Preparation of Pigs for Agricultural Shows

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 83, Issue 4, 15 October 1951, Page 277

Preparation of Pigs for Agricultural Shows

A GRICULTURAL and pastoral shows have had a place in farming life in New Zealand for very many years and their popularity is as great as ever. Many farmers exhibit pigs at shows, and in this article points on their preparation for exhibition are described by I. H. Owtram, Extension Officer in Pig Husbandry, Department of Agriculture, Wellington.

THOUGH show competitions, especially in their present form in which performance does not enter into the judging, are of doubtful value as a means of assisting in the selection of good breeding stock, agricultural shows are still the display window of the farming industry and the lure of the prize ticket is as great as ever. Planning and Preparation The effective preparation of all animals for shows requires a considerable amount of work and patience and cannot be done properly in a hurry, A miiek wash and brn/h nn th P dav A quick wash and brush up the day before the show does not put an animal into show condition. Pigs are not more difficult, possibly a good deal easier, to prepare for show than other animals, but they do require what can be called long-term preparation. Pigs are exhibited •in age groups, many for pigs of a very young age, an the first step for the would : be exhibitor is to arrange the farrowing dates of his sows to fit in with the dates of the shows at which he intends to exhibit. For instance, if a pig is to be exhibited in a class for animals over 6 months old but under 12 months old, it is obvious that a pig just over 6 months old is seriously handicapped when competing with a pig nearly 12 months old, owing to the vast difference in size of the animals. Arranging of farrowing dates so that pigs can be exhibited when near the upper age limit for their class is therefore of considerable importance. Pigs that are to be exhibited must be well grown, and great care should be taken to see that they do not suffer a check. As a high weaning weight is essential, efficient creep feeding should be employed for the suckling litter, The check at weaning that so many pigs suffer must be avoided at all costs, The use before and at weaning of a small quantity of tallow or fish oil is

well worth the cost. A small amount (about loz. of tallow or 1 teaspoon of fish oil per piglet) is fed in the creep for a week or 10 days before weaning, and at weaning the quantities are increased to 3oz. of tallow or 1 tablespoon of fish oil. The loss of the sow’s milk entails a considerable drop of very readily assimilable fat in a litter’s ration and it can be replaced very satisfactorily by feeding tallow or fish '. . Piglets should be left in their farrowquarters for at least 3 to 4 weeks after the sow has been taken away from them - Castration of boars can we n b e delayed until they are between 4 an( g m onths old, as there is then more time to study them before deciding which shall be retained. However, the greatest care must be taken when castrating pigs 4 to 6 months old and, if possible, veterinary aid should be secured. Value of Exercise . 1 , . , . , Pl fs after being weaned should get Plenty of exercise. They should be let out in good, clean grass paddocks as much as possible Exercise firms the P , U P> keeps them m good health, and improves their legs and feet, the last being very important. Some tram\ng in walking and being driven is desirable and makes the # handling of P*gs m and out of the judging ring very much easier. A pig that walks well will catch the judge s eye. At shows in some countries each pig has its own attendant in the judging ring who walks the pig round on the instructions of the judge in the same way that dairy cattle are shown here, Pigs, in consequence, are given much more thorough training in walking and answering to control. This undoubtedly gives the judge a much better chance to look each animal over thoroughly. The adoption of a similar system in New Zealand would be an

