Pig shows are an event where pigs are evaluated for their quality. They are evaluated on a multitude of things which include composition (muscle vs. fat), capaciousness, and skeletal integrity along with general appearance and conformation to their respective breed. Other names for a pig show include swine show and hog show. A pig show is frequently part of a larger agricultural show.
Pig shows began on farms where the owner and other pig farmers would gather to decide which pig had the best qualities for breeding. These would not be named pig shows, but ultimately they were making a decision on which animals to retain to breed. Eventually, breeders would meet at a specified location and bring an outside person to evaluate their pigs, and to order them in a ranking. These were the first shows.
A show is typically divided up into classes so that the judge can study fewer pigs at a time. Typically these classes are broken down to the breed of pig, weight, or age. There are division or breed champions and reserve champions. Then ultimately, an overall grand champion will be chosen. [1]
Swine judging is the process of selectively ordering swine or domestic pigs in order to determine the best pig. For market hogs, traits are ranked in order of their importance: Degree of muscling, growth, capacity or volume, degree of leanness, structure and soundness. [2] For breeding gilts, the traits by order of importance are: Structure and soundness, Growth, Underline quality, Capacity or volume, Degree of muscling, Degree of leanness. [3]
A judge will have different priorities and rank importance of certain traits differently than other judges. Judges are selected because they are typically influential breeders within the show pig industry.
| Name of Pig Show | Location |
|---|---|
| North American International Livestock Exposition | Louisville, Kentucky |
| World Pork Expo and Junior Event | Des Moines, Iowa |
| Summer Type Conference and National Junior Summer Spectacular | Louisville, Kentucky |
| Southeast Type Conference | Perry, Georgia |
| Summer Type Conference (CPS) | Springfield, Illinois |
| Oklahoma Youth Expo | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
| Southwest Type Conference | Belton, Texas |
| Southwest Hampshire Type Conference | Sweetwater, Texas |
| National Barrow Show | Austin, Minnesota |
Show pig breeds in the United States
| Berkshire |
| Chester White |
| Duroc |
| Hampshire |
| Hereford |
| Landrace |
| Poland China |
| Spot |
| Tamworth |
| Yorkshire |
| Cross Bred |
In China, the first pig show was the Guangdong Breeding Pigs Auction which began January 18, 1996. [4] Most pig shows in china are pig-breeding auctions. More than 10 provinces have in the past hosted these pig-breeding auctions, but only two provinces (Guangdong Province and Hubei Province) still host it. [5]
| Name of Pig Show | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Guangdong Pig Industry Expo(Chinese: 广东省养猪产业博览会) | Guangzhou, Guangdong Province | June 16 – June 18 and December 16 – December 18, twice per year |
| Hubei Breeding Pigs Auction(Chinese: 湖北种猪测定拍卖会) | Wuhan, Hubei Province | October 17 – October 18, once per year |
In Australia, The Sydney Royal Easter Show Competition is held annually. The Sydney Royal Easter Show is one of the largest and most prestigious pig shows in Australia. It is held in Sydney, at the Paddington Pavilion. Pigs were exhibited at the first Sydney Royal Easter Show in 1858 and the pig competition has been held at nearly every show since. Exhibitors that compete at the Sydney Royal Pig Show are often from small family-based Stud farms. [6]
Pig breeds exhibited include: Berkshire (pig), Duroc (pig), Hampshire (pig), American Landrace, Large White pig, Tamworth pig Wessex Saddleback pig.
A pig is any of the animals in the genus Sus, within the even-toed ungulate family Suidae. Pigs include domestic pigs and their ancestor, the common Eurasian wild boar, along with other species. Pigs, like all suids, are native to the Eurasian and African continents, ranging from Europe to the Pacific islands. Suids other than the pig are the babirusa of Indonesia, the pygmy hog of Asia, the warthog of Africa, and another genus of pigs from Africa. The suids are a sister clade to peccaries.
