How to Judge Hogs at a County Fair

Hogs are not easy to judge.

With young people competing as part of their Future Farmers of America (FFA) or 4-H clubs, there are plenty of opportunities to judge livestock at your county fair. If you are interested in judging hogs (swine), the FFA even provides its members with a list of what a livestock judge will look for in their hog and why.



Although this criteria primarily applies to hogs that are going to be kept for breeding rather than those destined for the market, judges should keep these basics in mind for all porcine.

Instructions

1. Check for a good basic structure. Since most breeding and market pigs live in a confined environment, they should be structurally sound, with a loose, flexible spine, cushioned (fat) hips, and a rump that is level with the rest of the back. These traits allow the hog to survive in a confined space without developing joint problems.

2. Assess skeleton size. The ideal breeding hog has a large frame, which ensures that its offspring will grow quickly and be ready for market sooner than the piglets from a smaller parent. The pig's skeleton should be wide. Width can be determined by examining the chest and the base of the ham.

3. Evaluate the muscles. If you are new to judging hogs, determine the muscle/fat ratio by looking at the pig from the rear. A well-muscled pig will have wide hams and shoulders that are set far apart. If the pig is thicker at or below the ribs and thin at the back, this is a sign of a fat pig, rather than a muscular pig.

4. Look carefully at the belly. Female pigs that are to be kept for breeding should have six well-formed evenly spaced (and evenly sized) nipples on each side of their bodies. Boars should, too, since they could pass too small or flat, non-functioning nipples on to their offspring.

References

• Livestock Evauluation CDE Material