advantage, though on many showgrounds fairly large judging rings would have to be provided, but in many cases this would be a distinct improvement. . The foundations of a good show team are laid by careful attention to the points already mentioned; no amount of trouble taken later can repair the faults resulting from neglect of them. Preparation of Individual Animals The preparation of pigs for exhibition, especially of aged boars and sows, which may require a considerable amount of attention to get their skins and coats in good order, should start at least 2 months before the first show for which they are entered. Younger pigs require less preparation and the preparation can be left until later. The skin of older pigs, especially boars, tends to become scaly and dirt becomes ingrained and is not easy to move with soap and water. If the skin of white pigs becomes scaly, it is particularly difficult to get them in good order. The following treatment is very effective for dealing with pigs with scaly skin: Give the pig a generous dressing all over of pig oil (refined paraffin) and flowers of sulphur mixed to a .creamy consistency. This can be mixed in a tin and put on with a brush. Bed the pig down well, with clean straw if possible, and leave it until the dressing has disappeared, which will take a week to 10 days. Then wash the pig well with lukewarm water and a non-irritant soap; any reliable brand of yellow soap will do. Work up a good lather with a brush, but do not scrub the skin very hard. The pig should stand still and obviously enjoy the treatment. Next rinse the animal well with lukewarm water and remove as much surplus water as possible with the hands. To get the pig thoroughly dry cover it all over with white wood flour, if this can be obtained. This is very fine sawdust from a white, nonresinous wood, such as kahikatea. Leave the wood flour on until it is dry and then thoroughly brush it out, working in the direction in which , the hair grows. Dusting with white wood flour is particularly suitable for white pigs.

The treatment should leave the skin clean and free from scale. Sometimes an old boar will be so dirty that even the treatment recommended is not effective. In such a case a mixture of pig oil and powdered charcoal applied in the same way as pig oil and sulphur will usually clean the skin. The mixture is again left on until all signs of blackness have disappeared, and the pig is then well washed. Oiling Should not be Overdone Once the skin has been cleaned the pig should be given a light dressing of pig oil and be well brushed. Refined paraffin, which is comparatively cheap and can be purchased from most stores, is the most suitable oil. It is colourless and odourless, nuts a good gloss on the hair, and a little covers a large area. Neat’s-foot oil, which is widely used, is not satisfactory. It is dirty and has an unpleasant, clinging smell, and judges resent getting it on their hands or clothes. It also makes the pig’s coat sticky, which nullifies the effect of good brushing. To put a heavy dressing of oil on nigs immediately before they go into the judging ring as some exhibitors do is a mistake. A light dressing the dav before judging is sometimes useful if a pig has got very dirty in transit and has to be well washed. Transport . Care should be taken to see that nivs are transported to shows as comfortably as possible. If pigs are sent in crates, a good plan is to hang sacks of hay or straw to the back of each crate. This will prevent rubbing and chafing, especially with boars. When pigs are railed two wagon sheets should be used. Pigs are usually placed in J wagons (sheep trucks) and one sheet should be placed over, the top of the wagon and the other right down one side to prevent, draughts. Boars or sows of different ages should be separated in the truck by hurdles. Only pigs of similar size

that are used to being together should be in the same part of the truck and they should be given plenty of room. The same precautions apply when pigs are moved by road. Care must be taken to see that the pigs are comfortable; too often they are crowded and cramped and they arrive scratched, dirty and bruised, and not infrequently lame. All the work that has been done to prepare them for the show is wasted. A sheet to protect pigs from the weather while they are on the road is well worth while. Loading and unloading must be done carefully, and loading races should be in good order. Show associations should provide good unloading facilities, and if they are inadequate exhibitors should demand that they be improved. Final Preparations Skilful brushing can make a great difference in a pig’s appearance. In fact, a Pood deal can be done to make a pie appear longer by. brushing the coat from head to, tail, finishing up at the back of the hams. This grooming tends to carry the judge’s eve along the line of the pig’s coat. The tassel of the nip’s tail should be fluffed out attractively. as this improves the animal’s appearance. Though it is undoubtedly true that show-ring judging alone is not. a satisfactory method of selecting breeding stock, it does nrovi.de an opportunity of studying the points of the live animal. Performance records and a knowledge of the conditions under which the records were made and how to interpret the records, when combined with an. inspection of the live animal, form the only really satisfactory method of selecting breeding stock. If stock are shown, they should look as well as they can be made to look. That is expected of exhibitors by both judges and the public.