Pigs

Raising a 4-H pig will teach a youth valuable lessons about responsibility.

A healthy, happy show pig needs nutritious food regularly. Choose a feed that's high in energy (corn), low in fiber (cellulose) and supplemented with protein.

Looking for a show pig? Choose a breed with good body structure and one that matches your personal preference.

Work with your pig a few weeks before the show to save your animal from excess stress during the event.

This is the fun part of entering your pet pig in a show. Enjoy yourself, and remember to smile.

Whether you have pigs as pets or as livestock, they must be vaccinated against potential diseases. Pig herds are extremely vulnerable to contagious diseases, which can spread rapidly among the...

Pork is a worldwide commodity, and you can find people on every continent who eat it, even though some major religions restrict its consumption. Swine operations vary from very large producers to...

Pigs can breed often, have a short gestation period and produce large litters. These factors make breeding pigs lucrative. You only need a few males to breed many females. A single boar, at least...

Transporting pigs can be a delicate process and requires planning and foresight. With the farming industry reporting that over 1 million pigs die every year in transport, it is more important than...

Being raised on a commercial hog farm, I have castrated many baby pigs since the time I was 16 yrs old. If you'd like to be able to do this yourself with your litter of piglets, here's the...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Learn facts about raising pigs in this free video on farm animals, with animal husbandry tips.

Learn facts about clipping pigs ears in this free video on raising farm animals, with animal husbandry tips.

Learn facts about the types of pigs in this free video on raising farm animals, with animal husbandry tips.

Learn facts about pig stages of growth in this free video on raising farm animals, with animal husbandry tips.

Learn facts about pig eating habits & digestion in this free video on raising farm animals, with animal husbandry tips.

Learn facts about why pigs wallow in mud in this free video on raising farm animals, with animal husbandry tips.

Learn facts about housing pigs in a pigpen in this free video on raising farm animals, with animal husbandry tips.

Learn facts about what pigs eat in this free video on raising farm animals, with animal husbandry tips.

Learn facts about raising pigs for food in this free video on farm animals & agriculture, with animal husbandry tips.

Learn facts about breeding pigs in this free video on raising farm animals, with animal husbandry tips.

Learn facts about common pig problems, like disease, in this free video on raising farm animals, with animal husbandry tips.

Learn facts about raising pet pigs in this free video on farm animals, with animal husbandry tips.

Learn facts about pig pregnancy in this free video on raising farm animals, with animal husbandry tips.

Learn facts about piglets & nursing in this free video on raising farm pigs, with animal husbandry tips.

Learn facts about piglet development in this free video on raising farm pigs, with animal husbandry tips.

Learn facts about caring for pigs in this free video on raising farm animals, with animal husbandry tips.

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...

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...

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...

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.

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...

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...

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...

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...