Animal Science and the Industry Unit B

Identifying and Understanding the Segments of the Animal Science Industry Problem Area 2

Exploring the Swine Industry Lesson 3

Interest Approach Have a local hog producer bring in a small pig and have students ask specific questions about the pig, for example what they eat, what they are used for, and how to raise them. Call your local large animal vet, if you do not know some area producers. If you are unable to locate a real pig, you may use pictures of pigs and pig facilities to stimulate questions from the students.

Student Learning Objectives Locate major physical characteristics of swine. Describe common swine breeds. Explain selection of superior animals. Contrast various pork production systems and methods of marketing hogs.

Terms Barrow Boar Farrowing Feeder Pig Gilt Meatiness Meat-type hog Pedigree Piglet Porcine Stress Syndrome (PSS) Production testing Prolificacy Sow Specific pathogen free Type

Locate major physical characteristics of swine. Objective #1

What are the major parts of a hog? Terms Piglet a baby pig Barrow a male pig that was castrated at a young age Gilt a young female pig that has not given birth or farrowed Sow an older female pig Boar mature male hog

What are the major parts of a hog? Swine has been genetically modified by breeding practices to: have a strong bone structure raise a more of a meat-type hog lower in fat higher in leaner

What are the major parts of a hog?

Main use of swine is for meat 4 primary carcass cuts (most valuable meat) picnic shoulder ham loin Boston Shoulder Other carcass cuts (usually ground into sausage) jowl side hock

What are the major parts of a hog?

Describe common swine breeds. Objective #2

What are the common swine breeds and characteristics of the breeds? Terms Prolificacy the ability to produce large numbers of offspring Meat-type hog hog that produces the greatest amount of high value meat cuts

Originated in the United States color is varying shades of red droopy ears good mothering ability efficient feed converters fast growth rate prolificacy a meat-type hog

Originated in England black hogs with a white belt that encircles the forepart of body, starting behind head and neck erect ears foraging ability leanness of carcass muscling used as show animals or in crossbreeding programs

Originated in Yorkshire, England color is white, can have black freckles long bodies erect ears large litters good mothering ability good feed efficiency rapid growth used as bacon-type hogs or in crossbreeding programs

Hereford Originated from the Poland China, Duroc and other breeds color is red with a white face droopy ears prolific good mothering ability foraging ability National Hereford Hog Record Association Rt. 1 Box 37, Flandreau, SD

Berkshire Originated in Berkshire & Wiltshire Counties in England color is black with 6 white points (feet, tail, snout) erect ears medium-sized hog lean carcass American Berkshire Association P.O. Box 2436 West Lafayette, Indiana (317)

Poland China Originated in Ohio color is black with six white points (feet, tail, & face drooping ears large breed produces carcasses with large loin eyes very little back fat commonly used in crossbreeding programs Poland China Record Association P.O. Box 9758 Peoria, Illinois (309)

Explain selection of superior animals. Objective #3

How do I know which hogs are better than others? Terms Specific pathogen free (SPF) these swine are free from diseases at birth Porcine Stress Syndrome (PSS) an inherited neuromuscular disease in heavily muscled animals Type means that you are trying to find an animal that is close to ideal as possible

How do I know which hogs are better than others? More terms Meatiness describes how much meat and fat an animal has pedigree a record of ancestry or heredity Production testing the best way to evaluate and make predictions on an animal’s potential to be productive

How do I know which hogs are better than others? Selection will vary based on your personal preference and production needs buying wrong animals could lead to failure of your business Things to look for: size health type pedigree production testing

How do I know which hogs are better than others? Health of animals is very important You want to purchase animals that are disease free purchase animals from a SPF herd herds should be certified brucellosis & pseudorabies free never buy swine from herds that do not herd health information available from the seller test for PSS observe animals for parasites & diseases isolate animals with problems to avoid spreading

How do I know which hogs are better than others? Select for type meatiness genetic defects PSS pedigree avoid genetic defects if research pedigrees

How do I know which hogs are better than others? Swine registries have production testing for purebred animals characteristics include in registries offspring health appearance back fat ability to grow quickly reproductive qualities if breed standards are met

Contrast various pork production systems and methods of marketing hogs. Objective #4

What are the different production systems and how do they work? Terms Farrowing process of a female pig giving birth Feeder pigs a pig that has been weaned and weighs approximately 40 pounds

What are the different production systems and how do they work? Before the type of operation can be selected must look at your operation for: existing buildings feed storage facilities

Sow and Litter Systems Pigs are farrowed and fed up to slaughter weight at the same farm confinement or pasture systems most common swine operations

Sow and Litter Systems Confinement Advantages pigs can be marketed throughout the year less labor income throughout the year Disadvantage expensive startup costs Pasture Advantage lower initial investment Disadvantages more labor intense production might be limited depending on season

Purebred System produces breeding stock that others producers will use in their systems requires intense management registration paperwork least common operation less than 1% of all hogs raised in the U.S. are registered purebreds purebreds are extremely important because of breed improvements

Purebred Systems To be a purebred producer you must know: a great deal about genetics showing & promotion of your breed Purebred Producers are working to: create animals that will meet consumer demands

Feeder Pig Production System breed & farrow litters of piglets this systems farrows and weans and sells the feeder pigs keeps a breeding herd of sows that farrow between 14 to 16 piglets each minimal investment is required must mange to keep a steady supply of feeder pigs to sell less feed is required in this system

Finishing Feeder-Pig System operations that buy feeder pigs and feed them until they are market weight approximately 240 pounds profit is based upon how much feed it takes to produce 1 pound of pork the less feed it takes the more profit balancing feed rations is very important in this system

Review What are the major parts of a hog? What are the common swine breeds and characteristics of the breed? How do I know which hogs are better than others? What are the different production systems and how do they work?