1	SHOW PIG SELECTION
2	Darrell Rothlisberger Utah State University Tim Marshall University of Florida Frankie Hall Florida Farm Bureau
3	Selecting Your Feeder Pig Selecting your pig should be something that you do, not your parents. However, you should have an experienced adult involved for guidance. We will talk about where to look and how to select a pig that will provide value and an good educational experience.
4	Collect Hog and Ham Information Purchase time – starting the pig on feed March 20, 2006 Slaughter day, thus Days on Feed 98 days Understand all of the Rules/Guidelines
5	Questions Where should I buy? Should I try to buy as a member of a group? Are there breed differences? What weight pig should I buy?
6	Breeds of Pigs There are many breeds Hampshire Duroc Yorkshire Crossbred
7	Hampshire
8	Duroc
9	Yorkshire
10	Crossbred – York x Hamp
11	Selection Criteria Muscle Frame Feet and Leg Soundness Skeletal Design Movement Rib Capacity/Volume
12	Parts of the Pig
13	Muscle This is what you are selling to the consumer Select a pig that is moderate to heavy muscled Know the indicators of muscle
14	Indicators of Muscle
15	The groove!
16	Muscling Best observed by examining the hog from the rear. The hog should show a wide back and loin and a deep rump. Width must be due to muscling and not fat. There is greater width in the ham and loin and not the back.
17	Muscle Wide with deep groove down center & rounded on edges (butterfly shape)
18	Muscle Light muscled pig will have inverted “V” shape when viewed from the rear
19	Frame Length and height Select a pig that is Long bodied
20	Structure/Design: Athletic Movement - sound How the pig is put together A pig should move with ease Take long strides Joints should be clean and be at the proper angle Sound pigs grow faster because they endure less stress
21	Structural Correctness
22	Skeletal Design A well designed hog: Holds its head up when walking Walks effortlessly and athletically Level top on the move
23	Movement
24	Capacity
25	Capacity or Volume Depth of body Width of base (between hocks and chest floor) Spring of rib cage Length of body
26	What should my feeder pig weigh? You must know… Length of feeding period Expected rate of gain Optimum slaughter weight
27	Example 100 d feeding period 270 # Optimum slaughter weight 1.7 #/d Average Daily Gain 270 – (100 X 1.7) = 100 # This pig should weigh at least 100 pounds at purchase assuming that predictions are correct and it does not get sick.
28	Recommended Feeder Pig Weight Your guidelines suggest 100 to 125 pounds If you purchase much earlier than March 20, then you can buy a lighter pig This is a recommendation, not a requirement…and is meant to help you.
29	Source of Pigs Directly from the breeder’s farm Buying from commingled source contributes much more risk
30	Advantages to going to the farm Evaluate Farm: Health Genetics Management
31	Disadvantages in purchasing directly from breeder’s farm Flooring makes it hard to see how pig walks Small pens make it hard to see pigs Lighting is poor Dirty pigs Expensive to travel from farm to farm
32	Health Should check the health of the source herd Buy only healthy animals from healthy herds. Animals should have a negative blood test for brucellosis, leptospirosis, and pseudorabies. Should be vaccinated for erysipelas. Should be free of external and internal parasites.
33	Health Do not select pigs that have signs such as coughing, infected eyes, rough hair coats, pot bellies, gauntness, listless acting.
34	Health Pigs should be de-wormed, tail docked, and castrated. Do not select if they show signs of external parasites. No ruptures
35	Summary Bring home a pig that is healthy and will stay healthy reasonable priced correct weight at least average muscled structurally sound big ribbed, but has growth potential STRESS FREE genetics