Pig show

Pig show, a judged event or display where pigs compete to win various titles in each category. Pigs are scored on their market quality which includes muscle, fat, and body structure along with qualities they must possess for their specific breed. Other names for a pig show include swine show and hog show.

History of the pig show

Pig shows started out on farms where the owner and other pig farmers would gather to decide which pig had the best qualities for breeding.

Preparing for a show

Preparation for a pig show is the longest part of the showing process. The preparation for a pig show begins months in advance, beginning with what pigs to breed. After birth, feeding, working with the pig, and caring for the pig are top priorities. Preparing for a show will enhance a person’s knowledge of how their pig will react in certain environments, and allow the exhibitor to manipulate the pig’s weaknesses into their strengths.

Basic pig needs

Nutrition is important to pigs because without proper nutrients, including water, a pig will not grow correctly, and be unable to reproduce efficiently. In 1999, the Food and Drug Administration approved a new feed called Paylean. Paylean redirects nutrients from fat synthesis toward muscle growth [Nold, Rosie. "Current Issues Affecting Youth Swine Shows." University Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Aug 2003AUG 2003 F2. 04 Feb 2007 .] . This helps increase the muscle mass and produces a leaner pig. When using Paylean make sure the pig has an adequate amount of water. Paylean requires pigs to take more water because muscle is 75% water. In recent years lack of water has led to more deaths than lack of food [Nold, Rosie] .

Walking a pig along with grooming a pig is one of the most important aspects of pig shows. Pigs should routinely be walked to increase circulation and promote firmness of muscle. When hot outside, only walk pigs in the early morning before sunrise and late at night after the sun has set [Frobose, 12-1.] . Walking the pig daily will allow the pig to get it accustomed to the movement it will face in the show arena. Pigs also need to be washed, and clipped before going to the show. An occasional wash is needed to keep the pig from having flaky skin. Clipping should take place three to twelve days before the show. In order for the pig to be sold to market the hair cannot be cut shorter than one-half an inch [Holden, Palmer J., and M. E. Ensminger. Swine Science. 7th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006.] .

The show

The day of the show is very important, not only does the pig need to look clean, but the person showing also needs to have a clean appearance. Depending on the breed of pig the animal will require different preparations. For dark colored pigs including Hampshire and Duroc, a pig oil should be used to show muscle definition and soften the pig’s skin. Powder should be used on light colored pigs including Yorkshire and Landrace to whiten the pig’s skin, however some shows ban the use of powder.

In the show arena, the exhibitor needs to keep within a close proximity of their pig so the judge knows how much the person has worked with the animal. To show a pig accurately, the pig should be in between the person showing and the judge, and approximately fifteen feet from the judge [Frobose, 12-4.] . Along with keeping the pig in front, the person showing should always maintain eye contact with the judge and remain calm and confident throughout the show.

Major Pig shows in the United States

Pig shows in People's Republic of China

In China, the first pig show is Guangdong Breeding Pigs Auction starts at January 18, 1996 [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=拍卖与养猪生产发展的融合——第7届湖北种猪拍卖展销暨学术交流会 | date= | publisher=中国种猪信息网 | url =http://www.chinaswine.org.cn/new_show.php?id=5389 | work = | pages = | accessdate = 2007-10-19 | language = zh-hans ] . Most pig shows in china are breeding pigs auction. There were more than 10 province had hosted breeding pigs auction, but only two province(Guangdong Province and Hubei Province) are still host it [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=广东省种猪拍卖会举行 长白种猪2万元夺魁 | date= | publisher=广东农业信息网 | url =http://www.agri.gov.cn/dfxxlb/gdxxlb/t20071220_940931.htm | work = | pages = | accessdate = 2008-09-02 | language = zh-hans ] .

Classification of breeds

There are five main breeds of show pigs include Berkshire, Hampshire, Landrace, Yorkshire, and Duroc. The Duroc, Hampshire, Yorkshire, and Landrace breeds make up 87% of the pigs in the United States ["Rules and Regulations." National Swine Registry. National Swine Registry. 4 Feb 2007 .] . While the Berkshire breed is common, it is not included in the top 87%. To be shown as one of these breeds the pig must be a purebred, which means both parents are of the same breed and no other breed is in the bloodline. Pigs that are not purebred are considered to be crosses. During a show, each breed of pig is judged individually. Each breed is then subdivided into weight classes. Each breed of pig is graded differently because different breeds of pigs carry different characteristics such as color, muscle composition, shape of ears, and body shape.

