Swine Handbook Swine Handbook Basics Basics

Swine Handbook
Basics
Background Basics
A breed is defined as a group of
animals with a common origin
which are distinguished by
characteristics within a specie.
Breed character is defined as the
characteristics that allow the
breed of the individual animal to
be easily determined.
There are eight major breeds of hogs. The three most common are the Yorkshires, Durocs
and Hampshires. The Yorkshires are the most popular breed and are white with large, erect
ears. The Duroc breed are red hogs with droopy ears and are known for their fast growth
rate. Hampshires are meaty black hogs with a white belt around their shoulder and erect
ears. The Berkshire breed are black hogs with six white points (nose, tail and legs), they have
erect ears and a short, dished snout. The Poland China breed is marked like the Berkshires
(Black with white nose, tail and legs), but they have droopy ears. The Landrace breed are
white hogs with very large, floppy ears and are known for their mothering ability. The Chester
White breed are also white and known for mothering potential, but have medium sized,
droopy ears. The Spotted Swine breed are white hogs with prominent black spots.
$ = The ham and loin

comprise 58% of the
hog’s value.
Exploring Swine Introduction Did You Know?
Pork is one of our favorite meats in the United States. It is

When you start your swine project, you will become part
high in vitamins and minerals and is very tasty also. Fresh
of an industry that returns millions of dollars to swine
pork contains 15-20 percent high quality protein and is a
producers each year.
rich source of energy. It is an excellent source of
phosphorus and iron, as well as one of the richest
Facts About Hogs sources of the vitamin B group, especially thiamine,
riboflavin, niacin and vitamin B 12.
Did you know that the pig is the oldest farm animal?
Bone scientists have found fossils that indicate that the Pork is highly digestible; 97 percent of the meat protein
hog is 40 million years old. In fact, he is the oldest farm and 95 of the meat fats are digested. Pork can be
mammal. cured and kept for a long time. It can also be preserved
for a long time by proper packaging and freezing.
Hogs are raised in almost every country in the world and
in all 50 states. Hogs can be raised as a main source of One-third of the meat eaten in the United States comes
income or as a supplemental income. In fact, income from hogs. Hog meat is called pork. Some pork is sold as
from hogs makes up approximately 10 percent of the fresh cuts such as pork chops, sausage, and roast. Pigs
farmer's income. are not all "pork chops". You can only get 120 to 130
pounds of retail cuts from a 210 pound pig. This means
The swine industry is a multi-million dollar industry. Hogs that only about 60 percent of the pig can be sold as
are very prolific; a sow can have two litters of pigs a retail cuts.
year. The average litter size is 7.5 pigs, and it is not
uncommon for a sow to have 12-14 pigs per litter. The Pork that is cured is sold as cured ham, picnic ham,
gestation period of a sow (from the time she is bred until Boston Butt roast, and bacon.
she farrows) is 114 days. A sow can have her first litter at
approximately one year of age.
Parts of the Hog
1. Snout 7. Shoulder 13. Loin 20. Hock

2. Eye 8. Front Leg (Foreleg) 14. Rump 21. Stifle
3. Face 9. Forearm 15. Fore Flank (Front Flank) 22.Pastern
4. Ear 10. Chest 16. Belly 23. Dew Claw
5. Jowl 11. Forerib 17. Rear Flank (Back Flank) 24. Feet or Toes
6. Neck 12. Back 18. Ham 25. Tail
19. Rear Leg (Hindleg) 26. Side
Americans eat approximately 70 -78 pounds of pork per Glossary
person per year. The swine enterprise gives us several
other products that we use every day besides meat. Did Barrow: A male pig castrated before he reaches maturity.
you know that these products (an d many others) are
made using parts of hogs? Bone for china, rennet for Boar: A male swine.
making cheese, stearin for making chewing gum and
candies, glycerin for explosives, hides and skins for Breed: To mate.
leather good, gelatin for marshmallows , photographic
film. Bred: Has mated.
Now that you have explored the history and benefits of Carcass: The dressed (body) slaughtered for food.
swine, let's go through the steps of selecting a pig for
Castrated: To remove the testicles from the male pig.
your 4-H project. You will need to get ready before you
bring your pig home. You will need a place to put him,
Crossbred: Swine with sire and dam of different breeds.
such as a pen with some available shade. Fifteen square
feet per pig is necessary. You will also need other Cured: To prepare for keeping or use; as by drying, salting.
equipment such as feed buckets, feeder or feed trough,
water trough, wheelbarrow, and shovel, dewormer, and Dam: Female parent.
sprays for lice and mites. Rubb er boots are also good to
have. Estrous cycle: The regular intervals between heat periods.
The intervals are usually 19 to 21 days with the
The truck used to bring him home should be clean with average sow, if she has not conceived previously.
straw or wet sand for bedding. It should be secure so the
pig cannot jump out. When you are ready to buy, take Farrow: Giving birth to pigs.
along someone who knows pigs. You would be better off
to buy a pig from a commercial or purebred farm in your Gestation period: The time between mating and birth.
area. This way you know your pig has been
Gilt: Female pig under one year of age that has not farrowed
treated and what he has been fed.
a litter of pigs.
When do you buy your pig? How old should he be? How
Heat period or estrus: The time when a gilt or sow desires to
much should he weigh? Use the following guide to figure be mated with a boar. The heat period lasts two or
it all out: three days.
If you buy a pig weighing this much: Hog: A grown pig.

30 lbs.
40 lbs. Lactating period: The period of time the pigs are nursing.
50 lbs.
Litter: Offspring produced at one farrowing.
It should take about this long before he is ready to show.
140 days Pig: Small, young swine of either sex, usually less than eight
124 days weeks old.
113 days
Purebred: Both sire and dam are registered with the Breed
Association and are of the same breed.
Of course, your pig may gain a little faster or slower,
depending on his ability and your care. Shote: Pig after weaning of either sex. Usually weighs less
than 100 pounds.
Keep in touch with your leader and county agent.
Add about a week to the days above to take care of Sire: Male parent.
delays and weight loss due to moving. By counting
back from the show date, you can tell when you Sow: Female pig over one year of age that has farrowed a
need to start your project. litter of pigs.

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Swine Handbook

$ = The ham and loin

Pork is one of our favorite meats in the United States. It is

Parts of the Hog

1. Snout 7. Shoulder 13. Loin 20. Hock

If you buy a pig weighing this much: Hog: A grown pig.

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