Getting into Show Pigs

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WIshowgirl

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 8, 2010
Messages
79
Location
Wisconsin
Hi,
I have always shown cattle, but this yr my show steer got hurt and I can't show him so I decided to branch into pigs. Any tips on what to feed and should I get crossbred or purebred? Also, what does a typical good show pig bring?
Our fair stars July 10th, when should pigs be born?
 

Corriedalesrock

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 17, 2013
Messages
128
Well if your show is just a county show than you would probably want a crossbred but that doesn't matter too much.. We would just say that your first time stay away from Durocs..we normally have Hampshires and Yorkshires and Yorkshire crosses. We feed MoorMan's and it does really well. Also on how much it should bring is also on how good you do, and what show your at. At our county fair we typically get between 600 and 800 dollars for one that didn't win Champion.. I hope I can help... Good Luck!!
 

KSanburg

Well-known member
Joined
May 5, 2010
Messages
695
Location
Western Colorado
I would go with a cross bred, and for a mid July fair it should be born in early January and weight around 60 to 80 pounds now. We used to feed Moorman's feed and it is a good feed but the last 3 years we have fed Showrite and it is just a better feed and most of the time it is less expensive. The Team 18 is a good base feed to start and then we feed the EZ Tone 100. the last 30 days we hand fed and mixed beet pulp and fat into the ration. They need walked everyday which isn't any different than your steer needed. You need to keep them wormed and washed or rinsed daily and the spray them down with Sullivan's sudden impact for skin and hair care. Be sure and keep them out of the sun so they don't sun burn which happens really easy and quick. Over the last several years we have noticed that the best weight to target is from 255 to 275 pounds but visit with some of the people in your area to find out if that is the ideal weight for your area. Weight them weekly starting in June and then the last couple weeks you will want to monitor their weight daily. You adjust their feed to your target weight those last couple of weeks. Push them from the beginning get the weight on them and then your sitting good to fine tune them. If you want feel free to PM me for help, I am not great at feeding but if I don't know what to do I can find out.

I don't know how your fair sale so I will refrain from commenting on that, pigs generally make money because their input costs are not huge.
 

Mountain Laurel Farm

Active member
Joined
Dec 1, 2013
Messages
36
I would go for a cross bred hog we normally buy hamp x york from the Northeast Classic Hog sale the hogs go for $200-$1000 at around 80 lbs then.Then we feed them Purina Show Chow. At county fair they go for around $250-$1,500. My pigs sold for $450 & $475 this year and I still made a profit to buy my next set of show pigs.
 
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