Berkshire

The Berkshire breed is typically short with erect ears, a long body, and an upturned nose. Show standards for Berkshire pigs require six white points which means all four legs must contain white along with the face and tail. Occasionally Berkshire pigs have white on other parts of their body. During shows, pigs can be disqualified if they have a solid white or solid black face or nose because this is uncharacteristic for a purebred Berkshire [Holden, Palmer J., and M. E. Ensminger.] . The Berkshire breed is also referred to as Berks.

Hampshire

The main characteristic of the Hampshire pig is the white belt around the shoulders, body, and front legs. Hampshire pigs, also known as Hamps, must have a black body and face. Show standards require a Hampshire pig to have a long, arched back and smooth shoulders. The white belt must partially or totally encircle the body, and the pig must have erect and non-rounded ears ["Rules and Regulations.".] .

Landrace

Landrace pigs must be entirely white with no trace of any other color or spot of skin pigmentations. However, freckles and spots smaller than a U.S. quarter are permitted. Disqualification can occur when the ears are upright instead of down they may also be strange looking because of that ["Rules and Regulations."] .

Yorkshire

Like Landrace pigs, Yorkshire pigs, commonly known as Yorks, require entirely white bodies with no trace of any other color. While freckles are permitted, most breeders and judges do not approve of them because they are not typical of a purebred Yorkshire. Yorkshire pigs must have erect ears and slightly dished faces which means the faces are longer than other pigs and the eyes are set back farther than other breeds [Holden, Palmer J., and M. E. Ensminger, 40.] .

Duroc

Duroc breed characteristics include medium sized ears that are tipped down and a deep red color. A medium cherry red color is preferred; however the pig will not be disqualified for having lighter or darker shades of red. Disqualification can occur when white spots on the body, nose, and face are present because white is not a characteristic of the Duroc breed [Holden, Palmer J., and M. E. Ensminger, 32.] .

Blue Butts

One of the less popular breeds of showing but still are very big in smaller shows. Blue butts should be a white color except for freckles and spots. The freckles and spots should be around the head and eyes, back, and/or the butt. The spots around the back and/or butt should be at least the size of a quarter. Blue butts should have muscular shoulders and show properly.

how ethics

The most important part to showing pigs is showing respect to the judge and other exhibitors. Out of respect the person showing the pig should thank the judge after the show, even if they did not win. The desire to win has overtaken many people to the point that they cheat by giving their pig drugs to strengthen them or they hurt other people’s animals to help their rankings in the arena. Disqualification can occur when an owner wrongly places their pig into a purebred class when the animal is crossbred [Grebner, Grant. "It's a Red Light." The Pinnacle Dec 2001: 4.] . Along with disqualification, the breeder’s reputation can be tarnished.

Ethics in pig showing is managed by six character points: caring, respect, trustworthiness, fairness, responsibility, and citizenship. Caring consists of caring for the animal, helping other exhibitors, and thanking the judge for their time. Respect is keeping the animal comfortable and following rules and regulations set by the show’s directors. Pig owners needs to be trusted to follow the rules for ownership and registration. One of the main points of showing is to be considerate of other exhibitors, and be fair when talking about the show. Responsibility is important for exhibitors to train animals, care for the animal, and to read, understand and abide by all rules set by the show. Citizenship consists of sharing resources to others, help others in need, and to work with people with less experience [Schwab, Denise. "Ethics in Youth Livestock Program." fact sheet Pork Information Gateway Feb 2006 1-3. 04 Feb 2007 http://purdue.porkgateway.org] . It is important to follow the six character traits to promote the show, breeders, and person showing the animal.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.nationalswine.com/ National Swine Registry]
* [http://www.antwifarms.com/swinegenetic.shtml Swine Genetics Publications]
* [http://www.ces.purdue.edu/pork/ Purdue Pork Page]
* [http://www.babcockgenetics.com Babcock Genetics Inc.]