2014-2015 Montgomery FFA Swine Information
(John Slaughter)
Estimated Budget- This budget is an ESTIMATE of the expenses for raising a pig. It may
be more or less depending on several factors, which are listed below.
Purchasing a pig- If needed Montgomery FFA will gladly select your show barrow. The
Montgomery County Barrows will be purchased in late November/early December so we would
like the money turned in before we leave for Thanksgiving break. If your are interested in
Houston Livestock show and San Antonio Barrows they will need to be purchased before that so
let us know. We like to start our Show barrows out at around $500. Montgomery County Fair is a
very competitive county fair and we strive to purchase an animal that the student can be
successful with. We can also work with whatever your personal budget. If a family does not have
$500 to spend on a barrow we have places to purchase those particular pigs. If a family insists on
a higher budget Barrow we can work with that as well.
Feed: Feed prices will vary depending on brand, store and ingredients. It is estimated $350 for
the feeding process.
Pen Supplies: The pens are required to have clean shavings on a regular basis and fresh bedding
in the pig box. It is estimated $150 for these supplies.
Entry Fee/Validation Fee: The Montgomery County Fair The entry fee is $20 and is due in
February.
Miscellaneous Supplies: Throughout the process, your pig may require additional items, such as
Hanging feeders, shampoo, brushes, show sticks, feed bins, medication etc. An estimated $100
should be plenty to cover these supplies.
Facilities – The first thing you will need is somewhere to keep it. Here are some suggestions for
your pig pen. Montgomery ISD does have an Agriculture Science Facility where
Montgomery FFA/Jr. FFA can keep their Swine Projects. Contact gjolly@misd.org for
details.
1) Pen should be dry. I know that pigs like mud but muddy pens can cause lameness,
pigs do not gain as well in mud, and it makes it difficult to work with your pig.
2) Pen should be covered – You will need to provide protection from the heat and
sun in the summer and the cold and rain in the winter. White pigs or any pig with
white on them will sunburn especially after they are clipped for show. Keep in mind if you build
a hog pen to make sure the north wall is blocked. We raise swine through the winter and cold
front winds out of the north can be rough on a pig.
3) Provide at least 60 square foot (6ft X 10ft) per pig if on concrete and at least
double that amount if on sand. Pigs that are kept in small pens will require more
exercise.
4) A exercise pen is a good idea, but pigs can be exercised out in the open.
5) Clay and blackland soils usually do not make good pens. These soils are hard on
the pigs feet and legs.
6) If pig is kept on concrete, layer with either wood shavings or Washed Concrete Sand. These
pens must be cleaned regularly and the shavings or sand replaced.
7) Clean fresh water must be available at all times. People often underestimate the
amount of water a pig requires.
What are some of the things to consider when picking a pig?
1) Ideally the pig should be between 6 and 7 months old at show time. Most shows
require that the pigs weigh between 230 lbs and 280 lbs at the show. Pigs that are
younger than 6 months old may not enough at show time. Pigs that are too old
may need to be held and may loose their muscle shape.
2) Breed is a personal choice however crossbreds will win the show over 50% of the
time. However in shows that show by breed, there are advantages to showing
purebreds, for example the Duroc or Other Pure Bread OPB division may not be as
competitive as the Cross or Hampshire division .
3) Make sure that your Pigs are earnotched and castrated. Montgomery County fair is a
BARROW show so this means that all pigs are males and MUST be castrated.
4) Pick a pig that is big boned, adequate length of body, wide based, big topped, muscular ham,
and walks smoothly.
Currently the judges are picking pigs with production traits, such as larger bodies, more bone,
more width between the front and rear legs, and a little more fat on them than a
couple of years ago. The judges want muscle shape such as a wide flat top and a
big butt. Remember that pigs that win are complete hogs, for example the biggest
butted pig or the longest pig will probably not win the show. The pigs that win
are pigs that have a combination of all of these traits.
Feeding a Barrow- First and foremost, your pigs need to be checked on TWICE a day. This
means before school AND in the evenings. Pigs should be checked on and feed in 12 hour
intervals. There are numerous feed brands in the market today that all work well for Swine. In
the area we have access to Lindners and Purina that can be purchased at C&S feed in downtown
Montgomery. But each exhibitor is welcome to feed which ever feed they want. Every Hog is
different and requires a personalized feeding program. If you have feeding questions please
email me at jslaughter@misd.org and we can set up a visit and Program.
Worming your pig- Deworm your pig every 30 days. It is best to switch wormers each time.
Safeguard is a good wormer to start with and consult your local feed store for the swine wormers
they have in stock.
Medication- if your pig gets sick tend to it immediately, do not put it off! LA-200 works well
for sickness, it will last for 3 days. Administer this medication intramuscular in the neck behind
the ear. If your pig starts limping , use Lincomix 300 for 3 days in a row. If your pig has the
scours use Imodium AD and put a little bit of oats in each feeding. Consult your vet for
withdraws before administering any medication or for any other problems/questions. Pigs are
hard to kill, but very easy to determine sickness. Some general signs to look for are:
Not eating, Diarrhea, Excessive Coughing, Eye discharge, Hernia or abscess on belly or
rear, Unusually dry skin
Montgomery County Fair Pig Tag in- Jan 06, 2015- 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Registration and Tag-In of animals to be shown in the 2015 Fair will be held in the
livestock barn at the Fairgrounds. Pictures of the animal must be submitted at this time
along with the ear notch card. The Pig, Student and Parent Must be present at tag in.
