Steps to take for developing a show pig. By Lindsay O’Banion

First Steps The first step to a great pig at the fair is picking from the litter. You want to get a pig with the right shape so that it will develop muscle and build in all the best places. The better pig you start with the better pig you end with.

Little Steps When your pig is young you don’t do a lot to exercise it. Its main job is to grow. Spending time with your pig rubbing it and letting it get comfortable is very important when their little so when you get in the ring your animal will be as comfortable with you as you are with it.

Feed There are different kinds of feed for a show pig. Starter feed is what you give it when its young and then you move up. You end with a finisher, it has all the last nutrients your pig needs to grow and have the correct shape and muscle mass for the fair. It is very important that your pig is always getting the correct amount of nutrients for growth and development.

Exercise When your pig is about 5 months old you need to start monitoring the amount of exercise it is getting and how much weight they are gaining. This can be crucial to making weight come fair time.

Exercise The best way to exercise your pig is to walk it in a pasture or closed in area. This way you can learn how to move your pig where you want it to go and get its endurance up. Sometimes during the show your pig can be in the ring a long time, if it isn’t used to that then showing it the whole time can be very difficult.

Exercise to Feed Ratio The more you exercise your pig the closer your going to have to monitor how much feed its getting. Weighing your pig weekly can show you how much they are gaining. This can help you determine how much feed and exercise to give them everyday to get them to the perfect finish weight.

Washing It is very important that you wash your pig and keep it clean. The skin will help with the overall health of your pig and give it a better appearance in the ring. This can also be a way to cool your pig down after you have taken it for a walk.

Finishing up After you have done all these things its time to go to the fair. When your there you want to make sure that your pig is kept cool and comfortable. Making sure it has a fan and adequate water can help it stay happy.

Showing Once you get to the show ring you can show the judge how great your pig is and he will be able to see how well you have taken care of it. During market he will determine who’s pig will be the grand champ and then he will place from there.

Next is Showmanship During showmanship you have to chance to show the judge your skills at making your pig look its best. The more you have worked with your pig the easier it will be for you to turn it when the judge walks your way. He will also ask you questions about your pig, so spending time learning about it before hand can help you out a lot there.

Auction time After all that, the end of the fair brings the auction. This is where you sell and say goodbye to your pig. After your hard work is complete you can start getting ready for the next years fair.

The end Raising a pig each year is something that I really love and enjoy doing. It is so fun to see my hard work pay off in the end. It teaches me to be responsible and how to properly care for an animal. The better job I do the better results I end up with. Sometimes it seems like there is a lot to do but when its all finished it is very worth it.