|
Raising and showing pigs takes 'heads-up' work and dedication |
|||
|
By MANDY JOHN | Central Texas Edition |
|||
November 7, 2002 -- Members in 4-H and FFA that were interested in showing pigs got an opportunity to learn how to be successful in the winner's circle on October 30 at the Bell County Expo Center in Belton. David Wright, Williamson County Extension agent for 4-H and youth development, was on hand to talk about what qualities make a good show pig. "Choosing a pig at this time is difficult because pigs change from season to season," stated Wright. "The type of pig that gets good marks in judging is changing too. "Before the pig needed to be as big as it can be and much longer. Now, the important thing is to have the width through the chest and the tracking wide. It still needs to be long-bodied though." He said it's important to have the pig as structurally sound as it can be. The thing to keep in mind when selecting a pig is it should be as tall at the point of the shoulder as it is at the hip. "A good show pig will have a big top, will be heavy muscled, will be sound, and it should be pretty. It's true that we don't eat pretty, but a pretty pig will get you two to three points when it's close in competition." Wright stated that good facilities all depend on where you are. The facility should have plenty of bedding and not a lot of draft in the pen. "Draft does make a difference in hair growth. Draft in the wintertime must be at a minimum. You need to keep the facility as warm as possible. A heat lamp is fine when the pig is small, but make sure that they don't burn themselves." Wright explained that concrete is fine for a pig to walk on as long as there is two to three inches of shavings on top of it at all times. "The main problem with concrete is when it's wet. The pads on pig's feet get wet and when they are walking, their pads will tear. You must keep the pigs clean and healthy at all times. "White pigs need minimal sun so they don't get burned. I recommend using baby powder to keep their skin nice. "It's important to clip their feet as late as possible. If you are taking a pig in to be clipped for the first time, be careful and take your time. "When you first get your pig, you need to have at least 20 percent protein in their feed. This is ideal because they are just coming off the nursery or a facility with high protein feed." He said pigs need to continue on 20 percent protein as long as it's growing. If the pig is not growing after four months, then the protein percentage should be lowered. "It's a disadvantage to castrate a 60- or 70-pound pig. You are defeating your purpose of helping the pig gain muscle, because the pig might lose the muscle. Castrate them as young as possible. It's easier when they are young. "Water is as important as what you feed the pig. Remember that a white colored water barrel will stay cooler during the day than a dark colored barrel. You also need to have fresh and cool water. "It is hard to get pigs big in the summertime. It all has to do with getting adequate amount of water." "Their feed should be kept at fence level so their heads are kept up. As the pig grows older you should raise the feeder up to prevent their head from going down. "The length of the neck is important too. If they have a long neck, it's good. "When picking out a pig, though, don't start at the front-end first. Start at the back when looking at muscle. Also try and choose one that naturally has its head up. "There is no one set-way in getting a pig ready for show. You have all kinds of techniques. On average, don't ever take pigs off water before a show. I know it's a hard concept for people to do, but it's important. "Whenever you pull water out of the system, you lose muscle as well as fluids. You don't realize how many times a pig gets up in the middle of the night to get water when they are thirsty. "Pigs need to be a little full before you leave for a show. If you leave for a show with them ready, they will not look as good. This is because you usually wait two to three days before you show and by that time they will have lost that muscle. "How much you feed before a show is determined on where you want the pig to be the last seven to ten days before a show. Also, if you are going to condition a pig, use Vitamin E. "My last bit of advice to you is don't concentrate on the color of skin on the pig. Breed character is more important than skin color to determine the type of pig it is." |
He
stated that as pigs get older, their heads naturally lean
down when they are feeding. 