1. Animal, Plant & Soil Science
Lesson C7-6
The Swine Industry

2. Interest Approach
Ask your students what they think when they hear the slogan: “Pork, the other white meat!” Ask them what it means and what the pork industry is trying to promote.” Then ask them to consider the industry’s competitors.
The Pork Check-off Program puts out literature and promotional items. Contact your local pork producer group or your county or state to obtain posters, brochures, and literature for use in your classroom. These sources also have recipes. You may want to prepare a pork recipe for your students.

3. Objectives
Define terms used to describe swine, and identify the parts of swine.
Compare and contrast the common breeds of swine.
Recognize the advantages and disadvantages of swine production.

4. Objectives
Determine the facility and equipment needs in swine production.
Identify leading states and nations in swine production, and determine major export and import markets for the United States.

5. Objectives Examine the impact of the swine industry on the economy.
Identify common parasites and diseases that affect swine, and determine appropriate prevention and treatment methods.

6. Terms artificial insemination barrow boar conformation drove farrowing
gilt
hog
meat-type hog
piglet
porcine
prolificacy
shoat
sow

7. What are the proper terms used in describing swine, and what are the parts of a swine animal?
Knowing basic swine terminology is important.
A. The following are common names and terms used in describing swine.
1. Swine are porcine animals, which are members of the genus Sus.
2. A mature swine animal is a hog.
3. A mature male is a boar.
4. A mature female is a sow.
5. A young male is a shoat or young boar.
6. A young female is a gilt.
7. A castrated male is a barrow.
8. A newborn is a pig or piglet.
9. A group of swine is a drove or herd.

8. What are the proper terms used in describing swine, and what are the parts of a swine animal?
B. To judge or describe a hog, a person must know the proper terms for correctly identifying the parts of the live animal and the carcass.
Hogs have been genetically modified by breeding practices to have a strong bone structure for carrying their weight.
Consumer demands have encouraged pork producers to raise a more meat-type hog.

9. What are the proper terms used in describing swine, and what are the parts of a swine animal?
A meat-type hog is a hog that produces the greatest amount of high-value meat cuts.
Such a hog is lower in fat and higher in lean meat.
Swine producers should know and should be able to describe the desired features and conformation of a meat-type hog.
Conformation is the type and shape of an animal.
Meat-type hogs typically have well-developed muscles in the hams, are long and lean throughout the loin, and have good bone structure.

10. What are the proper terms used in describing swine, and what are the parts of a swine animal?

11. What are the proper terms used in describing swine, and what are the parts of a swine animal?
C. Knowing major meat cuts is important because the main use of hogs is for meat.
The major wholesale pork cuts are the loin, Boston shoulder, picnic shoulder, side (belly), leg (ham), jowl, hock, and feet.
The primary cuts—the shoulders, loin, side, and leg—are used for higher quality retail cuts, such as pork chops, ham, bacon, and roasts.

12. What are the common breeds of swine, and how do they differ?
There are many breeds of swine.
When choosing a breed, a person must determine what characteristics are best for the facilities and the type of operation.
The most common goal is to raise the most efficient-growing hogs with the highest possible percentage of muscle.
Deciding to use purebred or crossbred animals is another consideration.

13. What are the common breeds of swine, and how do they differ?
A. The Duroc breed originated in the eastern United States from red hogs raised before 1865.
Originally, Duroc hogs were known as Duroc-Jersey hogs, but Jersey has been removed from the name.
All Duroc hogs are red, although the color can vary from very light to dark.
They have ears that droop forward over the eyes.
The breed is popular because of good mothering ability, efficient feed conversion, fast growth rate, and prolificacy.
Prolificacy is the ability to produce large numbers of offspring.
The Duroc is known as a meat-type hog.

14. What are the common breeds of swine, and how do they differ?
B. The Hampshire breed originated in England and was brought to the United States between 1825 and
The Hampshire is a black hog with a white belt that encircles the forepart of the body, starting behind the head and neck.
It has ears that stand erect.
Some of the characteristics for which the breed is known are foraging ability, leanness of carcass, and muscling.
Hampshire hogs are commonly used as show animals and in various crossbreeding programs.

