Your4-H Market Hog Project
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4-H 1064 4-H Youth Development • Michigan State University Extension Your4-H Market Hog Project I This publication was written by Assistant Extension Swine Specialist Introduction I Feeding Your Pigs 13 Lee Johnston and Extension Live- What You Can Learn J Nutrient Requirements 13 stock Youth Specialist Kenneth Project and Member Objectives .. I Suggested Diets 13 Geuns. both of the Department of Records to Keep 2 Amount of Feed 14 Animal Science. Michigan State selecting Pigs Common Diseases-Their University. The original guide was for Your ProJect. ............. 3 Prevention and Control 15 prepared by Graydon Blank. Sources of Feeder Pigs. ........ 3 Infectious Diseases 15 Professor Emeritus; E. C. Miller. Pro- Feeder Pig Prices. ............. 3 External Parasites of Swine 16 fessor Emeritus; and Maynard Where to Get the Money. ...... 3 Internal Parasites of Swine 16 Hogberg. Chairperson. Department Pig Identification. ............. 4 exhibiting Your Hogs 18 ofAnimal Science. Michigan State Proper of Feeder Pigs ... 4 Grooming Your Pigs for Show 18 University. Evaluating Feeder Pigs. ........ 5 In the Show Ring 19 Breed 6 Suggested Guidelines for Fitting The publication was designed and Early care and and Showing Swine 19 illustrated by Marian M. Reiter. 4-H Management. ............... 7 Marketing 21 Graphic Artist. It was edited by Stress. ....................... 7 Determining Hog Ouality 21 Rebecca McKee. 4-H Publications Trucking Your Pigs Home. ...... 7 Selling Your Pigs 22 Editor. General Health 7 Pork Products. ............... 23 Facilities and EqUipment ..... 8 Pork for Good Nutrition ....... 24 The material on grooming pigs for Housing ..................... 8 Other Activities. ............ 25 show on page 18 was adapted in Feeders. ..................... 8 Demonstrations and part from the Nebraska 4-H Swine Waterers. .................... 8 Illustrated Talks 25 Manual 14-H 89). It is a publication List of Equipment ............. 8 Public Speaking. ............. 25 of the Cooperative Extension Ser- Feed Nutrients 10 JUdging. ................... 25 vice. University of Nebraska- Water 10 Fitting and Showing. ......... 25 Lincoln and the Institute of Agricul- Proteins 10 4-H Camp 25 ture and Natural Resources. The Carbohydrates 10 4-H Trips and Tours. .......... 26 manual was revised by Doyle Fats 10 Animal Science ......... 26 Wolverton. Minerals 10 Careers in Animal Science. .... 26 Vitamins 10 References. ................ 27 The figure entitled "Estimation of Feeds for Swine ............." U.S. Swine Breed body composition" on page 6 was Energy Feeds or Concentrates. .. II Associations. ............... 27 adapted from the University of Protein Supplements 12 Glossary 28 Wisconsin Swine Selection Antibiotics 12 Procedures (A2931). It is a publica- tion of the University of 1-------------.:..-----------...;1 Wisconsin-Cooperative Extension Service. The manual was written by Dr. Carl Hirschinger and Dr. Robert Grummer. Introduction Feeding one or more pigs to sell as The market hog project consists of market animals is probably the Project and Member feeding pigs to a market weight of most common 4-H swine project. It Objectives approximately 200 to 240 pounds. doesn't require a large amount of The objective of the 4-H market This same procedure is carried on money or expensive buildings and regUlarly by adult swine raisers. You hog project is to encourage integ- equipment and it can be com- rity, sportsmanship, cooperation will learn much of the same basic pleted during the summer months. and an ability to communicate information adults engaged in through activities such as demon- swine production use. The words "swine," "hogs" and strations, talks, judging events, "pigs" refer to animals of the tours and exhibits. Don't expect to make a big profit porcine or pig family In this bul- on your project. Your profit or loss letin, swine will be used in refer- Knowing correct procedures for will depend on the cost of the pigs ring to the pig family in a general running and participating in a busi- when you start the project, the cost way, and "pig" will be used in refer- of the feed used, other costs (such ness meeting will be important to ring to young animals. "Hog" will you all of your life. Your 4-H swine as veterinarian and equipment generally refer to animals at or bills). and the price you receive for club is an excellent place to learn nearing market weight or finished your hogs when you sell them. and practice these skills. for market. The term "barrow" means a castrated male, and "gilt" Ifyou market your hogs at your Here are some objectives you means a young female. county or area fair or show, gener- should keep in mind for your ous people