Show Livestock Experience
Miles Maas
Advanced Composition
Mrs. Rahn
11/22/12
Maas 2
Abstract
Showing livestock takes a lot of work and dedication. One of the main parts of
showing livestock is showmanship. Showmanship involves both preparing your animal
and actually showing it. Another major part is selecting a proper feed for your animal.
One of the toughest things is to select the best pig at the sale. Many people that are big
into showing will strive to be very competitive at shows. The goal of many people
showing is to have a grand champion animal.
Maas 3
I. Showing animals
A. Showmanship
1. Showing practices
2. Exercise Program
3. Feeding Program
B. Judging
1. Selecting a Champion
2. What’s A good Animal
C. Project (Animal)
1. What looks good
II. Cattle
A. Heifers
1. Mother Qualities
B. Steers
1. Show Look
2. Ability to grow
III. Pigs
A. Barrow
B. Gilt
IV. (results)
A. Champion
B. End Product
Maas 4
Show Livestock Experience
I have been involved in showing livestock and truly enjoyed it, but never
understood why one was a champion. I felt before this project it was purely a genetics
deal. I have since learned there is a lot more involved than that. The first thing that I
learned was about showmanship. The second thing that I learned that goes into making a
champion is a good high quality feed. The third thing I learned that proved I was partially
right was that genetics play a role but not the whole role. The fourth thing I learned was
about what it takes to have a facility and sows to raise show stock. Showing livestock
will not only teach the responsibility of taking care of animals but will also train future
ranchers in what to look for when picking out good commercial livestock.
Showmanship is a major part of any livestock showman’s experience. A major
part of showmanship for both swine and cattle is getting the livestock fitted correctly.
Fitting an animal is when one bathes an animal and trims the hair to give the animal the
proper show ring appearance. For swine, “a good fitting job and a skilled showman can
certainly help a good pig show even better” (Pond 116). While that good fitting job is
important for showmanship class, it is just as important to have them fit throughout the
whole day. Pond states, “Showmanship is not meant to be a different game from market
class. The same preparation and skills that are expected in showmanship will also help
the animal place better in a market class. If we were to bring two pigs of similar
conformation into a market swine class but leave one of them dirty, I’ll guarantee the
clean one will win every time. The clean, well-fitted animal always looks better” (Pond
116).
Maas 5
Preparing a pig for shows is not just the morning of the show process. If one goes
to any show they are likely to hear showmanship is won at home. I have often wondered
what this actually meant and through this project I have learned what this phrase means.
Pond says, “Early training should concentrate on getting the pig used to the cane or whip
and acquainted with the showman. The pig should be tame enough that the showman can
put his hands on it, but we do not want to make a pet of the pig” (Pond 117). Another
important part of showmanship is trying to keep them clean while they are at home. Pond
states, “Most pigs will only need a couple of washings, a week or so before going to the
show, if they are kept in a clean pen after washing. Daily brushing, beginning a couple of
weeks before the show, will improve the appearance of the hair coat and help clean the
pig” (Pond 117).
Clipping or giving them a haircut is another important step to having a champion
hog. Pond explains how to clip a pig, “hair is normally clipped from the upper third of the
tail or all the way down to the switch, depending upon what part of the country you are in.
The underline can be trimmed starting just above the teat line and trimming down and
under the belly” (Pond, p 118). This is only the basic of what needs to be done for a
champion showman.
Knowing Kevin Hoff was a member of the SDSU Livestock Judging Team made
him a knowledgeable source. Kevin stated, “Showmanship is all about what you have
talked about but you also need to know about the current market and what your animal
eats. Being able to make them do what you want is also important, for example the judge
may ask you to drive your animal right at them and if you are unable to do so, they are
most likely not going to pick you to win. That is what every one means when you are at a
Maas 6
show and hearing them say showmanship is won at home, all the hours walking your pig
up and down the drive way and in the open areas, but also feeding them marshmallows
and playing with them so they know they can trust you”(Hoff). Kevin also focused on
important questions to know for showmanship, “The most common questions I would say
is pounds of feed fed per day or what your pig’s ear notches are. They may also ask you
what you would like to change about your animal and this is really a personal preference.
Now they could also ask you were certain parts of the pig are located, or what the loin
eye is. When you are showing an animal it is important to know a little bit about it. They
may also ask you for the major breeds for your specific animal” (Hoff).
Showing livestock allows one to meet many valuable resources. One of the few is
Amy Wolff of Grant County; she stated “I have showed livestock for 14 years, I have
showed beef cattle, sheep, goats and hogs”(Wolff). Some may wonder why a person
would wish to show so many different species, she stated “It’s the challenge of being able
to compete in all aspects as far as a feed and supplement program that will be different
for each animal as well as they are all going to need to be taken care of differently”
(Wolff). With her winning showmanship classes constantly and being successful she
seems to be a very reliable source for this topic and many people in the show hog
industry would agree greatly. Amy stated, “Even though my dad and brother have both
attended SDSU and were on the livestock judging team, I feel I have been self taught and
that’s a huge thing for me”(Wolff).