15. What are the common breeds of swine, and how do they differ?
C. The Yorkshire breed originated in Yorkshire, England, where it was called Large White.
Later, the hogs became known as Yorkshires.
As their original name depicts, they are large white hogs.
They have long bodies.
Black spots sometimes appear on their skin. These undesirable spots are called freckles.
Yorkshires have erect ears and are known for their large litters, good mothering ability, good feed efficiency, and rapid growth.

16. What are the common breeds of swine, and how do they differ?
D. Compared with others, the Hereford is a newer breed.
It is red with a white face, similar to Hereford cattle.
The Poland China, the Duroc, and other breeds were used to develop the Hereford.
The Hereford’s ears droop forward, and the breed is known for being prolific, having good mothering ability, and possessing desirable foraging ability.

17. What are the common breeds of swine, and how do they differ?
E. Berkshire hogs originated in Berkshire and Wiltshire counties in England.
They are black with six white points (white feet, some white on the face, and some white on the tail), and erect ears.
The Berkshire is a medium-sized hog known for its lean carcass, meat texture, and flavor.
Commonly, Berkshires are used in crossbreeding programs.
Berkshire sows are heavy milkers, leading to high weaning weights.
Berkshire pigs are adaptable and have an ease in temperament.

18. What are the common breeds of swine, and how do they differ?
F. Poland China hogs originated in Ohio between and 1850 using several different bloodlines.
Originally called Warren County hogs, Poland China hogs are black with white markings on the feet, the face, and the tip of the tail.
This large breed has forward-drooping ears and produces carcasses with large loin eyes and very little back fat.
Because of their desirable traits, Poland China hogs are commonly used in crossbreeding programs.

19. What are the common breeds of swine, and how do they differ?
G. Pietrain hogs originated in Pietrain, Belgium.
This medium-sized breed is white with black spots.
The color pigmentation is not very deep, and the black spots are not dominant on all hogs.
The spots have rings around them that have less pigmentation and some white hair.
The ears of the Pietrain are erect.
The breed is very muscular, with bulging hams that express a high proportion of lean to fat.

20. What are the common breeds of swine, and how do they differ?
H. Landrace hogs are native to Denmark.
They were brought to America in
The first Landrace hogs in this country were mainly used for crossbreeding.
The American Landrace hog is white, with a long body, 16 or 17 pairs of ribs, an arched back, and a long, narrow head.
The ears are droopy and large and are carried close to the face.
The Landrace is a meaty hog that performs well on carcass.
Landrace sows are prolific, average mothers.
The milking ability of sows is of high quality.

21. What are the common breeds of swine, and how do they differ?
I. The Chester White breed originated in Chester County, Pennsylvania.
Chestershogs are solid white and have medium-sized, droopy ears.
Although boars of this breed are usually aggressive, sows are valued for their mothering ability and typically have large litters.
Because of their mothering ability, durability, and soundness, Chesters have kept their popularity with thousands of pork producers.
Producers prefer them, and packers prefer animals with white skin.
Many Chesters are used in commercial or nonpurebred operations.

22. What are the advantages and disadvantages of swine production?
Swine production has several advantages and disadvantages.
A. The advantages of raising swine are:
1. Swine are efficient.
They can convert feed to meat better than beef animals.
A beef animal takes approximately 7 to 10 pounds of feed for a pound of beef.
A boiler chicken requires about 2 pounds of feed per pound of live weight.
A hog can produce a pound of meat with 3.4 to 3.6 pounds of feed (and the amount of feed is decreasing).
2. A sow can produce 7 to 12 pigs per litter.
The gestation time is 114 days (3 months, 3 weeks, and 3 days). This allows farrowing twice a year.
Farrowing is the process of a sow giving birth.

