116 SOUTHERN PORK PRODUCTION 



as to be wrinkled. What is desired is a smooth finish in 

 which there is a firmness, indicative of plenty of lean 

 meat. To obtain the desired firmness such feeds as corn 

 and cottonseed meal can be fed to harden the fat. In the 

 breeding classes it is an easy matter to have the animals 

 too fat. The exact condition and fleshing qualities re- 

 quired can only be learned by experience. 



Different treatment for different ages. — It must be 

 borne in mind that pigs of different ages will require 

 different feed and attention to be properly fitted. Pigs 

 will require greater attention and care than the older 

 animals. The feeds of the pigs should be more of a 

 nitrogenous nature, and especially should it have bulk. 

 Pigs can be expected to make better use of certain 

 leguminous pastures than the older hogs. They should 

 be fed only a comparatively small amount of corn and 

 such carbonaceous feeds, and greater quantities of skim 

 milk, shorts, and nitrogenous feeds, especially legumes. 

 More corn and other fattening feeds can be fed to older 

 hogs. They are less apt to get out of condition than the 

 pigs. The pigs will usually take sufficient exercise of 

 their own accord, but older animals have to be encour- 

 aged to take exercise. All of these natural tendencies 

 exhibited by swine of different ages should be studied and 

 utilized in show fitting. 



Securing width. — In the fitting of swine for competition 

 in the fat or market classes some difficulty is generally 

 experienced in securing the width that is desired to give 

 the compact and blocky conformation. No two things 

 make more for securing the desired width than breeding 

 of the proper sort and ample food supply from birth. 



