Benefits of Raising and Showing Pigs

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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 judging by their ears. Breeds of pigs with droopy ears are: Chester White, Duroc, Poland China, Spot, and Landrace. Chester White pigs are known for their structural soundness, mothering ability, and droopy ears. A pig cannot be classified as a Chester White if it has erect ears or any other color spot larger than a silver dollar. Durocs, just like Chester Whites, have ears that are droopy, they also possess a color of reddish brown but the darkness of their hair and skin can vary. They are mainly known because they are good mothers and have a very lean carcass. Poland China pigs are another marked up breed of pig and they must be black with only six white points. These points are on their face, feet, and end of tail. The last breed of pigs with droopy ears is the Spot breed. I’m sure you can already guess that these pigs have spots all over their bodies. Spots must have black and white hair and their ears cannot be solid black. Landrace is a breed that originated in Finland that is white with ...

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...pect of your life.

Works Cited

Burch, Micky. “Showmanship Matters.” Purple Circle. April 2014: 30. Print.

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Mason, Ashlei. “The Harder You Work, The Luckier You Get.” Purple Circle. April 2014: 158. Print.

Oklahoma State University Board of Regents. “Breeds of Livestock.” Ansi.okstate.edu. April 1994. N.P. Web.

Rothlisberger, Darrell. “Show Pig Selection.” Extension.usu. March 2010. N.P. Web.

Walker, Taylor. “Swine Showmanship Tips.” Drivelivestock. 21 November 2013. N.P. Web.

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