Comments on How to Prepare a 4-H Pig for Show

Pigs need a lot of water all the time, and plenty of water helps put on weight. Contrary to some of these blogs, corn does not cause weight gain. Actually, corn makes pigs lose weight. It goes right through their digestive system. If you feed you pig mash, check your feed tag, some mashes are made of mostly corn! Mash, if your pig will eat it, is a good feed option. If you need to put on weight quickly, switch to a higher protein mash. 20% is good for weight gain. Also, add water to the mash to attract the attention of the pig. Pelleted feeds, although more expensive, are very good as well. Feed your pigs breads, fruits, and vegetables, and any table scraps are good. Never feed them meat of any kind! If your pigs aren't eating their feed, try mixing in Jell-O powder or Kool-Aid mix (with the sugar). This will add flavor to the feed. If you really need to put on weight, try sweet treats with the feed. Most bread stores will either give away or cheaply sell expired breads, doughnuts, Twinkies and other treats in large amounts. Pigs love treats, but always mix it will there feed. Beer also puts on weight. Leave the beer out in an open bucket for a couple days so it becomes stale. Mix it in with their feed to create a mash that the pigs will love.

Pigs need a lot of water all the time, and plenty of water helps put on weight. Contrary to some of these blogs, corn does not cause weight gain. Actually, corn makes pigs lose weight. It goes right through their digestive system. If you feed you pig mash, check your feed tag, some mashes are made of mostly corn! Mash, if your pig will eat it, is a good feed option. If you need to put on weight quickly, switch to a higher protein mash. 20% is good for weight gain. Also, add water to the mash to attract the attention of the pig. Pelleted feeds, although more expensive, are very good as well. Feed your pigs breads, fruits, and vegetables, and any table scraps are good. Never feed them meat of any kind! If your pigs aren't eating their feed, try mixing in Jell-O powder or Kool-Aid mix (with the sugar). This will add flavor to the feed. If you really need to put on weight, try sweet treats with the feed. Most bread stores will either give away or cheaply sell expired breads, doughnuts, Twinkies and other treats in large amounts. Pigs love treats, but always mix it will there feed. Beer also puts on weight. Leave the beer out in an open bucket for a couple days so it becomes stale. Mix it in with their feed to create a mash that the pigs will love.

If you are worried that your pig is a stress carrier, try spraying vinegar into it's nostrils before a stressful event.

If you keep a small shed for the pigs in their outdoor pen, instead of making the water hole outside of the shed, make it inside so the pigs will play in the water pit instead of getting sunburned outside of the shed.

If you keep a small shed for the pigs in their outdoor pen, instead of making the water hole outside of the shed, make it inside so the pigs will play in the water pit instead of getting sunburned outside of the shed.

Hogs release their heat from their nose. The only reason you spray the feet first is because when pigs are hot and suddenly sprayed with cold water it causes a shock which can give the pig a heart attack. The nose is the only place where pigs sweat.

Hogs release their heat from their nose. The only reason you spray the feet first is because when pigs are hot and suddenly sprayed with cold water it causes a shock which can give the pig a heart attack. The nose is the only place where pigs sweat.

Pigs will learn quicker and get better if you work with them every day instead of a whole day once a week. Work with them a little every day.

Pigs will learn quicker and get better if you work with them every day instead of a whole day once a week. Work with them a little every day.

When you first start working with your pigs, don't get mad at them if they don't obey your commands. Remember to stay calm and don't stay whipping them. They'll start to understand and obey, but it doesn't happen in one day.

When you first start working with your pigs, don't get mad at them if they don't obey your commands. Remember to stay calm and don't stay whipping them. They'll start to understand and obey, but it doesn't happen in one day.

To help excercise your pig without having to walk him all the time, you can put a board in his pen so he'll have to jump over it. I've used hurdles and it works great to build ham muscle!!!

To help excercise your pig without having to walk him all the time, you can put a board in his pen so he'll have to jump over it. I've used hurdles and it works great to build ham muscle!!!

Every once in a while give your pig a break from hard work and just rub his/her belly and scratch their ears and chin. They love it, and they love apples as treats!

Every once in a while give your pig a break from hard work and just rub his/her belly and scratch their ears and chin. They love it, and they love apples as treats!