216 SOUTHERN PORK PRODUCTION 



of 130 to 175 pounds, and pigs, when in good condition, 

 are becoming much more popular than formerly. 



Most desirable age for marketing. — The most desirable 

 age at which to market is usuall}^ the earliest age at 

 which the hog reaches that stage of maturity and fatten- 

 ing when it is suited for the making of pork. The most 

 desirable age is dependent to a large extent upon the 

 time of year the pigs are born and upon the crops grown 

 for fattening. Early spring pigs are generally best mar- 

 keted in the early fall at eight or nine months of age. 

 Late spring pigs are generally marketed in late fall or 

 during the fore part of the next j^ear, at which time they 

 will be ten months or a year of age. Fall pigs should be 

 marketed in the summer or early fall. If they come early 

 in the fall they may be marketed in summer, while if 

 they come later they are generall}^ at the proper age and 

 condition for marketing very late the following summer 

 or early fall at from nine to eleven months of age. It is 

 rarely advisable to market before eight months or later 

 than twelve months of age, and all else being equal, the 

 earlier the better. One is controlled in marketing not 

 alone by size and age of the pig and condition of the 

 market, but primarily by the feed supph^ 



Most desirable size for marketing. — The most desir- 

 able size for marketing will depend on the time of year 

 and the market. The market will usually take heavier 

 hogs during colder months than during the warmer 

 months. At a large packing center the size is not of 

 such great consequence, for there is always a demand 

 for every size of hog. It has been found, however, that 

 the size that is in greatest demand on the central mar- 



