The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1914-08-08
SELECTING PROSPECTS AND PREPARING
Them FOR THE NEXT FALL HOG SHOWS
Some Timely Suggestions Subject Agricultural College
Expert-Pckng The individuals How Candidates for
Exhibition Purposes Should Be
Handled and Fed
. Blizzard Animal Hus bandry Department K s 4. Cd


uired for pig under six months from
that needed for one in the class for
animals twelve months and under
eighteen months.
In the under-six-months class, as in
all others, the aim is to secure the
highest possible finish by the time the
hogs are ready to drive into the show
ring. To secure the greatest size, to-
gether with the desirable finish, it is
necessary to crowd strenuously, but
carefully, from the time the hogs are
born until show time. The dam must
be fed literally on milk-producing
feeds, and at the earliest possible age
the pigs should be taught to eat grain.
A creep should be provided where
they may have access to grain. A
good combination of feed for the pigs
is so per cent corn, As per cent shorts,
and 5 per cent tankage, measured by
weight This mixture should be made
into a slop with milk. By making the
slop rather thin, feeding capacity will
be developed.
The method of feeding after wean-
ing will be similar to that followed
before weaving. The pigs must be
kept growing and fattening, and must
not become hard. The appetites and
peculiarities of each individual must
be carefully studied, and the pigs
should never be allowed to get of
feed. During the thirty days pre-
vious to the show a change should
be made in the ration. This change
should be made gradually. A combi-
nation that has proved satisfactory
for the new ration is 20 per cent corn,
25 per cent shorts, and per cent
tankage. There is nothing better than
milk to put finish on young hogs, and
its use should be continued through
out the feeding period. Pasture should
be provided as long as possible.
The next class is composed of ami
mails that are more than six months
and less than twelve months Of age.
Barrows that are to be shown in this
class must be kept growing so that all
the scale possible will be obtained.
Sometimes the mistake of crowding
too hard during the first six months
is made. The hogs that are being
prepared for this class should be kept
in a thrifty growing condition until
about four months before show time,
when the finishing period should be-
gin. They should then be crowded to
the limit with fat-producing feeds, but
great care must be taken to keep them
from getting of feed This finishing
period may be started with a ration
consisting of 81 per cent corn, 80 per
cent shorts and per cent tankage.
The percentage of corn should be in
creased gradually until time for the
show. If the best possible finish is
desired, milk and pasture must be pro-
vided
The early feeding and management
of the barrows to be shown in the
class of animals twelve months and
under eighteen months, is very SINH
lar to that Of the class just described.
Sometimes a somewhat different type
is selected for this class. Early ma
turity is not so important as is the
case in the other classes, but a type
must be selected that will insure
plenty of size with quality at show
| time. Hogs of this type usually fin
| ish out smoother at late age because
| they are slow feeders. The finishing
period should extend over period of
about six months, and the method
and ration should be the same as sug-
gested for ,barrows six months and
under twelve months.