ANS96-808S

Swine Exhibitor's Project Guide
(7 - 8 Years of Age)

Matthew C. Claeys
Extension Livestock Specialist

Sharon B. Rogers
Extension Livestock Technician

General Knowledge Information

Taking part in a 4-H Livestock Project can be an exciting and rewarding experience. Through the swine project you are given the opportunity to learn about taking care of an animal, working with other young people, and developing sound judgment skills. When beginning with any new project or activity it is a learning experience for all involved, but remember the more you practice and participate the more you will develop the necessary skills to be a success.

Below are the most important aspects that you should know about your project animal to make your learning experience complete. These items will expand your knowledge above the five and six year old level into new more challenging areas.

Items to Learn and Know

• Basic information from the 5 - 6 year old Project Guide (ANS 96-807S)
• Differences between concentrates (energy and protein)
• Products produced - cuts of pork - Ham, Pork chop, Tenderloin, Bacon, etc.
• Monogastric digestive system with its single stomach
• Physical strengths and weaknesses of your exhibit animal

Species terminology:	Boar - male	Barrow - castrated male
	Sow - mature female	Gilt - immature female

 

Body Parts to Know
Flank Neck / Jowl Ham Pastern  Hock Shoulder Loin Stifle

Basic Equipment to Know
Hurdle	Ear notcher	Needle teeth clippers	Ear tagger

Swine Showmanship Danish Standards for 7 and 8 Year Old Exhibitors

Showmanship provides the opportunity to show an animal to the best of your ability. You are judged on how well you show your animal. Judging for showmanship does not include the conformation of the animal. Practice and planning will help you improve your showmanship skills. A "Swine Showmanship" fact sheet (ANS 96-805S) and a "4-H Market Hog Manual" are available from your county Cooperative Extension office for more in depth coverage of showmanship styles and care of the project animal.

Below are the showmanship standards for 7 and 8 year old youth. These standards are established to provide youth with guidelines of the more important aspects of developing showmanship skills.

Showmanship Skills to Develop

1. Be able to perform all the tasks required for the 5 - 6 year olds. (ANS 96-807S)
2. Control animal with proper technique.
3. Ability to display your animal so that the judge has the best view of the animal at all
4. times.
5. Be aware of the surroundings and show process. Watch the judge, your animal, and the other exhibitors.
6. Be courteous and helpful to the other exhibitors.
7. Answer age-appropriate questions.

Reviewed by: Darwin G. Braund, Ph.D., William L. Flowers, Ph.D., and M. Todd See, Ph.D., Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University.