1. © 2001 AgriTeach.com, All Rights Reserved (20701ms)
Swine Production
© 2001 AgriTeach.com, All Rights Reserved (20701ms)

2. What are the common Breeds?
Hampshire
Duroc
Berkshire
Poland China
Chester White
Yorkshire
Landrace
Spotted
Cross-breeds

3. Major States in Production
5. MN
9. WI
8. SD
1. IA
2. IL
6. NE
3. IN
7. OH
4. MO

4. Production Weights Birth Weight Feeder Pigs Slaughter Pigs Mature Pigs
2-3 pounds
Feeder Pigs
30-75 pounds
Slaughter Pigs
pounds
Mature Pigs
Female (sow): pounds
Male (boar): pounds

5. Reproduction Normal Season of Birth Breeding Age Estrous
Spring or Fall - if left unregulated
Most producers vary breeding; becomes year round.
Breeding Age
8 months, pounds
Estrous
21 day length
2-3 day duration
Boar/Sow Ratios
1 boar to 15 sows on pasture
Gestation
days

6. Breeds of Swine

7. Breeds of Swine

8. Berkshire Black with white legs, snout and switch
Once kept at Buckingham Palace
Erect ears
Developed in England.
Came to U.S. in 1823.
Medium size hog
Erect ears, short

9. BERKSHIRE *BENEFITS Known for producing high quality meats
*Known as a “Terminal Breed”
*Growth and muscle
*Durable and rugged
*Marbling quality
Known for producing high quality meats

10. CHESTER All white body Short thick ears flopping forward
Originated in Chester County, Pennsylvania
White with drooped ears
Mothering breed
Known to produce large litters

11. Chester White Known as a “Dual purpose Breed” Growth
Durable and rugged

12. DUROC Known as a “Terminal Breed” Grow extremely fast
Durable and rugged
Excellent meat type hog
Developed in eastern U.S.
One of the most Popular breeds in
U.S.

13. Duroc Lean and meaty carcass Show breed Rate of gain
Short ears flopping forward or drooped ears
Originated in the United States
Solid red
Slight dish to the face

14. Hampshire Belted breed Black with a white belt
Used in crossbreeding programs
Originated in the United States
Probably the oldest American breed
Small, erect ears

15. HAMPSHIRE *Known as a “Terminal Breed” * Heavy muscled and lean
*Carcass merit, lean meat

16. Landrace Long bodied Used for crossbreeding Originated in Denmark
Long thin ears drooping or flopping forward
Known for their maternal instincts
All white body
Flatter-topped than other breeds

17. LANDRACE Maternal breed-known for mothering Known for length of body
One extra rib
Super lean

18. PIETRAIN BREED CHARACTERISTICS Spotted body-3/4 white 1/4 black.
Ears floppy, slightly tipped forward.
BENEFITS
Known as a”Terminal Breed”
Extreme Muscle and Leanness
Carcass oriented

19. Poland China Developed in Ohio Black with six white points.
Drooping ears.
One of the larger breeds of hogs.
Used in cross breeding programs.
Quiet dispositions
Generally poor mothers

20. POLAND CHINA Known as a “Terminal Breed” Growth Durable and rugged
Marbling quality
Noted for ability to easily gain weight

21. SPOT Known as a “Terminal Breed” Growth and leanness
Durable and rugged
Rapid weight gain
Efficient feeders

22. Spotted Breed Developed in Indiana
At least 20% of body must be either black or white.
Drooped ears pointed forward
First know as the spotted Poland China

23. Yorkshire Used for crossbreeding
Originated in England, Came to U.S. in 1800’s
White, Sometimes it has black freckles.
Large, erect ears

24. YORKSHIRE Maternal Breed-known as the “Mother Breed”
Known also as a “Dual purpose breed”
Leanness and muscle
Produces large litters
Bacon-type hog

25. Hereford Originated in Missouri
Developed from crossing Berkshires and Durocs
Red with white face, legs and underline
Medium-sized, drooping ear
Long neck

26. Tamworth Originated in Ireland Red in color A noted bacon breed
Deep-sided
Well-arched back
Erect ears
Good mothers
Very active

27. Swine
Female Pig
Sow

28. Swine
Male Pig
Boar

29. Swine Juvenile Pig Piglet or shoat Young Female Pig Gilt
Castrated Male Pig
Barrow

30. Swine
A sow carries her piglets for ________ months prior to farrowing.
four
What is farrowing?
Giving birth
An average piglet weighs _______ to ______ pounds.
2 to 3

31. Swine The average number in a litter of pigs? 8 to 10
A mature sow weighs about ________ and a mature boar weighs about _________ pounds.
500 and 700 lbs
Pigs eat what?
Corn, oats, milo, barley, & soybeans

32. Swine
How long does it take for a feeder pig to grow from 40 to 240 lbs?
41/2 to 6 months
What is a pig called when it reaches this weight?
Finishers or finishing pigs, slaughter pigs

33. Ear Notching System
The right ear (the pig's right, not yours) identifies the pig's litter number. 
Each pig from a particular litter will have the same notches on the right side. 
You can identify up to 161 litters using this notching system.

34. Ear Notching System
The left ear (the pig's left, not yours) identifies the individual pig number within the litter. 
Each pig in the littler will have different notchings in this ear.
A pig should not have more than 2 notches in each “location" of the ear!

35. That's all folks