Swine Evaluation

Industry Trends Late 1990’s “Extremes” Current “Productive” Very Large Framed Extremely Lean Very Heavy Muscled Productivity not a Focus Structural Correctness not a Focus Current “Productive” Moderate + Frame Moderate Leanness Heavy Muscled, but not at Expense of Structure Skeletal Width Soundness

What will we know? Swine anatomy Correct skeletal structure Where to look for body volume and width Where to look to determine muscle and leanness Where growth indicators are Balance differences Priorities for breeding and market swine evaluation

Swine Anatomy Upper Skeleton Front Skeleton Rear Skeleton 2 basic segments dividing top from bottom… 3 basic segments from the side… Center Skeleton (Body) Front Skeleton Rear Skeleton Upper Skeleton Lower Skeleton

Front Skeleton Anatomy Ears Crest of Neck Chine Blade Neck Face Always start at the ground! Elbow Forearm Knee Declaws, pastern, foot

Front Skeleton Anatomy Always start at the ground! Chest Floor Knee Foot

Front Skeleton Anatomy Crest of Neck Blade Chine

Center Skeleton Anatomy Ham Loin Junction Loin Rear Rib Center Rib Fore Rib Flank Sheath

Center Skeleton Anatomy Spine Blade Loin Rib Shape Ham Loin Junction

Always start at the ground! Rear Skeleton Anatomy Tail Hip Ham Testicles Stifle Always start at the ground! Hock Declaws, pastern, foot

Always start at the ground! Rear Skeleton Anatomy Ham Loin Junction Tail Hip Ham Testicles Always start at the ground! Hock Foot

Female Anatomy Vulva Underline

Swine Anatomy How many areas do we divide the skeleton into from the side, and what are their names? 3 – Front, Center, and Rear What are the names of the 2 ways the skeleton is divided between top and bottom? Upper and Lower

What do we know? Swine anatomy Correct skeletal structure Where to look for body volume and width Where to look to determine muscle and leanness Where growth indicators are Balance differences Priorities for breeding and market swine evaluation

Quick Facts About Structure Top priority for breeding gilts – part of functionality High priority for market swine – part of practicality Evaluating structure from the ground up is critical Most swine are raised on concrete or wire flooring – correct structure is essential!

Structure Why is structure so important? Modern production methods On some type of confinement flooring entire life Concrete, slats, etc… Spend 42 days a year in a farrowing crate

Housing

Housing

Swine Structure Desirable Skeleton

Swine Structure Undesirable Skeleton

Swine Structure Desirable Skeleton

Swine Structure Undesirable Skeleton

Differences in Structure Front Skeleton Even toes and correct angle to pastern Long and weak pastern “Flat Footed” Upright and straight pastern ”Rigid”

Differences in Structure Front Skeleton Correct curve and set to knee Knee is correct even with weak pastern Knee coming forward due to upright pastern

Differences in Structure Front Skeleton Correct angle to blade Very slight upright angle to blade Extremely upright angle to blade

Differences in Structure Front Skeleton Even toes, feet point forward Uneven toes, feet point in “Pigeon Toed” Uneven toes, feet point out “Toes Out”

Differences in Structure Center Skeleton Level and flexible spine High and tight spine

Differences in Structure Rear Skeleton Level hip and correct set to hock and pastern Somewhat level hip and straight set to hock and pastern Steep hip and extra set to hock (sickle hocked)

Differences in Structure Rear Skeleton Correct hock placement “True and Square” In at his hock “Cow Hocked”

Differences in Structure Desirable Undesirable

Swine Structure Where does structure rank as a priority for breeding gilts? 1st, in combination with volume and width, and acceptable growth it is a part of functionality Is structure important for market swine? Yes, it is a high priority because it is the last part of carcass value we evaluate. Draw the correct angles of a skeleton on the next slide.

Draw the Skeleton

What do we know? Swine anatomy Correct skeletal structure Where to look for body volume and width Where to look to determine muscle and leanness Where growth indicators are Balance differences Priorities for breeding and market swine evaluation

Quick Facts About Body Volume and Width Top priority for breeding gilts – part of functionality High priority for market swine – part of practicality High volume breeding gilts tend to be more functional when farrowing than narrow, tight ribbed gilts High volume market hogs tend to be more productive and practical than narrow, tight ribbed hogs

Body Volume and Width Three Areas Skeletal Width Depth of Body Rib Shape Chest Width Base Width

Which hog is wider chested? Body Volume and Width Which hog is wider chested?

Which hog is wider chested? Body Volume and Width Which hog is wider chested?

Which hog is square from blade and chest to the knee and ground? Body Volume and Width Which hog is square from blade and chest to the knee and ground?

