Things You'll Need
- Pigs with desirable conformation
- Pig pens and shelters
- Pig feed
- Clean water
- Scales
- Clippers
- Brush
- Pig driving tool, such as a hog whip
- Health care program
Instructions
Buy pigs from reputable swine breeders. Check the records, including the production of the pig's parents, the sire and dam. Find healthy, fast-growing pigs. Pigs may be purchased at weaning, usually 5 to 6 weeks old and at least 35 pounds, or as feeders, young growing pigs. For faster production of show pigs, buy bred gilts.
Purchase pigs with desirable conformation. Find long, heavily muscled, deep bodied, trim pigs. Look for thickness in the shoulder, along the topline and in the ham. Select pigs that stand wide and move freely. For purebred pigs, select pigs that follow the breed characteristics.
Provide adequate housing for the pigs. The ideal temperature for pigs is 55 to 70 degrees. Provide protection from inclement weather in the winter and cool shade in the summer. A shed or barn makes it easier to control the environment and prepare the pigs for show.
Feed the pigs an adequate diet. Recently weaned pigs receive a high-protein starter diet. Feeder pigs require a grower diet. Market hogs close to market weight eat a finisher diet. Breeding gilts and boars are fed according to the stage of production. Pregnant and lactating females receive additional nutrients. Clean, fresh water is necessary at all times.
Weigh pigs at regular intervals to determine the average daily gain. Many market hog shows have weight requirements for the pigs. Some shows have a minimum average daily gain requirement. Pigs that weigh 50 to 110 pounds gain about 1.5 pounds per day, while pigs that weigh 110 to 230 pounds gain about 1.8 pounds per day.
Use artificial insemination or top-quality boars to breed gilts and sows. Artificial insemination allows the purchase of semen from outstanding boars but requires more labor than natural mating. Keep thorough records to identify the best-producing pigs.
Train the pigs for the show ring. Pigs are guided around the show ring with a hog whip, piece of plastic piping, a small cane or a riding crop. When lightly tapped on the side, a pig should move away from the tap. Daily exercise builds endurance for the show ring.
Groom and clip the show pigs. Show pigs are very clean when they reach the show ring. Following local custom, clip the pig's body.
Develop a health care program with the advice of a veterinarian. Regular vaccinations and treatment for internal and external parasites are part of a health care program. If pigs are moved across county or state lines, health certificates may be necessary.