Pigs

Commercially mixed pig feed contains corn as its main ingredient. Shelled corn is a very cost effective feed for your hogs and generally comes dried in 50-lb. sacks. Shelled corn needs some...

Hog rings are an efficient way to make sure your pigs stay in their pens. Pigs love to root in the ground and have a tendency to root up an entire fence if you let them. A hog roots with its nose...

Hog fencing panels make excellent pens for hogs and every other type of livestock. A hog panel is 16 feet long and 34 inches tall. Made from galvanized steel, they can stand up to the rooting...

Knowing the approximate weight of your pigs is important to ensure proper growth, to help monitor their general health, to make sure they are on the right pig food, and to help gauge when you...

When my husband and I purchased our hobby farm over 10 years ago, we almost immediately started to raise feeder pigs. Raising feeder pigs simply means purchasing the pigs after they are born and...

Unless your pig is confined to your house for long periods of time, it should go outside to potty. This is not always possible, because many pig owners work away from their homes all day. Also,...

Pigs are highly intelligent, omnivorous animals. Like most mammals, pigs give birth to live young that drink milk produced by the mother. Pigs are social animals, living and reproducing in herds...

Swine flu is a respiratory disease caused by the type A influenza virus that primarily affects pigs. The disease is rarely spread to humans but, according to the CDC, pigs can catch both human and...

The pig embryo begins to develop from the moment of conception--the time when the boar's sperm penetrates the cell walls of the sow's ova. Within 14 to 16 hours, the single fertilized cell has...

Pigs are a versatile animal. You may raise them for food, house or farm pets or breeding. Therefore pigs have body parts related to both anatomy and for food.

The classic way to remove hair from a hog is to scald the carcass in hot water and scrape the hair off with a scraper, razor or sharp knife. Traditional scalding and scraping a hog's skin remains...

Eye infection in pigs, or cherry eye, is quiet similar to conjunctivitis occurring in humans, with the most common symptons being redness, swelling and pain. Cherry eye should be differentiated...

Have you fallen in love with the teacup pigs everyone is talking about? You may have seen the Today Show when Teacup Pig breeder, Jane Croft, told Meredith Vieira and Ann Curry how wonderful they...

Ascaris suum is the proper name of a parasitic roundworm of pigs. This worm has also been known to parasitize humans. The life cycle can be direct or indirect depending on the species and route...

Most people think that pigs are dumb, lazy and dirty animals but when it comes to eating pork their opinion changes. Pigs are actually smart animals and sometimes smarter than the common dog. Pigs...

Raising hogs can be a profitable venture if you have the available resources, and it can also provide you and your family with enough pork to last you all year. Hogs are less expensive to feed and...

When getting a pig ready for the fair, there is more involved than feeding and washing it to get ready for the big show. One thing that can separate the Grand Champion white pig from others is...

You may have noticed that at pig shows, the pigs have notches, or v-shaped cuts in their ears. But did not know what they were for. Or maybe you are thinking about buying a few pigs for the kids...

During the fertilization process, an egg is released internally inside the female pig. A series of chemical indicators will put the pig in estrus, indicating to the male that she is now fertile...

The skin of a healthy pig should be smooth and free of sores and abscesses. Although different breeds of pigs have different amounts of hair, whatever hair is present should be evenly distributed...

It is not uncommon for pigs to develop problems with their feet, especially if they have not been properly housed or cared for. If your pig appears lame or in pain, a close examination of each...

A common practice among pig farmers is ear clipping or notching. Putting clip marks in the pig's ears helps farmers to identify specific pigs on their farm. If you choose to use this method on...

The liver and its functions are referred to as the hepatic system, from the Greek word meaning liver. Living pigs need their liver to properly digest and metabolize the nutrients they eat....

Pigs are sometimes fitted with nose rings to prevent them from rooting in the ground. The basic principle is that you don't want a pig to root excessively, because it could ruin crops or lead to...

Hogs have been a stable of many societies for hundreds of years. Hogs are still useful today, with everything from pork chops to lard coming from these porcine creatures. Feeding hogs can be a...

