Spot pig for showing?

[cherrynberry]

I also plan to show a pig in my 4H county fair this year. Side, top, and back/front profile pictures are best for judging conformation. And yes, barrows can’t be shown again, a year later. You can, however, auction him off any time. Pigs can and will gain 1-2lbs a day if allowed. When judging pigs, ALWAYS start from the bottom up. The feet are the most important. Muscle can be worked at, skin/hair can be worked at, but bone density/structure can’t.

When is your fair? How heavy are the shoats you are looking at?

 

[Poka_Doodle]

Looking at the pasterns, he doesn't look bad. He might be a tad back on them, but I would rather that then the opposite. He looks good to me on the leg structure.

 

[CaliFarmsAR]

Looking at the pasterns, he doesn't look bad. He might be a tad back on them, but I would rather that then the opposite. He looks good to me on the leg structure.

Thank you!

 

[CaliFarmsAR]

I also plan to show a pig in my 4H county fair this year. Side, top, and back/front profile pictures are best for judging conformation. And yes, barrows can’t be shown again, a year later. You can, however, auction him off any time. Pigs can and will gain 1-2lbs a day if allowed. When judging pigs, ALWAYS start from the bottom up. The feet are the most important. Muscle can be worked at, skin/hair can be worked at, but bone density/structure can’t.

When is your fair? How heavy are the shoats you are looking at?

My fair is in September! I’m not sure how heavy they are.

 

[cherrynberry]

My fair is in September! I’m not sure how heavy they are.

What date? If you get a pig that’s too light, you’re really gonna need to make sure it’s eating. Make sure to have ivermectin (injectable) and safeguard. Personally, I deworm every 30 days. Have you ever given a hog a shot? Well, it’s not easy and they will scream and run. Might be a good idea to have helpers and a snare. I like to give electrolytes in their water for the first couple of days after their move. Make sure you have a good rice brush and a soft brush. The rice brush is a MUST. Not sure what you can find in your area, but I really love leave-in conditioners. My favorite being Pink. Shampoo can be any soft baby shampoo. Wash your pig on warmer days and brush every day. I condition whenever the pig’s skin looks dry. You also need access to a pig weight….guessing isn’t really a good idea. Do you know what your fair weight minimum-maximum is? What class are you aiming to show in? Oh and walking…an absolute MUST. I can’t stress this enough. Make sure you are walking your pig and getting it used to a show stick (use the same brand you are bringing to fair). I am currently walking my pig an hour a day, but I slowly worked up to it. The show stick is not meant to hurt them, just annoy them enough to get a response. Make sure you look at show ring rules. I recommend going to a pig show before your fair just to get a feel for what it’s like. Having a show pig is a lot of work, but one of the most rewarding things ever. Heck, this is my first year and I am already obsessed with hogs. It’s an obsession I didn’t think I would have. Really gonna miss my gilt.

Wishing you the best! Good luck on your showing journey.