23. What are the advantages and disadvantages of swine production?
3. Hogs have a high dressing percentage compared to beef and sheep.
Hogs have the ability to yield 65 to 80 percent of their live weight.
Beef cattle yield about 50 to 60 percent, and sheep yield about 45 to 55 percent.
4. Hogs require less labor because they are good self-feeders.
5. Depending on the type of production system, capital investment is generally low.
Because of their size, pigs require little land and/or little space in buildings.

24. What are the advantages and disadvantages of swine production?
6. Returns on hogs can be seen within 10 months.
Hogs are ready for market at days, on average, allowing a producer to see a return on investment within a short period.
7. The swine industry provides many jobs.
Examples of jobs are producers, truckers, processors, researchers, veterinarians, and feed suppliers.
8. Swine provide an interest for FFA and 4-H projects.

25. What are the advantages and disadvantages of swine production?
B. The disadvantages of raising swine are:
1. Swine must have large amounts of concentrates because of their simple stomach.
2. Diseases and parasites are common in swine production, making management and observation of healthy animals a daily routine.
3. Farrowing time for hogs is critical. Therefore, much attention is given at farrowing time.
4. Swine production depends on grain production.
5. Swine wastes, because of large controlled environment systems, cause major issues in the industry, in communities surrounding the farms, and in the environment.

26. What facilities and equipment are required in swine production?
The choice of facility and equipment type in swine production is focused on balancing capital investment, labor requirements, and production efficiency.
Swine producers must be able to manage housing facilities and equipment efficiently and to provide a proper environment to maximize the welfare and productivity of the animals.
A. Some of the common types of housing facilities are listed below.

27. What facilities and equipment are required in swine production?
1. Controlled environment buildings permit greater control of the production process, protect from the weather, and lower labor costs.
These facilities allow more direct observation of the animals and provide ease in handling hogs.
Commonly, hogs raised in such buildings show a higher rate of growth and increased feed efficiency.
A controlled environment building is often used for an “all-in, all-out” operation.
This means pigs are moved in and out as a group, allowing the producer to clean and disinfect between groups.

28. What facilities and equipment are required in swine production?
2. Pasture-type production systems require more land and more labor.
A low capital investment is required when land is available at a reasonable cost. However, such systems can result in lower productivity in terms of output per unit of land, labor, and feed.
The opportunity to participate in niche markets has generated interest in pasture-type production systems.

29. What facilities and equipment are required in swine production?
3. The many stages of swine production have specific facility and equipment needs.
a. Breeding and gestation facilities require room for a boar, if one is used.
Commonly, producers will use artificial insemination procedures to breed sows.
Artificial insemination (AI) is a method of placing semen collected from a male into the reproductive tract of a female.

30. What facilities and equipment are required in swine production?
b. Farrowing facilities for pasture-type systems will commonly involve individual sow huts or enclosed farrowing houses.
Controlled environment systems will use enclosed houses that contain pens or stalls where sows can farrow and protect newborn pigs.
Pens or stalls must be designed to provide adequate space for sows and baby pigs.
c. Nursery facilities are used for weaned baby pigs two to four weeks old that weigh between 10 and 15 pounds.
Pigs move into nurseries equipped with slatted floors and automatic feeders and waterers.
These buildings are referred to as wean-to-finish buildings.

31. What facilities and equipment are required in swine production?
d. Growing and finishing buildings are used in swine production.
Growing buildings house hogs until they reach 120 pounds.
Finishing buildings house hogs until they reach market weight.
There are several types of growing and finishing buildings.
(1) A totally enclosed controlled environment building is used to control temperature and humidity.
(2) A parlor-type building with an open front and an outside apron generally has one side open.
(3) A modified open-front building has one side open during the summer but can be closed during the winter.
(4) A double-curtain building has automatically controlled curtains to control both sidewalls.
(5) A hoop building has 3- to 4-feet-high concrete or wooden sidewalls with hoops mounted on top.

32. What facilities and equipment are required in swine production?

33. What facilities and equipment are required in swine production?
B. The design of swine buildings must pay special attention to ventilation, manure disposal, cleaning, and space requirements.
1. Well-designed ventilation systems provide fresh air, promoting healthier hogs and reducing disease.
2. Hogs can create a great amount of manure.
3. Swine buildings must use materials that can be cleaned easily.
4. Awareness of space requirements is important to ensure the needs of swine at every stage of development.