Intensive pig farming, also known as pig factory farming is a subset of pig farming and of Industrial animal agriculture, all of which are types of animal husbandry, in which livestock domestic pigs are raised up to slaughter weight. These operations are known as AFO or CAFO in the U.S. In this system of pig production, grower pigs are housed indoors in group-housing or straw-lined sheds, whilst pregnant sows are housed in gestation crates or pens and give birth in farrowing crates.
Selective breeding is the process by which humans use animal breeding and plant breeding to selectively develop particular phenotypic traits (characteristics) by choosing which typically animal or plant males and females will sexually reproduce and have offspring together. Domesticated animals are known as breeds, normally bred by a professional breeder, while domesticated plants are known as varieties, cultigens, cultivars, or breeds. Two purebred animals of different breeds produce a crossbreed, and crossbred plants are called hybrids. Flowers, vegetables and fruit-trees may be bred by amateurs and commercial or non-commercial professionals: major crops are usually the provenance of the professionals.
Breeding back is a form of artificial selection by the deliberate selective breeding of domestic animals, in an attempt to achieve an animal breed with a phenotype that resembles a wild type ancestor, usually one that has gone extinct. Breeding back is not to be confused with dedomestication.
A Hanoverian is a thoroughbred horse breed originating in Germany, which is often seen in the Olympic Games and other competitive English riding styles, and has won gold medals in all three equestrian Olympic competitions. It is one of the oldest, most numerous, and most successful of the Thoroughbreds breeds. Originally a carriage horse, infusions of more Thoroughbred blood lightened it to make it more agile and useful for competition. The Hanoverian is known for a good temperament, athleticism, beauty, and grace.
An agricultural show is a public event exhibiting the equipment, animals, sports and recreation associated with agriculture and animal husbandry. The largest comprise a livestock show, a trade fair, competitions, and entertainment. The work and practices of farmers, animal fanciers, cowboys, and zoologists may be displayed. The terms agricultural show and livestock show are synonymous with the North American terms county fair and state fair.
First held in 1823, the Sydney Royal Easter Show, commonly shortened to The Easter Show or The Show, is an annual show held in Sydney, Australia over two weeks around the Easter period. It comprises an agricultural show, an amusement park and a fair and combines the elements of each, showcasing the judging of livestock and produce. The Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales is responsible for the event. Queen Victoria awarded the society and its show the right to use the word "Royal" in its name.
A livestock show is an event where livestock are exhibited and judged on certain phenotypical breed traits as specified by their respective breed standard. Species of livestock that may be shown include pigs, cattle, sheep, goats, horses, llamas and alpacas. Poultry such as chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys and pigeons are also shown competitively. A livestock show may be part of an agricultural show.
The domestic pig, often called swine, hog, or simply pig when there is no need to distinguish it from other pigs, is a large, domesticated, even-toed ungulate. It is variously considered a subspecies of the Eurasian boar or a distinct species. The domestic pig's head-plus-body length ranges from 0.9 to 1.8 m, and adult pigs typically weigh between 50 and 350 kg, with well-fed individuals often exceeding this weight range. The size and weight of hogs largely depends on their breed. Compared to other artiodactyls, a pig's head is relatively long, pointed, and free of warts. Most even-toed ungulates are herbivorous, but domestic pigs are omnivores, like their wild relative.
The Hawaiian Poi Dog is an extinct breed of pariah dog from Hawaiʻi which was used by Native Hawaiians as a spiritual protector of children and as a source of food.
A gestation crate, also known as a sow stall, is a metal enclosure in which a farmed sow used for breeding may be kept during pregnancy. A standard crate measures 6.6 ft x 2.0 ft.
Savaging is a term used in the study of ethology that refers to aggressive behaviour displayed by the mother towards the offspring. Aggressive behaviour includes being rough with, injuring, biting, attacking, crushing and killing of the offspring. While savaging behaviour has been seen in multiple species, it is predominantly demonstrated in domestic pigs. As the definition of savaging is so broad, research on the prevalence of savaging behaviour varies with reports of little savaging of offspring to savaging of offspring up to the 20th percentile. Prevalence of aggressive, non-fatal savaging is greater in gilts as piglet-focused aggression is more frequent in young animals than sows. Occurrence of savaging demonstrated by sows is greater if the sow has previously savaged her offspring either as a gilt or sow. Savaging behaviour usually occurs during the first two days after parturition. Prevalence of savaging is similar among first and second farrowing cycles. Savaging behaviour has a significant impact on both agricultural economy and animal welfare which is why it is currently a subject of interest in the pig industry.
