CHAPTER XVII 



JUDGING 



A GOOD judge of hogs possesses the most valuable asset 

 necessary for success as a breeder. The breeder or feeder 

 who is not a reliable judge cannot succeed in the hog busi- 

 ness regardless of the advantages he may enjoy in equip- 

 ment, financial backing, or other favorable conditions. 

 Good judges, however, are not bom as such, and the in- 

 dividual must have training and experience before he is 

 competent. 



An important part of the training necessary consists 

 in gaining an appreciation of the essential duties or func- 

 tions which the different classes of hogs have to perform. 

 The best finished fat barrow, for example, is the one which 

 not only has been a good feeder, but which will dress out 

 the most profitably as a killer. A knowledge of the 

 butcher's requirements is necessary as a foundation for 

 the formation of correct ideas of the fat or bacon hog 

 type. For the same reason, the ideal of brood sow type 

 should be based on an experienced understanding of the 

 work she has to do. Any conception of type which is not 

 consistent with reliable breeding performance is fatal to 

 the future of the herd or breed. An appreciation of this 

 fundamental principle is important, for it will promote 

 stability of judgment and reasonable independence towards 

 temporary fads and the demands for extremes in type. 



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