in your community may market hog project: pay more for your animals than o To acquire information about and their true market value. This What You Can Learn an understanding of scientific pro- increases your chance for a profit. In this 4-H market hog project you duction and management practices However, it is important that you can learn how to: through keeping records and own- know the difference between the o Select feeder pigs for your project. ing and caring for livestock. regular livestock market price or o Select proper feeds for your pigs. o To acquire skills in executing pro- value ofyour hogs and the price o Combine these feeds into a bal- duction and management you receive at your fair or show anced diet. decisions. sale. Your 4-H leader can help you o Figure costs and returns from o To provide business experience get this information. your project. and develop knowledge of the o Tell when your pigs are sick. values and principles of purchas- Ifyour hogs bring more than the o Tell when your pigs are healthy. ing, marketing, record-keeping and regUlar market price, you should o Prepare your pigs for exhibition. securing credit. realize that this difference is a o Handle your pigs in a show ring. o To learn and use efficient proce- reward for your having participated o Determine ifyour pigs will be dures and methods in marketing in the project and for having car- acceptable to the packer. livestock and their products. ried out the practices you learned. o To develop an understanding and These are only a few of the many appreciation of the livestock/meat things you can learn. Working with industry and its role in the agricul- your leader, you may want to make tural and commercial economy of your own list of the things you the country. want to learn from this project. o To explore the livestock industry as a career. 1 4-H 1064 Your 4-H Market Hog Project • 4-H Youth Development • Michigan State University Extension pigs ifyou weigh yours every 30 Records to Keep days during the project. The reasons for keeping records on • The weight of each hog at the your market hog projects are to: time it is marketed. • Help you learn more about • The total cost or value of the pigs animals. their rate of growth. the at the start of the project. feed they require and their habits. • The money received from the sale • Help you plan future projects. of the hogs. • Determine ifyou made or lost • The amount of feed used. money and how much. • The total cost of medicine and • Improve your management veterinary fees. practices. • Anything interesting or unusual • Give you a record ofyour project that happened to your pigs during activities. the project. The following information about From the above jnformation you your market hog project will be can: helpful and interesting. Use the • Make a chart or graph showing 4-H Market Livestock Record how fast each pig grew. Book (4-H 1177) to record it. • Figure your hogs' average daily • The weight of each pig at the gain. start of the project. Weights can be • Figure the feed cost per obtained by holding the pig and unit-of-gain. standing on a bathroom scale. and • Figure the total cost per pound of then subtracting the weight of the hogs sold (cost of pigs + cost of person holding the pig from the feed + other expenses 7 by weight total. You will learn more about of hogs sold). 2 4-H 1064 Your 4-H Market Hog Project • 4-H Youth Development • Michigan State University Extension Selecting Pigs for Your Project However, do not pay a high price Ifyou need to borrow money to Sources of Feeder Pigs for a pig with the idea that this bUy the feed for a project pig, you You can obtain feeder pigs from alone will assure you of winning a need to know how much feed your several sources, including: grand championship. It takes good pig will eat. Ifyour 40-pound • Your own or your parents' herd feeding and a lot of hard work, feeder pig will be sold at 230 •Aneighbor's or friend's purebred along with the right kind of pigs pounds, it will need to gain 190 or commercial herd and good showmanship, to have a pounds. You can estimate that it • Special feeder pig sales grand champion. will take 3.5 pounds of feed per • Regular feeder pig sales at weekly pound of gain. Therefore, your pig auctions will probably need to eat about Whereto Get 665 pounds of feed. Feeder pigs are generally sold by the Money the head, rather than by the pound. Ifyour feed costs 9 cents per Your money problems are the same Therefore, it is necessary to have a pound, you will need to borrow as those of any other swine pro- good idea of how much the feeder $5985 (665 X $.09) for feed, plus ducer: "Where will I get the money pigs you are considering weigh whatever you expect to pay for to bUy and raise my feeder pigs?" before buying them.