follicle and liberation of the first ova. With 

 the male the arrival at breeding age is a more gradual 



