Online Swine Workshop

Flip through the slides to learn all about your swine project for the fair then take the quiz at the end to

see what you’ve learned!

What is a tack box/show box?● A storage box to keep all your livestock essentials in

one place.● Can be made of materials such as wood, metal, or

plastic.● Some boxes stand upright while some open from the

top, depending on your preference (both pictured to right).

● Tack boxes with locks are ideal to protect your equipment!

● Tack boxes can cost anywhere from $30 (as a large plastic storage container from Walmart) to $1,500+ (as metal 5ft. boxes from Tractor Supply Co).

What should be in my tack box?● Guiding stick/crop/whip: many exhibitors use different kinds of guiding tools. Take a look

at some examples here.● Brush with handle: handled brushes work best to keep in your back pocket so you can touch

up your pig before the show. We recommend something low-cost like this.● Exhibitor show tag holder: Either a harness or a clip.● Show clothes bag: the last thing you want is to get your show clothes messy before you

show—use a garment bag (or even a trash bag to place over your hanger).● Spray bottle: you may need this to brush your pig’s hair or remove dirt, feces, etc. from your

pig before the show, and can be found at Walmart for a low cost.

What should be in my tack box? Continued...● Shampoo: Not for you--for your pig in the wash racks! Suave or a generic brand will work just

fine.● Shavings: Always having a bag of shavings for your pen available to maintain hygiene.● Feed: Keeping your feed in a dry secure area isn’t a bad idea (if you have room)!● Watering can/bucket: for refilling your pig’s waterer

Already at fair and forgot an item? No worries! There is a vendor on the fair grounds where you can purchase some of the specific show needs!

How to Make a Waterer

Here’s an example on Pinterest:https://hollykross.com/2013/02/21/making-a-hog-waterer-from-pvc-pipe/amp/

Steps to Make a Waterer

INSTRUCTIONS:1. Cut PVC Pipe to desired length with a hacksaw.2. Glue cap with PVC Cement. 3. Drill a hole through cap and pipe with a 23/32” drill

bit for the nipple. 4. Use ½ inch pipe tap to thread the hole.5. Remove the filter from the inside of the nipple to

allow more water flow.6. Wrap plumbers’ tape around the thread of the nipple.7. Thread the nipple in the tapped hole. 8. Let Dry 12 hours before use.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:6-inch PVC pipe – 4 or 5 feet depending on how tall you want itPVC Pipe CapPVC Cement23/32” Drill bitStainless Steel Nipple – ½ inch pipe threads½ inch pipe tap Teflon Plumbers’ Tape

We suggest these compact homemade waterers to give your pig plenty of room in the pen during the week of the fair.

Search youtube or Pinterest for other ideas. You may also purchase one online as well.

Fair Etiquette

Helpful Hints Before The Fair

● Pay close attention to due dates and rules and ask Ms. Vicky or one of the members of the Swine Committee if you have any questions.

● Know about your pig: weight, breed, male or female, ● Work with your pig and make sure it is comfortable with you.● Remember to send out your buyers’ letters if you plan to sell your

pig at the sale.

Helpful Hints During The Fair

● Pens should be cleaned at least once a day and especially for show days.

● Pens should NOT be cleaned right before a show.● Limit the number of people in the swine area during the Swine

Shows and the Livestock Auction. The aisle ways get crowded easily.

● During a show, wait patiently at your pen for Jimmy or Derek to tell you when to take your pig up to the holding pens.

● Keep aisles clean during the week! They get messy quickly and we want a clean area for everyone!

What to wear● Tie/Bolo tie: Either is required to meet show attire regulations. Bolo ties look like this.● White collared top: can be tank top (for girls), short or long sleeved. Must be tucked in

neatly to pants.● Khaki or green pants● Belt: can be brown or black, belt buckles are permitted but optional● Boots: steel-toes boots are preferable in case a 280-pound pig steps on your foot!● Scrub brush● Guiding stick/crop/whip: many exhibitors use different kinds of guiding tools. Take a

look at some examples here.● Hair: be sure your hair is neat (comb for boys, braids or hair up for girls)

Swine Showmanship

The basics of swine showmanshipBEFORE THE SHOW● At this point, you should

have been walking your pig and training its response to your crop/whip/guiding tool so it is familiar.

● Wash your pig in the wash rack to get any dirt or waste off of it. This will also help keep them cool before exercising in the ring.

GENERAL GUIDELINES● Always keep the pig between you and the judge (make a ham sandwich!)● Keep the pig 10-15 feet away from the judge● Keep your eyes on the judge at all times● NEVER forcefully hit/kick your animal in the showring!● Good sportsmanship is a part of good showmanship!● Keep smiling throughout the show! ● Listen to your pig--reduce movement if it is breathing heavy or seems

uncomfortable

AFTER THE SHOW● Congratulate the winner--it’s important to support each other!● Shake the judge’s hand once you have been placed or before leaving the

showring● Remember that there will always be another show

Questions from the judge● During the show, the judge may ask you

specific questions about your pig. Be prepared to answer him/her as honestly as possible.