34. What facilities and equipment are required in swine production?
C. Equipment used in a swine operation includes handling equipment, fencing, pens, feeders, and waterers.
Handling equipment, from swinging gates to loading chutes, increases the ease of animal movement.
Fencing is used in pasture systems.
Strong, woven wire is common.
Pens made of wood or metal should be built strongly.
Feeders and waterers are commonly automated and should be designed for ease in use and cleaning.

35. What are the leading states and nations in swine production, and what are the major export and import markets for the United States?
Statistics show the leading states and nations in swine production and the major export and import markets for the United States.
A. The leading swine-producing states, based on swine cash receipts for 2009, are the following: (1) Iowa, (2) North Carolina, (3) Minnesota, (4) Illinois, (5) Nebraska, (6) Indiana, (7) Missouri, (8) Oklahoma, (9) Ohio, (10) Kansas.

36. What are the leading states and nations in swine production, and what are the major export and import markets for the United States?
B. The top 10 swine-producing nations are the following: (1) China, (2) European Union, (3) United States, (4) Brazil, (5) Canada, (6) Vietnam, (7) Russia, (8) Japan, (9) Mexico, (10) Philippines.
C. The top world exporters of pork are the following: (1) European Union, (2) Canada, (3) United States, (4) Brazil, (5) China.
D. The top world importers of pork are the following: (1) Japan, (2) United States, (3) Russia, (4) Mexico, (5) Hong Kong.

37. What are the leading states and nations in swine production, and what are the major export and import markets for the United States?
Today, the United States is one of the world’s leading pork-producing countries.
Additionally, it imports pigs, mainly from Canada, for finishing and harvesting.
The leading importers for the U.S. pork industry are Japan, Mexico, and Canada.
Japan continues to be the largest importer of pork in the world. However, the United States must continue to meet new Japanese food import standards to keep its advantage.
Mexico consumer preferences for pork products are different from what is demanded in the United States.
Frozen/chilled pork, variety meats, and processed meats have a strong market in Mexico.

38. How does the swine industry affect the economy?
The pork industry is experiencing growth and change as it continues to meet the demands of consumers, who have made pork the most popular meat product worldwide.
U.S. pork producers must continue efficiency in production with the use of modern production practices, equipment innovations, and scientific advancements.
U.S. producers are meeting high standards of animal care and welfare as well as using good environmental practices.

39. How does the swine industry affect the economy?
A. The pork industry has changed tremendously in the past two decades.
As the number of swine farms has decreased, the size of farms has increased.
The actual number of pigs in production has increased over this same time.
The industry has switched from traditional farrow-to-finish operations to single-phase operations.
These single-phase operations concentrate on specialized areas of pork production (breeding/gestation, farrowing, nursery, growing, and finishing).
Because of the increase in single-phase operations, a rise has occurred in the use of contracting.
Contracting has led to vertical integration in swine production.

40. How does the swine industry affect the economy?
B. The pork industry is critical to the economy.
Pork producers will experience challenges as ethanol production leads to higher feed costs.
Many producers will be driven to replace old buildings, increasing capital costs.
Other challenges are continued animal welfare issues, labor availability, and environmental issues.
Hog producers must face and meet these challenges, or their operations will cease.

41. How does the swine industry affect the economy?
C. Niche markets are present in the swine industry and provide an opportunity for producers to use unique production practices.
Some examples in the pork industry include pork raised without antibiotics; pork raised without growth inhibitors; breed-specific pork, such as Berkshire pork; organic pork; and locally grown or farm-direct pork.
These unique production practices allow some producers to find places in the market. However, niche does not necessarily mean “small.”
Organic meat is the fastest-growing organic food category.