The Livestock Conservancy, formerly known as the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC) and prior to that, the American Minor Breeds Conservancy, is a nonprofit organization focused on preserving and promoting rare breeds, also known as "heritage breeds" of livestock. Founded in 1977, through the efforts of livestock breed enthusiasts concerned about the disappearance of many of the US's heritage livestock breeds, the Conservancy was the pioneer livestock preservation organization in the United States, and remains a leading organization in that field. It has initiated programs that have saved multiple breeds from extinction, and works closely with similar organizations in other countries, including Rare Breeds Canada. With 3,000 members, a staff of nine and a 19-member board of directors, the organization has an operating budget of almost half a million dollars.
Pig farming is the raising and breeding of domestic pigs as livestock, and is a branch of animal husbandry. Pigs are farmed principally for food and skins.
Pale, Soft, Exudative meat, or PSE meat, describes a carcass quality condition known to occur in pork, beef, and poultry. It is characterized by an abnormal color, consistency, and water holding capacity, making the meat dry and unattractive to consumers. The condition is believed to be caused by abnormal muscle metabolism following slaughter, due to an altered rate of glycolysis and a low pH within the muscle fibers. A mutation point in the ryanodine receptor gene (RYR1) in pork, associated to stress levels prior to slaughter are known to increase the incidence of PSE meat. Although the term "soft" may look positive, it refers to raw meat. When cooked, there is higher cook loss and the final product is hard, not juicy.
In reaction to the 2009 flu pandemic, governments around the world have responded with sometimes extreme reactions against pigs, which has included the official extermination of all domestic pigs in Egypt and the culling of three wild boars at the Baghdad Zoo in Iraq. Many of these slaughters occurred in Muslim countries, and religious restrictions on the consumption of pork have been cited as influencing the decision to take such action. Many other countries have banned international trade in pigs and pork products.
Miniature pig—known by other terms that erroneously, disproportionately describe size—is used to refer to small breeds of domestic pig, such as Vietnamese Pot-Bellied pigs, Göttingen minipigs, Juliana pigs, Choctaw hogs or Kunekunes. Notable features of most miniature pigs distinguishing them from other pigs may be defined by their possession of small, perked-back ears, a pot belly, a swayed back, a chubby figure, a rounded head, a short snout, short legs, a short neck and a short tail with thick hair at the end. Typically, most breeds of miniature pigs will range from the minimum weight of 20 pounds (9.1 kg) to 65 pounds (29 kg).
The Ossabaw Island hog or Ossabaw Island is a breed of pig derived from a population of feral pigs on Ossabaw Island, Georgia, United States. The original Ossabaw hogs are descended from swine released on the island in the 16th century by Spanish explorers. A breeding population has been established on American farms off the island, but they remain a critically endangered variety of pig.
The Taihu pig is a domestic breed of pig from the narrow region of mild sub-tropical climate around the Lake Tai region in the lower Yangtze River Valley of China. The breed is a large one, black in colour with a heavily wrinkled face. It has a large head with a broad forehead and large folded ears. The breed has a number of divisions, classified by some authors as strains and by others as separate breeds.
Given the variety of diseases prevalent in swine production, both in the United States and abroad, it is important to understand the risks associated with organic swine production. Overall numbers for certified organic livestock remain low compared to the overall U.S. swine numbers, with approximately 12,000 animals in 2011. However, since 1992, stocks have increased dramatically, with an annual growth rate of 20 percent in total U.S. organic stock. Additionally, there are thousands of non-certified organic swine herds which are not accounted in official statistics, but where farmers still use organic production practices. Consumer demand, stemming from the larger organic agriculture movement has helped spurred growth in this industry. The overall segment, although minuscule compared to the conventional national average, still represents a strong and growing segment in U.S. pork production. The definition of organic swine according to the USDA National Organic Program (NOP), is largely unchanged:
