Selection and Judging of Swine

University:
Sam Houston State University
Course:
BIOL 1406 | General Biology I
Academic year:

2019
Views:

102

Pages:

10
Author:

CometConductor

Selection and Judging of Swine Objectives Identifying Parts of a Live Hog Select High-quality Breeding Stock Correctly Place and Give Oral Reason for Placing a Ring of Four Market Hogs. Parts of Live Hog Ear neck shoulder back loin rump tail Ham eye face Stifle Hock Fore rib fore flank Belly Jowl front leg knee pastern Forearm rear flank Rear leg Dew Claw Foot Selecting a Herd Boar Factors to consider in selecting the herd boar Reproductive soundness  Type and quality  Performance testing results  Pedigree Health  Age  Show ring performance  Reproductive Soundness  Select a boar that has visibly sound reproductive organs.  The testicles should be well developed and of equal size.  Do not select boars that have umbilical or scrotal hernias.  Select boars that are aggressive and show a desire to mate. Type and Quality A boar that has traits of the meaty hog  Length, loin-eye area and back fat have high heritability  Look for soundness of feet and legs  Flat underline, trimness and muscling  Frame and body capacity Performance Testing Typically 2 or three from the same litter will be tested Age at 230 pounds  Amount of back fat  Average daily gain  Feed efficiency  Carcass quality  Loin-eye area  Weaning weight  Pedigree A pedigree shows the ancestry of the boar.  It can be helpful in determining the potential breeding value of the boar.  You can possibly check performance testing on close ancestors. Health  You should check the health of the herd from where the boar comes.  Buy only healthy boars from healthy herds.  Boar should have a negative blood test for brucellosis, leptospirosis, and pseudorabies.  He should be vaccinated for erysipelas.  Should be free of external and internal parasites. Age  Boars should not be used for breeding purposes before they are nine months of age.  Replacement boars should be bought 60 to 90 days before using.