42. Several common parasites and diseases can affect swine.
What are common parasites and diseases that affect swine, and what are appropriate prevention and treatment methods?
Several common parasites and diseases can affect swine.
Good management systems and prevention programs can control these.
A. Lice are common parasites affecting swine.
Animals infested with lice can itch; their hair can become rough and thin; and scabs may be evident.
Lice are commonly found on the root of the tail, on the thighs, and on the neck and ears.
These parasites are most likely to show up in the winter months.
Pesticides are administered to treat and control lice.

43. B. An internal parasite lives inside an animal.
What are common parasites and diseases that affect swine, and what are appropriate prevention and treatment methods?
B. An internal parasite lives inside an animal.
Internal parasites can enter an animal when it consumes contaminated feed or eats off a dirty floor.
Hogs on pasture lots are more likely to ingest parasites.
Examples of internal parasites that affect swine are roundworms and tapeworms. These parasites live in the intestines and the stomach.
Cleanliness of pens, waterers, and feeders is essential for prevention.
Wormers are medications used for treatments.

44. What are common parasites and diseases that affect swine, and what are appropriate prevention and treatment methods?
C. Diseases can drastically affect a swine herd.
Veterinarians help producers manage herd health.
1. Brucellosis (Bangs) is a disease that causes abortion in sows and enlarged lymph nodes in hogs.
A diagnosis is made through blood testing.
There is no vaccine for porcine brucellosis.
Prevention should include routine testing and buying only brucellosis-free animals.
2. Hog cholera is a highly contagious blood infection.
In 1961, Public Law was passed to eliminate hog cholera in the United States.
By 1978, the USDA declared the United States to be free of hog cholera.
No treatment exists.
Any hog with this deadly virus is destroyed by a proper federal official.
Signs of this virus are high fever, vomiting, and depression.

45. What are common parasites and diseases that affect swine, and what are appropriate prevention and treatment methods?
3. Leptospirosis is a disease that causes high fever and bloody urine in swine and leads to abortion in sows.
A vaccination program administered twice a year is highly recommended to control leptospirosis.
Blood testing can determine if a herd is infected.
Treatment, which includes antibiotics, should be prescribed by a veterinarian.
4. Pneumonia lesions is a type of pneumonia. Secondary infections often result.
Signs are cough and lung abrasions.
The disease can increase the presence of lungworms and larvae within the lungs.
There is no true control, but antibiotics can decrease the infections.

46. What are common parasites and diseases that affect swine, and what are appropriate prevention and treatment methods?
5. Pseudorabies is a viral disease that can infect swine, cattle, and sheep.
Hogs can be carriers of the virus for a long period.
Blood testing pigs is important to determine the presence of this virus.
Newborn pigs with pseudorabies have a normal appearance but die within 6 to 24 hours.
Signs for older animals are fever, depression, vomiting, and nesting.
Sows will abort unborn pigs.
A well-managed vaccination program should be followed for prevention.
There is no treatment for this disease.

47. What are common parasites and diseases that affect swine, and what are appropriate prevention and treatment methods?
6. Swine dysentery is caused by a bacterium and affects all ages of swine.
Signs of this disease are diarrhea, loss of appetite, and fever.
Bloody diarrhea and death can occur.
Isolating new animals from the herd and following proper sanitation procedures are good preventive measures.
Antibiotics are used in treatment.
7. Swine erysipelas is a disease commonly infecting young, growing pigs, but it can infect all ages.
This disease is classified in three forms: acute, subacute, and chronic.
Symptoms are fever, vomiting, stiffness, and swelling of the joints.
Pigs will show pain when they move.
A vaccination program should be used to prevent this disease.
Antibiotics can treat the acute and subacute forms of erysipelas. However, no treatment exists for the chronic form.

48. Review
What are the proper terms used in describing swine, and what are the parts of a swine animal?
What are the common breeds of swine, and how do they differ?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of swine production?

49. Review What facilities and equipment are required in swine production?
What are the leading states and nations in swine production, and what are the major export and import markets for the United States?

50. Review How does the swine industry affect the economy?
What are common parasites and diseases that affect swine, and what are appropriate prevention and treatment methods?