Raising that prize Swine
Lesson 1
This is just one lesson in your journey towards fame and fortune in
raising that perfect pig.
Feeding one or more pigs to sell as
market animals is probably one of the most common 4-H livestock
projects. It doesn't require a large amount of money and it can be
completed in about four months. The words "swine," "hogs," and
"pigs" refer to animals of the porcine family or pig family. The
term swine can also refer to the pig family in a general way, and
"pig" can be used in referencing young animals.
Why raising
a pig is fun
Raising a pig is fun because you get to
interact with a somewhat large but usually gentle animal. If you
have the opportunity to raise a pig, it will definitely get you in
shape, as you are supposed to walk your animal every day (to get it
used to walking before the judge). You also have to clean out the
pen on a regular basis. The next time you get on the floor to do
your stomach crunches, think about taking a cute little porker on a
walk instead!
Finally, as you may know, famous
health spas offer hundred-dollar mud baths to clean and refresh
your skin. But if you get a pig, you will be able to get a free,
all natural mud bath any day of the week! This is not a project for
people who like to be clean--but it you can handle a little mud, if
you have the free time, and if you enjoy animals, this might just
be the project for you!
Breeds of
Pigs
Eight major breeds of hogs are commonly used
for breeding. In general, the five dark breeds--Berkshire, Duroc,
Hampshire, Poland China, and Spot are known and used for their
siring ability and potential to pass along their durability,
leanness, and meatiness to offspring. The three white breeds--
Chester White, Landrance, and Yorkshire are sought after for their
reproductive and mothering abilities.
·
Yorkshire:
The most sought after breed, Yorks are good mothers and produce
large litters. They exhibit a long, big frame and are white with
erect ears.
·
Chester
White: Solid white, these pigs have medium sized, droopy ears. They
usually have large litters and sought for their mothering ability.
Boars of this breed are usually aggressive.
·
Berkshire:
Black with six white points (nose, tail, and legs), these hogs have
erect ears and a short, dished snout. They work well in enclosed
facilities and are noted for their siring ability.
·
Duroc: These
hogs, noted for their fast growth and good feed efficiency, are a
reddish color with droopy ears. On the average, this breed needs
less feed to make a pound of muscle than the other
breeds.
·
Hampshire:
These hogs are black with a white belt that extends from one front
leg, over the shoulder, and down the other front leg. They have
erect ears and are popular for their lean, meaty
carcasses.
·
Poland China:
Like the Berkshire, this breed has six white points on a black
body. They have medium sized droopy ears and produce meaty
carcasses with large loin eyes.
·
Spot: White
with black spot, this breed has the same type of ears as the Poland
China. These hogs are known for producing pigs with a high growth
rate.
·
Landrance:
Like the other white hogs, this breed is known for the sow's
mothering ability. They have very large, floppy ears, are
long-bodied, and have the highest weaned average of any breed, as
well as the highest average post-weaning survival rate.
·
No breed of
swine is superior to the others. You should select pig based on its
physical characteristics and the performance of its relatives (if
you can get that information). Good quality feeder pigs should
appear healthy, thrifty, vigorous, and alert.
·
In our two
years in the project, we have had three Durocs and one Hampshire.
Other members of our project have also had Yorkshires. Yorks are
neat but they do get sun-burned, so if you get one you should plan
on buying suntan lotion for your pig!
Resources:Most of the
material for this report has come from Your 4-H Market Hog Project,
Iowa State University, University Extension, January,
1992.
http://www.goats4h.com/Pigs.html#fun
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