CHAPTER V 



SHOWING SWINE 



The show ring. — There is probably no other single 

 institution connected with the swine industry that has 

 made for more real progress than the show ring. With- 

 out it our present day swine would have presented noth- 

 ing like the uniformity of type and general perfection 

 which they now possess. The show ring has been the 

 guiding star for the breeders of pure-bred swine and to 

 the producers of market swine to a less degree. The 

 producer of market hogs can get much from the market 

 as to the demands and standards of the times, but the 

 breeder of pure-bred swine must rely on the show ring. 

 It has been the show rings that have made the standards 

 of perfection toward which we have been striving. They 

 tended to standardize and systematize the goal of per- 

 fection toward which all breeders have been striving, 

 which has been largely responsible for the progress that 

 has been attained. The show ring has given the indi- 

 vidual breeders an insight into what the best swine 

 judges have considered the ideal types. In addition, the 

 friendly rivalry of the show ring has been a great stimulus 

 in bringing about the production of continually better 

 individuals. The sporting instinct of man has been 

 aroused by the competition in the show ring. All in all, 

 the show ring has been a wonderful stimulus for the good 

 of swine breeding, and it is to be hoped that more and 

 more of the small breeders can utilize this institution in 

 the interests of their wort. 



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