Kids have been showing 4-H pigs at pig shows for generations. It takes a very special swine to be a 4-H pig. It has to meet certain standards set forth by the 4-H organization, as well as have a...

Pigs are prey species, and one of the ways that they escape from predators is with their speed. All varieties of pig--wild and domestic--are surprisingly fast. They can outrun you in just a few...

A female pig, called a sow, can become pregnant once it is 8 months old, and usually remain fertile until they are 18 months old. Male pigs, or boars, become sexually active once they are 8 to 10...

It's not often that a pig can be mentioned without bringing up a less-than-favorable impression. Call someone a pig, and it's an insult. Eat like a pig, and you're not likely to be invited back...

Kids showing their animals in the fair are so cute. Look at the little 50-pound children showing that 250-pound pig. How do the kids get that pig to cooperate? Getting that pig to cooperate...

If you or your child are in a county 4-H club or a member of FFA, then you possibly will sometime be shopping for that show pig. This article explains some of the high points for what to watch for.

Many of you may be wondering, “What is a Show pig?” I hope that by reading this article you will attain this knowledge and come away with a new understanding of the show pig. The show pig begins...

Anyone who has ever raised a single hog knows that at some point they need to figure out a way to move the pig from one place to another. The simplest, most efficient way to do that is in a...

Unless you are planning on using them for breeding purposes, male hogs should be neutered as quickly as possible. Neutering your hog will mean that it will spend more time focusing on eating and...

Pigs are well known for rooting. They dig their snouts into the ground and move the soil around, searching for roots. Their rooting action is beneficial to you in that depending on where you've...

Not so terribly long ago, most people raised their own food. Whether they lived on the farm or in a city, most at least had a garden. If they had the space, often they would raise a pig for...

It doesn’t take very long for 4-H members to learn that a large part of showing their pig in 4-H competitions is making sure the pig is properly fitted. Fitting is the presentation of the pig....

Baby pigs are cute and cuddly but they might not be suitable pets for very young children. A piglet older than 8 weeks is able to play for short periods away from the constant eye of its mother...

If you want your pig to win first prize at the local fair, or you're just fattening the animal for his future as a slab of bacon, it takes more than just the right diet to hit and maintain that...

While a pet pig may not be as eager to learn tricks as your average family dog, you may be surprised at how intelligent this animal can be when properly motivated. Pigs are known for being...

Most livestock farmers agree that homemade bacon is much more flavorful than the kind found in the supermarket. With the right cut of pork and a bit of pink salt, you can be "makin' bacon" in no...

Many chefs insist on butchering pigs themselves, since it makes them feel more connected to the process of preparing food from start to finish. When you butcher a pig yourself, you can also be...

When purchasing a pig or any type of livestock, it's important to know how the animal was raised. Before you choose a pig dealer, you should visit the facilities and ask appropriate questions,...

Pigs are surprisingly clean animals, and you may make a pig miserable by simply building a cage around a mud puddle. Pigs need protection from the elements in the same way that humans do, and they...

Pigs are aggressive rooters and diggers, which makes them capable escape artists as well. While it is fairly challenging to catch a runaway pig, the best method is to appeal to their hunger and...

Whether you own a gentle, good-natured Vietnamese pot-bellied pig or an 800-pound farm hog, care for these animals can be very different than that for cats, dogs and other domestic pets. From...

Catching feral pigs such as wild hogs can be a dangerous sport, since these animals can be fierce, strong and quick. Whether you're looking to capture feral pigs for domestication or merely for...

Hunting feral pigs or wild boars can be fairly dangerous, since these animals are fierce, quick and ill-tempered. Pick the right weapon to hunt feral pigs and ensure that you have your hunting...

Most show pigs appear in open class shows or at 4-H fairs. Pigs should be trained for several months before the show to ensure they are obedient. Remember to register the pig for the show...

Raising pigs can be a profitable business. What you need to know are conditions and costs. Make sure that the temperature doesn't rise above 70 degrees for them, or drop below 60. The approximate...