Which hog is square from blade and chest to the knee and ground? Body Volume and Width Which hog is square from blade and chest to the knee and ground?

Which hog is wider and more genuine in his base width? Body Volume and Width Which hog is wider and more genuine in his base width?

Which hog is wider and more genuine in his base width? Body Volume and Width Which hog is wider and more genuine in his base width?

Which hog is squarer from hock to ground? Body Volume and Width Which hog is squarer from hock to ground?

Which hog is squarer from hock to ground? Body Volume and Width Which hog is squarer from hock to ground?

Body Volume and Width Which hog is deeper bodied, softer flanked, and appears to have more rib shape, making him have more body volume?

Body Volume and Width Which hog is deeper bodied, softer flanked, and appears to have more rib shape, making him have more body volume?

Which hog is flat ribbed? Body Volume and Width Which hog is flat ribbed?

Which hog is flat ribbed? Body Volume and Width Which hog is flat ribbed?

Body Volume and Width What are the areas we consider for volume and width? Chest and base, depth of rib, and shape of rib Body volume and width are parts of what top priority trait in gilts? Functionality Body volume and width are parts of what high priority trait in market hogs? Practicality

What do we know? Swine anatomy Correct skeletal structure Where to look for body volume and width Where to look to determine muscle and leanness Where growth indicators are Balance differences Priorities for breeding and market swine evaluation

Quick Facts About Muscle and Leanness Top priority for market swine – part of carcass value Moderate priority for breeding gilts Muscularity and optimal leanness are required for a market hog to be considered “good” High volume, wide made hogs tend to be muscular and have optimal leanness, but not always. Need to study shape!

Muscle Evaluation Forearm and Blade Top (Loin) Hip Base width

Differences in Muscle Extremely shapely, heavy muscled and wide based Vs. Narrow Base, flat, tapering ham and non-descript muscle shape

Evaluating Leanness Blade Top Line Jowl Seam of Ham Elbow Pocket Lower Skeleton

Differences in Leanness Too lean to be practical. Very raw, reads with total body leanness. Too fat to have carcass value. Over finished, wasty design. Just about right! Lean, but still has a productive center.

Differences in Leanness Look for the hour glass, not the canoe!

Muscle and Leanness Where does muscle and optimal leanness rank for evaluating market hogs? 1st, market hogs must have carcass value Where does it rank for breeding gilts? Moderate priority, most hogs with high volume and width will have muscle, just need to make sure they are lean enough, and won’t take away from the offspring

What do we know? Swine anatomy Correct skeletal structure Where to look for body volume and width Where to look to determine muscle and leanness Where growth indicators are Balance differences Priorities for breeding and market swine evaluation

Quick Facts About Growth Most market hogs are sold between 250-290 pounds Most market hogs are sold based on how much muscle and fat they have, but weight makes up about 80% of the check Skeletal size is the main contributor to how quickly hogs start becoming fat Growth is important for both breeding gilts and market hogs

Areas of Evaluation Growth and Frame Size Face and Neck Height at top of blades Length of body Length of cannon

Which hog appears to have more growth? Differences Growth Which hog appears to have more growth?

Growth Where does growth rank as a priority? Why is growth important? It is high for both market and breeding hogs Why is growth important? Weight contributes to a large portion of the value of hogs, and skeletal size contributes to when hogs start becoming fat

What do we know? Swine anatomy Correct skeletal structure Where to look for body volume and width Where to look to determine muscle and leanness Where growth indicators are Balance differences Priorities for breeding and market swine evaluation

Quick Facts About Balance Vital for show ring and seedstock success, but not very important in the commercial industry Balance is more important in breeding gilts than in market hogs Balance is what sorts hogs that have all of the high and top priority traits Well balanced market hogs without the fundamental priorities can’t be “good”, they can only be well balanced

Balance Awful balance, short and low fronted, high topped, steep hipped, high flanked, and frail boned. Good balanced, tall and long fronted, level top line, high tail set, deep full flank, and bone that matches her body type.

What do we know? Swine anatomy Correct skeletal structure Where to look for body volume and width Where to look to determine muscle and leanness Where growth indicators are Balance differences Priorities for breeding and market swine evaluation

What are the priorities? Breeding Gilts Market Hogs Functionality = Structure + Volume and Width + Acceptable Growth Power Balance Carcass Value = Muscle + Optimal Leanness + Acceptable Growth Practicality = Structure + Volume and Width Balance

What do we know? Swine anatomy Correct skeletal structure Where to look for body volume and width Where to look to determine muscle and leanness Where growth indicators are Balance differences Priorities for breeding and market swine evaluation

Questions?