Raising show pigs on concrete flooring, Whats your opinion

-- RL. Browning (Rlbdstars@yahoo.com), March 07, 2002

Answers

Concrete floors contribute to erysipelas, and of course, if they can't root in the ground you have to supplement minerals.

If you clean the pigs before show time, they should be fine raising them outside in a more natural environment.

-- Dia (moocow@gpcom.net), March 07, 2002.

I have a one-word opinion on raising ANY pig on concrete - DON'T! It's not good for the pig healthwise; the upkeep & clean-up labor is increased, and your pig(s) won't smile much! I have very little respect for any confinement operation, or semi-confinement operation unless the pigs are allowed to run the pasture free-will.

I've never raised show pigs (though I may start pretty soon), but unless the rules require that they're raised inside on solid flooring, they'd be right out there in the pasture with all my other pigs!

On the other hand, I've raised many pasture pigs, feeding with a corn/milo/soy bean meal ration, and (if I may say so myself) our pork melts in your mouth! Not only that, but my pigs smile a LOT :8)!

While I'm on this subject, I'd like to give a thumbs-up to a homesteader's product that we tried just last night on our pork chops that made them REAL TASTY as they melted - PERECT PORK - thanks Kristean!

OH! My DW just read this over my shoulder and thought it a bit snippy - not meant to be that way at all. My pigs are my pride and joy and I most likely don't make much money on them because I baby then quiet a bit. Hope I didn't ruffle any feathers here!

-- Phil in KS (pigfarmerphil@yahoo.com), March 07, 2002.

Concrete has its good and bad points. Show Hogs do better on concrete than dirt. The Show Hog and the Homestead Hog are two different animals. Hogs raised on dirt tend to digest some dirt which will make them flabby which is not good on a Show Hog, a little flab is fine for the Homestead Hog. They will also eat acorns and roots that will also make them fat. Acorns are great for the Homestead Hog.

Your Show Hog should be exercised for a least one hour per day, this should be done out in the pasture. Exercising your Show Hog will help to keep him trim and lean and doing it in the pasture will help to eliminate some of the problems that can accur when being on concrete 24/7. The one hour exercising regmint will aso make him gentler and easier to handle in the Show Ring.

If I was building a Show Hog pen I would make it 8 foot wide by 20 foot long, concrete floor and a 5 foot wide platform at one end of the pen raised off the floor 4 or 5 feet with a ramp leading to the top, I would enclose the platform and the ramp with stock panels so the Hog would not fall off. I would feed my hog on top of the platform and I would put the waterer on the oppisite end of the pen. I always place a couple of old bowling balls in the pen for the hog to play with using his rooting instincts. I would keep the floor covered with a nice layer of shavings and shovel out the soiled and wet spots everyday.

Their are many Feed Companies now making feeds designed just for Show Hogs, spend the extra money and buy them. NEVER feed a Show Hog free choice, feed him all he can eat in about 15 minutes morning and night and always make sure he has clean fresh water avalible at all times (I use a Hog Nipple waterer).

The number One thing to in Show Hogs is genatics, you can build the best pen. feed the best feed and excercise him faithfully, but if he does not have the right genatics you will not place well in the Show Ring.

My Niece just finished showing a hog at the SouthEastrn Youth Fair here in Marion County. This was her last year after showing for the last five years with the local FFA chapter (she will graduate this May). She had a yellow ribbion Hog in her weight Class (250 - 255). Her Hog sold for $3.75 per pound at the Auction.

I have a younger Niece and Nephew coming up and I hope I can help them if they decide to join the 4-H or FFA.

Good Luck!

-- Mark in N.C. Fla. (deadgoatman@webtv.net), March 08, 2002.

We raise show hogs as do some of our friends. One friend raises them on concrete and loves it. Once, we did have to keep his boar for several months because the concrete was making it gimpy. White hogs raised in dirt will always keep a little yellow staining on there skin. We use sand for our show hogs, our own feeders are pastured. Sand is very easy on the hogs, and easy to clean up. Use a manure fork and you get the manure and the sand sifts through. Our show hogs are not kept in small pens, we have a very large pen for them. I agree about the genetics. When we first started with hogs, we got feeders from a local farm. The meat was great, better than any grocery store. When we started buying good show hogs, the meat is much better than even the feeders. They are bred for growth and muscling. We currently have some great lines of hogs, mostly sold ot our sons for great prices to help them get started. Good luck with your pigs.

-- Joanie (ber-gust@prodigy.net), March 09, 2002.