preview

Benefits of Raising and Showing Pigs Essay

Best Essays

Some say you’re born into it, others say you pick it up as a hobby. I for one believe I was born into it. Being a third generation farming family definitely had a role in raising market show pigs. Raising show pigs is and has always been a blessing for many families. You don’t have to be born in the heart of Oklahoma to raise a Grand Champion market pig. Having the correct knowledge about the industry, feeding regiment, and the proper showman etiquette will help a person greatly.
Before you make the decision to purchase a market pig at a barn sale or online auction you should have the correct knowledge of the breeds that are out there. There are a total of eight common breeds of show pigs. These eight breeds can be divided into two groups …show more content…

Berkshire hogs are known for their ability to easily gain weight; they also have traits like black and white hair. The white hair they have on their bodies must be on their ears, tail, and feet. Another pig breed that is black and white is the Hampshire. Hamps are heavy muscled but they can also pack on a lot of weight. They are black with a white belt that goes around their body and the two front feet must also be white. Hampshire pigs can also be off belts where they do not have a full belt around their body; they may just have one leg that is white with the rest of the body black. The last and most recorded breed of pigs in the United States is the Yorkshire. Yorks are most famous for their outstanding mothering abilities; they are able to produce a large amount of milk and have structural soundness. A York cannot be any other color than white or if it they have any extra dewclaws, which we can think of as toes, on the back of their feet.
After deciding on the breed or cross that you want to buy, you need to look at the most important aspect of a pig; their bonestructure. You can easily feed out a problem like weight or muscle but if a pig is straight legged as a baby then the problem will only progress. A pig should have a straight, or level, back and also should have a natural ability to keep their head up. Once you have the right structure you need to find a pig with an adequate amount of bone so their legs aren’t

Get Access