Pig show
Pig show is a judged event or display where pigs compete to win various titles in each category. Pigs are scored on their market quality which includes muscle, fat, and body structure along with qualities they must possess for their specific breed. Other names for a pig show include swine show and hog show. A pig show is frequently part of a larger agricultural show.
History of the pig show
Pig shows started out on farms where the owner and other pig farmers would gather to decide which pig had the best qualities for breeding.
A show is typically divided up into classes so that the judge can study fewer pigs at a time. The structure is made so that there are division champions and reserve champions and ultimately an over-all Grand Champion. [1]
Swine judging
Swine judging is the process of selectively ordering swine or domestic pigs in order to determine the superior specimen. For market hogs, traits are ranked in order of their importance: Degree of muscling, growth, capacity or volume, degree of leanness, structure and soundness.[2] For maternal line breeding gilts, the traits by order of importance are: Structure and soundness, Growth, Underline quality, Capacity or volume, Degree of muscling, Degree of leanness.[3]
Pig shows by country
Major Pig shows in the United States
| Name of Pig Show | Location |
|---|---|
| Weanling Pig Extravaganza | Richmond, Indiana |
| World Pork Expo and Junior Event | Des Moines, Iowa |
| Summer Type Conference and National Junior Summer Spectacular | Louisville, Kentucky |
| Lincoln County Fair | Troy, Missouri |
| Socorro County Fair | Socorro, New Mexico |
| Oklahoma Youth Expo | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
| Southwest Type Conference | Belton, Texas |
| Southwest Hampshire Type Conference | Sweetwater, Texas |
Pig shows in People's Republic of China
In China, the first pig show was the Guangdong Breeding Pigs Auction which began January 18, 1996.[4] Most pig shows in china are pig-breeding auctions. More than 10 provinces have in the past hosted these pig-breeding auctions, but only two provinces (Guangdong Province and Hubei Province) still host it.[5]
| Name of Pig Show | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Guangdong Pig Industry Expo(Chinese: 广东省养猪产业博览会) | Guangzhou, Guangdong Province | June 16 - June 18 and December 16 - December 18, twice per year |
| Hubei Breeding Pigs Auction(Chinese: 湖北种猪测定拍卖会) | Wuhan, Hubei Province | October 17 - October 18, once per year |
Pig Show in Australia
In Australia, The Sydney Royal Easter Show Competition is held annually. The Sydney Royal Easter Show is one of the largest and most prestigious Pig Shows in Australia. It is held in Sydney, at the Paddington Pavilion. Pigs were exhibited at the first Sydney Royal Easter Show in 1858 and the pig competition has been held at nearly every show since. Exhibitors that compete at the Sydney Royal Pig Show are often from small family-based Stud farms.[6]
Pig breeds exhibited include: Berkshire (pig), Duroc (pig), Hampshire (pig), American Landrace, Large White pig, Tamworth pig Wessex Saddleback pig.
See also
Notes
- ↑ Wendt,K.
- ↑ "Ranking of Traits for Market Hogs". University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture. Retrieved 2011-08-19.
- ↑ "Ranking of Traits for Maternal Line Breeding Gilts". University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture. Retrieved 2011-08-19.
- ↑ 拍卖与养猪生产发展的融合——第7届湖北种猪拍卖展销暨学术交流会 (in Chinese). 中国种猪信息网. Retrieved 2007-10-19.
- ↑ 广东省种猪拍卖会举行 长白种猪2万元夺魁 (in Chinese). 广东农业信息网. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
- ↑ Sydney Royal Pig Show http://www.sydneyroyal.com.au/Pig.htm
External links
- National Swine Registry
- Swine Genetics Publications
- Purdue Pork Page
- Babcock Genetics Inc.
- Babcock Genetics Inc.
- Chinese Pig Show