Amy stated what caused her to be so driven. Amy stated “It is my family
encouraging me and my own self drive. I have always been striving to do my very best in
all that I do, but if it wasn’t for my dad and my brother I would be no where, especially
Maas 7
without my dad driving me to sales and shows. I have set goals for my self and I always
aim to beat them or at least attain them” (Wolff). Since Amy is also a senior in high
school I wanted to know if she had plans to go into a livestock orientated field, Amy
stated “I have applied to SDSU of course because of my dad and brother, but I have also
applied to Butler in Kansas and also Redlands in Oklahoma, I have been accepted to all
three and will go to either and be apart of livestock judging team, and hopefully some day
be hired by the NSR” (Wolff). The NSR, National Swine Registry, is one of the biggest
honors to be known by members of this organization. Amy stated, “If you are known by
any one in the NSR on a first name basis you have either done something very special or
made very good friends in the swine industry, and you are one of those people who have
made a name for yourself in the show pig world”(Wolff).
Amy stated, “I would have to say some of my best friends are in the show
livestock community; I do consider any one that I talk to at every show and hang out with
to be a very good friend. Now do I get to see them all of the time well no, but I do talk to
most all of them at least once a week and some more than that” (Wolff).
Still wanting to get her take on what she thought was the most important thing she has
learned from being around the show ring, so I asked her. Amy said “While having your
pig ready and looking its best is important and I feel that you also need to meet new
people and make new friends, because some of the connections you make in the show
ring now will last you the rest of your life and you will have a group of close friends that
share the same interest” (Wolff).
Amy stated, “Well, you need to look proper so first off no low cut shirts or holy
jeans for girls and guys need to wear a nice shirt and nice jeans”(Wolff). What does being
Maas 8
a top showman take? Amy stated “You hit the ring, drive at the judge let him see front
side and rear view then stay out of the way until the class is all in, then drive him at the
judge and away from the judge be sure to show off only the animal’s good traits” (Wolff).
Some of Amy’s pointers are, “Keep eye contact with the judge so you know if he has
penned you or not and also smile, judges are going to think you are enjoying yourself and
will move you up higher. It is also important to be prepared for questions” (Wolff).
Selecting a good high quality feed is going to be your next major challenge.
Pond states, “Once you have located a good pig, a proper feeding program will almost
assure a good show pig at the desired market weight at the time of your show”(Pond, p
110). Now with that being said the question of what is a good high quality feed is posed
and most would assume it is the top dollar feed, but that is not always the case. Pond
states, “The nutritionist explained that you may buy a feed with 14 percent crude protein,
but whether the feed contains the amino acids needed by the pig depends upon the source
of protein in the feed. The total protein level doesn’t tell the whole story. If one or more
amino acids are deficient, the cheapest feed may be the most expensive” (Pond, p111).
While that is almost always true as Pond states “Therefore, you should be sure the feed
tag lists at least contains an adequate level of protein, but you must also depend upon
personal experience and the experience of others to determine the performance you can
expect from a particular feed”(Pond, p 111). “Should you hand feed the pigs or put them
on a self feeder?“ (Pond, p 113) That question carries heavy weight and depends on
whom you ask. Mike Clark, who raises show pigs locally, said, “Yes, you should because
by putting as much as the want to eat in front of them they are going to grow more”
(Clark). Kevin Hoff stated, “I wouldn’t self feed a pig due to the fact that if you are hand
Maas 9
feeding you will be out there looking them over ever day and know when something is
wrong, and it is also going to make it easier to figure out if your animal is eating
properly”(Hoff). When asked about hand feeding and different brands of feeds Mike
Clark said, “We have a MoorMan's ShowTec Sixteen No. 12116AAA (non-medicated)
and MoorMan's ShowTec Eighteen No. 12118AAA (non-medicated) it is what all the
guys in Texas are adding to there regular grind and mix feed and are having excellent
results”(Clark). He then explained more about feed additives. Mike said, “We have a
new feed company coming in called Essential Feeds; they have a product called Essential
Barrow Milk, it is designed to add shape and body to the top, they also have Wide Open
and X-Pand-O they are to add rib shape and deepness of body” (Clark). Mike also spoke
about paylean and joint supplements. He stated, “MoorMan's ShowTec Lean
Maximizer No. 11102DB (25 lb pail) that will help to build muscle mass and EquiSential Stroll’n is the newest in a long line of joint supplements”(Clark).
How do you determine if you will have a good pig or not at the end date? Well
according to Pond “This is hereditary. The pig is born with potential for good
conformation and fast growth, or he is born with nothing but a curly tail and a nice
personality. Even pigs from the same litter are sometimes quite different, if genetics
behind them aren’t uniform”(pond, p 105). This will tell you how the mom did in her life
at past shows as well as the father, but that still leaves us unsure as to what makes the sire
and the dam so good. According to Pond, “What do you look for in selecting project
pigs? Of course you look for length and evidence of good muscling; and you look for one
that looks healthy, which is another subject in itself”(Pond, p 107). While that is an idea
Pond states, “I think the most important thing is to find a pig with good breeding. Not a
Maas 10
registered pig probably, but a pig from stock that has the ability to grow well and finish
as a good market hog. You are dependent on the breeder to have the kind of animal you
want”(Pond p 107).
