452 Western Live-stock Management 
FITTING FOR SHOW OR SALE 
It is demanded that animals brought into the show or 
sale ring be fat. Plenty of exercise during the fattening 
process will produce a firmer and smoother flesh than 
feeding in close confinement. The thinner animals are 
given the most concentrated and fattening rations, while 
those that are already fat are given feeds more bulky 
and less fattening. Oats in this case are used for the larger 
portion of the ration. Tuch skill and careful attention is 
required to get the hogs in condition at just the right time 
and to hold them in condition until after the show is 
over. Even more important than skill in feeding is good 
judgment as to how long it will take to get the animal in 
condition so as to know just when to start. Early in the 
fitting process the hogs should be dipped or scrubbed 
with some standard sheep dip. This, combined with 
good feed, should soon free the skin from scurf and dead 
hair. After this an occasional washing is given. The 
toes are trimmed to keep the feet square and the pasterns 
straight. When time for showing comes, little more need 
be done than to brush the hair clean. Sometimes the 
hair is treated with a mixture of sweet oil and gasoline 
or of separator oil and alcohol in order to produce a good 
luster. Black hogs are occasionally greased freely with 
crude oil. If the fitting has been conducted thoroughly 
from the start, only very coarse harsh-coated animals will 
be improved hy these treatments. 
AGE OF SHOW PIGS 
All fairs have base dates from which the ages of the 
pigs are calculated. The usual dates are March Ist 
for spring pigs and September 1st for fall pigs although 