● He/she may ask you about your pig’s diet, exercise, (INSERT MORE TOPICS FROM JON)

● Why is this important?? Especially during fitting & showing, it’s important to know as much about your project as possible to show how hard you’ve been working to make a good product.

Possible topics/questions:

● What is the ear notch of your pig? ● What kind of feed did you use? How much did it

cost? ● How many nipples should a gilt have? ● Why do we dock tails? ● What can you see from the rear view of your

pig? ● What does your pig weigh? ● What is the breeding of your hog? ● How much did your hog cost? ● What are some of the good and bad points of

your pig?

Do you know the Parts of a Pig??

Whole sale cuts of a market hog

http://cemonterey.ucanr.edu/files/197376.pdf

Areas to touch your hog while driving it

Why is it important to know?

► Where different cuts of meat come from

► Where to tap your pig during show to get them to move where you want them to- ex. Neck

► So you can answer questions the judge asks you about your pig

Swine BreedsEar Notching

Pedigrees

Most Common Swine Breeds1. Berkshire: Black, with white spots that may or may not have a brownish-red, sandy tint in them; spots on the tip of the tail, snout and four white-stocking feet; short, perky ears pointing skyward; short snout

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2. Chester WhitesWhite color, long body; straight back; floppy ears. Floppy ears is how you can tell Chester hogs from Yorks

3. Durocs Red skin with red or brown hair. Relative to other pigs, the Duroc has what you would call an “athletic” build in the realm of pigs. Short, floppy ears; short snout

4. HampsBlack with white belt-like stripe around the front legs and belly, extending as far as the middle of the torso

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5. HerefordsReddish-brown body with white spots on face, ears and possibly legs; slightly dished face with droopy ears

6. LandracesWhite in color. Their ears droop and slant forward with its top edges nearly parallel to the bridge of a straight nose. Landrace hogs make great mothers.

7. Poland ChinaThe Poland China is black with a white face and feet and a white tip on the tail; the ears droop

8. SpotsThe floppy eared Spotted Pig has black and white spots with no red or brown tints.

9. YorksWhite; long, straight back; upright ears, smaller ears than that of the Landrace.

The Universal Ear Notching SystemEar-notching helps identify a pig’s litter and which one of the litter it is, giving each pig a unique identity number. Notches are placed in one of

five locations in the pig’s right ear — to show the litter number — and in one of three locations in the left ear — to show the individual pig

number. The numbers are then added up and used as the pig’s ear notch!

• The PIG’S right ear is the little mark• The PIG’S left ear is the individual pig

number from the litter

Always Remember!

What is a Pedigree?A written record of the names of a pig’s parents, grandparents, and other ancestors is called its pedigree. Some words you will see used on a pedigree, and their meanings, are listed below.

• Sire: The pig’s father. • Dam: The pig’s mother. • Grandsire: The father of the sire or dam (the

pig’s grandfather). • Grandam: The mother of the sire or dam

(the pig’s grandmother). • Purebred: An animal with parents from the

same breed. • Crossbred: An animal with parents from

different breeds.

Reading a Pedigree:1. Animal’s official name and

registration number. The name starts with herdmark unique to each breeder and ends with the animal’s ear notch.

2. * HAL 1843 Stress Gene: “nm” –normal status, “mm” – carrier status, “dm” – positive status

3. Animal’s pedigree including parents and grandparents and their Sow Productivity Index.

4. Individual information including registration number, sex, ear notch and birth date.

5. Litter performance information. 6. Breeder’s name and address. 7. Individual EPD’s and Indexes on the

date the certificate was issued. 8. Current owner’s name and address

and date of sale.

NUTRITION IN SWINE

Feeding & Watering

Starting Young◦ Its crucial whether you are farrowing your own pigs or purchasing from

someone else that all young pigs must be started on a quality, balanced diet.

◦ The easiest way to do this is to familiarize yourself with feed plans: Purina, The Mill, Sunglo, MoorMan’s etc.

◦ Many of these brands have full plans that start with a starter feed and go to a finishing feed. As the hog grows, you change their feed to the one that corresponds with their weight. The largest difference between these is the protein levels. Typically a starter feed will have a higher percentage of protein vs a finisher feed. These proteins provide essential amino-acids.

◦ You can experiment with different feed plans to ensure that your growing pig is eating a complete and balanced diet. A regular sow feed is not going to provide the same benefits.

◦ It is also advised against feeding large amounts of table scraps or human food (ice cream, sweets).

◦ You can always speak to your local feed supplier as well for more information and see what they carry.

Feeding Methods◦ There are several methods for feeding your pig. Hand feeding, self-feeding, wet

feeding.

◦ It’s a good idea to use a combination of methods throughout raising your pig. You can start with an automatic feeder (self-feeding) letting your pig eat as it pleases until you get closer to fair. Once you reach that point you may want to switch to hand feeding to control how much weight they can put on each day. A good way to determine this is by weighing your pigs regularly as fair approaches. This helps you know where the pig is at. Weigh-in is a great point to begin this. If your pig is light you may want to wet feed to help encourage them to eat more and put on more weight.