The Swine Weigh in/Check in for the Fair is Friday April 10th and the exhibitor will be
responsible for the care of the project until the show on Monday April 13th at 11 am.
For any additional questions on the fair times and deadlines please go to www.mcfa.org
Prior To The Show
 Have your animal clipped prior to the show
 Wash it the day of the show
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Keep your pen cleaned
Brush your hog daily (Brush with the direction the hair grows)
Get your hog out of the pen and drive him around the yard. Let him get used to you –
this will help once in the show ring
Have plenty of water and feed for the show
What Is Showmanship?
 Exhibiting an animal to a judge in a competitive manor
 Showmanship – judging your ability to present the animal.
 Weight Classes – judging the market hog only
 Sometimes the animal will not cooperate – If this happens keep your cool and just have
fun
Here Are Some Tips For The Show Ring
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enter the show ring promptly when your class is called
know where the judge is at all times
when moving your pig, have a stick in hand; guide your pig with the tip
keep a small brush in your pocket to use to remove any sawdust or dirt than may get on
your pig or if the judge touches your pig
drive your pig gently behind the front flank or on the side to move it forward
• never hit the pig on the back, rump, or snout
• keep the pig between you and the judge; the pig should be kept 10 to 15 feet away
from the judge
• When showing your pig, stay out of large groups-- try to keeping your pig
walking and in open spaces where the judge can see it!
You And Your Animal
 Both should be neat
 No hats, or gum
 Nice shirt, pants etc.
 Clip or have animal clipped properly
 Wear something eye catching
 Be ready in your pen when called to the ring
 Don’t rush to the ring
 No Paint – spray down with water
Exercise And Show Ring Training
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Enter the ring with everything you need
The brush – to keep your animal clean – a small brush works great
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The driving device – show stick,
Silence is golden the less noise you make the better
Easy on the stick in the ring or out
A show pig needs to be trained and physically fit. You should walk your pig in a show
ring setting and train it to drive and turn. Do not let your pig run. Train it to walk. 30 days
before the show, you should walk your pig daily so it will have enough endurance for the
show for at least 30 to 45 minutes without stopping or running out of breath. Having a
conditioned pig that you are able to present can be the difference in 1rst and 2nd place.
The more you work with your pig the better it will act at the show.
Things To Do
 Look at the judge at all times and glance at your hog – eye contact is a must
 Work slow but steady – you may be in the ring for a while
 Hold the device parallel to the animals back – don’t swap hands
 Use stick when needed – if you hogs is going good let him go
 Stay out of the crowd, and away from the rail and corners
 Know your tag number and ear notch number
 Take what you need to the show. Plenty of feed and a way to water your hogs
Things Not To Do
 Never, never cross between the animal and the judge
 Never touch the animal with your hands – remember you have a stick
 Don’t grin or smile overboard – be cool as a cucumber but have fun
 Show the judge all sides of your animal – especially the good parts
 Stay 10 to 15 feet away from the judge don’t get to close
 Never stop showing until the judge tells you to stop
 No oil, paint, powder, or other dressage will be permitted on swine. (ONLY WATER
WILL BE ALLOWED)
Hair And Skin Care
 White pigs-Wash weekly and keep out of the sun. DO NOT put oil on white pigs!
Start washing 30 days before the show.
 Dark pigs- wash weekly and keep conditioner on their skin to prevent drying or
cracking. Dark pigs need sunlight.
 Brush your pig the same direction the hair grows
Clipping Show Hogs
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Wait as long as possible so you will have a fresh haircut.
Clip the head and underline with a O-A or a 1. Clip the
body with a 1 or a 2 depending on the pig and who is
judging. DO NOT SHAVE THE PIGS BODY. This will
make it look stale.
You will need to make plans to have your hogs clipped. You need to wash your hog prior
to it being clipped. We will be clipping hogs the week before Montgomery County fair.
On the day we clip your hog do not feed him that morning. We will use feeding to keep
him occupied while we clip him. If we don’t hear from I will assume you had them
clipped. No time to clip on show day and No clipping at the fairgrounds.
Feeding At The Show
 Keep feeding normal rations of feed and water. Do not starve or pull your pig
hard unless you are fighting a weight problem. If you hold your pig remember to
rehydrate your pig with fluids. Use oats to keep your pigs stool solid. You should
show your pig with a normal, natural fill. Do not show your pig pig gutted or
dehydrated.
Have fun and enjoy your project. Learn
about your pig. Pigs are allot of fun and
each one has its own personality. Pigs are
a great project and good luck!!! If you
need me between now and then my email
address is jslaughter@misd.org or you
can contact me at the school at 936-5973137