Kevin Hoff explained what makes the pig good in terms that were easier to
understand. Kevin stated, “You are going to need the pig with good length but not overly
long, but you are also going to need to have a nice wide square base. The pig needs to be
able to put both feet down square and not swing them when they walk. They will need to
have good muscle shape, meaning the top of their tail head sits up right and the ham is
big enough to keep the base you started with looking normal”(Hoff). Does that same
thing apply for all animals? Kevin stated, “No matter what animal you are trying to pick
out, they are exactly the same just different sized, meaning their frame size and foot size.
If you have an animal that carries a lot of mass you need to look to make sure that their
foot is big enough to carry them to their ideal market weight”(Hoff).
Mike Clark said, “Chuck Olsen of Olsen Yorkshires has always said you have to
start at the ground and make sure that they are square and they put them down square and
look clean fronted and sided from all angles” (Clark). I then went and looked in the book
to see how much a pig should cost, Pond says, “How much should you pay for a project
pig? I think something above market price for feeder pigs is to be expected. The breeder
is providing a quality animal and often giving a choice of his best stock. He also deserves
premium for the extra effort involved”(Pond p 108).
Once one knows how to feed and have a good show hog then they need to know
how to raise a good show pig from sow to truck. According to Hasheider, “To get started
you’ll need land, buildings, and equipment. Purchasing a farm generally involves
Maas 11
purchasing a business as well as because there are financial considerations whether you
work the land, rent it to another party, or leave it to lay fallow”(Hasheider p 12).
Hasheider also stated, “When purchasing or renting a farm, factors such as location and
size of the farm, soil type, house or dwelling, buildings available, and a number of other
intrinsic factors including schools, social outlets, and sense of community may be
important to you and your family”(Hasheider p 12).
The next step according to Hasheider is buying your first pig, “Overall health of
the pig is more important than physical condition, although the two can be closely linked.
A healthy pig typically is an aggressive eater, alert, and adventuresome. The quickest
way to determine the health of any pig is simply to look at it. Does the animal appear to
be alert? Does it have clear, dry eyes? Is it sneezing or coughing?” (Hasheider p 14)
Hasheider stated, “If you have little to no experience with raising pigs, you may want to
consider starting with a small number, whether they are pregnant sows or feeder pigs.
This minimizes your initial investment, requires less labor, and allows you to familiarize
yourself with pig-raising process. As you gain experience, confidence, and expertise, it
will be easier to plan for more pigs”(Hasheider, p14).
Mike Clark started with nothing and now is very much a successful person in the
show pig industry. He has farrowed a grand champion Duroc gilt that has competed at a
national level. Mike Clark said that what he had to do to get started was, “I worked in a
confinement and went in with the goal of making the hogs better. With that goal I went
out looking for a good boar to make my sows better and I did but ended up letting
someone else feed them for me but the problem came in which they were sold before I
was able to buy them back”(Clark).
Maas 12
When asked where the idea for having show pigs came from, Clark said, “It was
from pulling pigs off the feed floor and having success, I had always planned to buy the
confinement but never got it done, I was starting to have my own sows and Chuck Olsen
was selling me semen to make the quality better in the pigs. I then bought the current
place that I live on after the confinement was sold; I started breeding a few sows for my
kids to show. We were beating the big boys in my mind”(Clark). That was the most
inspiring thing I had heard and wanted to ask him what was breeding a champion show
pig like? Clark said, “It is very emotional and unbelievable experience, watching you
show your Duroc Gilt and being named champion at the National Barrow Show in Austin,
MN was a very proud day. That was actually one of my goals was to breed a pig that
could win a show like that. I will take credit for that but I know and have always known
someone who puts in the hard work and the money can do a lot with a pig” (Clark).
Clark stated, “It will kind of depend more so on who is feeding the pig and how it
is taken care of, if it is not taken care of and fed well it will not turn out to be a champion”
(Clark). With all that he has taught me, I felt it necessary to make him a leading source
because with out all of his time and hard work teaching me the basics every time we
talked I would still be unsure of what makes an animal a good one.
To conclude, showmanship is a major part of the showing process. A lot of work
goes into go into making your project the best. Feeding proper and quality feed can make
ones project better. It can be hard to select the best pig, but it is important to remember
the basics like their structure and their muscle shape. In order to raise good pigs you need
to have a place that is sufficient for them and practical for your budget. A lot of work
goes into breeding and raising a champion pig. It can take years before you finally get a
Maas 13
champion hog so you have to keep working hard at it. Each little thing can make a big
difference.
Maas 14
Work Cited
Clark, Mike. Personal Interview. 23 October 2012.
Hasheider, Philip. How to Raise Pigs. Minneapolis: MBi Publishing Company, Voyageur
Press, 2008. Print.
Hoff, Kevin. Interview by Miles Maas. 9 August 2012.
Pond, Roger. Livestock Showman's Handbook. 1st. Goldendale: Pine Forest Publishing,
1986. Print.
Wolff, Amy. Telephone Interview. 23 November 2012.