◦ You can truly use any method that you prefer, but the main thing is that you are controlling what you allow the pig to eat so that it will make weight for show and sale. You also want them to make rate of gain which is based upon the amount of weight a pig puts on each day between weigh in and fair.

◦ Go with the method that works best for you and allows your pig to look its best on show day. Spending time feeding your animal also familiarizes them with you and builds trust which makes it easier to work with them.

Watering◦ It’s crucial that you always provide your pig with fresh, clean water.

◦ A pigs feed intake is directly related to their water intake. If you notice that the pig is not drinking much water, chances are they are not eating much either.

◦ The easiest method for this is using a waterer made from a PVC pipe. This helps keep debris out of the water and can even be covered. This was covered in a few earlier slides on how to make a waterer.

◦ It is important to check the waterer to ensure that water is flowing through properly and if you are using a PVC waterer that the nipple is not clogged.

◦ When you are at the fairgrounds, if you notice that your pig is not drinking water, you may need to bring water in from home that they are used to or use a water filter. Sometimes the animals will not drink the water at the fairgrounds because it tastes or smells different than what they are used to.

Environment◦ It is important for your pig to remain eating. Having a clean pen and

environment is important to ensuring that.

◦ Check your feeder regularly to make sure feed is flowing properly. Clean the feeder from time to time, or your feed pans. Depending on what you use to feed.

◦ Clean your waterer from time to time as well.

◦ To keep the eating and drinking areas clean, be sure to remove manure and provide clean bedding.

◦ Store your feed in a clean dry area to prevent feed from getting damp or moldy. Also to keep other animals/critters out of the feed.

Final Thoughts on Swine Nutrition

◦ Ultimately your pig's growth will be impacted by several factors:

◦ Genetics◦ Gender (barrow or gilt)◦ Health status

◦ You can't control everything, and this is a learning experience, but making sure your pig is fed a balanced diet with plenty of clean water is key to unlocking its true potential.

Healthy Happy Pigs

How to determine if your pigs are healthy or sick.

What’s a healthy pig?

●Eats all their feed.●Drinks plenty of water.●Gets up and greets you or tries to chew on you when your in the pen.

●Wags or curls its tail.●Runs around the pen.●No coughing, sneezing or

diarrhea!

My Pig is Sick.●Not Eating●Not Drinking●Diarrhea●Coughing, and or Sneezing●Not active●Rash●Breathing heavy (thumping)●Has a fever.

How to treat a sick pig.

● Establish a relationship with a Veterinarian. Very important.

● Take your pigs temperature-Rectally

○ Normal temperature for a pig is 102°F.

● Have a fecal sample checked for worms or Coccidia.

● Make sure your pig has plenty of clean water.

● Give antibiotics or deworm your pig properly.

● If its hot, keep your pig cool. ● Have lots of fresh air flow in

your pig pen. ( Keep a fan running when Hot)

Where to give a pig shots.

●All injections for pigs should be given in the side of the neck, behind the ear and before the shoulder blade. This would be an intramuscular injection. In the Triangle.

●If vaccinating little pigs injections can be given under the skin in the flanks. This would be a subcutaneous injection.

Can a pig sweat? Avoid Heat Stress and Sunburn

● NO! pigs do not have sweat glands.● If you are hot, your pigs are hot.● Keep pigs cool with a fan.● Rinse them off a couple times a

day when it is hot out.● Keep them in a shaded pen.

Always have shaded areas available.

● Work with your pig early in the morning or in the evening when it is cooler out.

● Pigs can get a sun burn. ● Do not put any types of oils on your

pig. It will cause them to over heat.

Is Water important?

●YES!!! ●Always make sure your

pigs have lots of fresh clean water.

●Water is very important for your pig to grow properly.

Keeping your pig healthy and happy.

●Keep pen clean and dry.●Keep good air flow through your pen.

(Fan)●Plenty of clean fresh water.●Feed your pig properly.●Keep out of direct hot sun.●Work with your pig during the cooler

parts of the day.●Treats ( everyone likes a snack)●Have a relationship with a

Veterinarian.

Remember to have fun with your Pig project!!

How to continue to keep yourself Healthy and Safe.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fuanews.arizona.edu%2Fstory%2Fuarizona-researchers-create-toolkit-talking-kids-about-coronavirus&psig=AOvVaw1R6w6pbT1RIcp9ybGVyKqF&ust=1586960185815000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAMQjB1qFwoTCKjAtNCN6OgCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

How to continue to keep yourself Healthy and Safe.● Just like the distance you should stay away from the Judge when driving

your pig.

● Stay 6 feet or two show pig lengths away from other people. Social Distancing.

Complete the Swine Workshop Quiz

● Make sure to click on the below link and complete the Swine Workshop Quiz to receive credit for “attending” the workshop.

https://form.jotform.com/Bridgewa/2020CC4-HSwineWorkshop