SHOWING SWINE 109 



we have had in the past. We have failed in a great many 

 instances to secure judges who were familiar with the 

 demands of the markets for which they were making 

 awards. The judge should be absolutely familiar with 

 what the market demands and is willing to pay the most 

 for. The markets are constantly changing in what they 

 demand, because the pork-producing industry is cvo- 

 luting. The evoluting process is slow because our herds 

 cannot be changed on short order. If we are to make 

 progress in breeding, we must depend on the awards of 

 judges to show what the market demands, and thus the 

 responsibility resting on a judge in the show ring is much 

 greater than we might consider on first thought. 



The profitable type. — The hogs that are fitted for show 

 are not necessarily the ideal farm type. They usually 

 carry such an excess of fat as to preclude profits from 

 their production. They do show, however, the type that 

 is desired, for they could never attain the condition they 

 carry were they not of the proper type. Therefore, we 

 may with safety depend on the show ring to indicate the 

 most desirable types for farm use. Especially does the 

 show ring point out to us those types which fatten most 

 readily and mature at an early age. In farm practice the 

 hogs we grow for the market must be able to develop and 

 grow rapidly from the start and be susceptible to fatten- 

 ing at almost any age. 



Important shows. — There are numerous swine shows 

 held over the South, and some of them rank well with the 

 shows held farther north in what has been considered the 

 swine belt proper. Of course, the better the show which 

 one attends, or at which one shows, the greater are to be 



