Swine

MANUALS (Manuals are not required but can be used as resources.)

• BU 08065 The Incredible Pig

• BU 08066 Putting the Oink in Pig

• BU 0867 Going Whole Hog

EXHIBIT OPTIONS

Members may choose to exhibit any combination of live animals, a poster, and/or present a Project Interact detailing some aspect of the Swine project. The poster (not a state fair project) and Project Interact options may be in place of or in addition to the live animal exhibit. Posters must meet poster guidelines described in 4-H Fair Exhibit Information section of this handbook and relate to some area of the manual the member is currently using. Project Interact guidelines are also found in this section. Posters must be entered on Thursday morning before the 4-H Fair begins with most of the other non-animal 4-H projects. 

GENERAL RULES

1. Each exhibitor must enroll their animals on the state 4-H Online animal enrollment website to compete in any class at the county fair or state fair. This MUST BE completed by May 15.

2. Please refer to the Indiana State Fair requirements if planning to potentially exhibit at the state level. DNA hair samples are required by the ISF and must be turned in by May 15 to the Extension Office.

3. All pigs must be farrowed on or after December 1 of previous year for county and state fair and must be identified by ear notch and RFID number in order to participate in either the county or the state fair.

4. All swine must be in 4-Hers possession and ear notched by May 15. Ear notches must be correct and match online enrollment and purebred papers. If you need assistance with reading ear notches please call a superintendent. No ear notches will be changed after May 15^th. No pigs will be added after May 15^th.

5. All swine will be tagged with an 840-RFID tag by the 4-H member by the May 15th deadline. RFID tags will be funded by the swine project for the first 6 tags per exhibitor. Any tags requested beyond 6 tags or any replacement tags will be charged to the exhibitor by the extension office staff upon receipt.

6. All barrows   under 220 pounds and gilts under 200 pounds will not be shown and will be sent home after weigh-in unless the 4-H member does not have any pig over the weight minimum. If that is the case they may show one (1) pig. Swine must pass a visual inspection on trailer for health and weight before unloading. Underweight pigs must be removed by midnight the day of weigh-in.

7. A maximum of 6 pigs (barrows or gilts) may be exhibited per exhibitor of ANY breed, including crossbreds. Barrows or gilts may be shown in the same breed and the same weight class.

8. Pipe rack above the pen is allowed. Tack boxes can hang directly on pens inside and not blocking the isle. Divider gates or boards can be used to separate from other pigs, but cannot be used on the front gates or on the gates at the end of the aisles. Pens cannot be boxed in with plywood, herd boards, or similar. Kickboards of 6-inch height maximum are allowed at the base of the pen.

9.  Clipping may be done at the fair using CORDLESS clippers only. Slick clipping or body shaving of 4-H barrows and gilts is prohibited. Slick clipped or body shaved animals may not be allowed to exhibit.  A minimum of one-half inch of hair length on the body is preferred by the packers that purchase and process these animals. Animals having less than one half inch of hair (in length) on their body may be condemned by the processor. 4-H members will not receive carcass payment for animals that are condemned.  

10. Animals painted or colored by any means that alters or misrepresents breed characteristics will be penalized under the fraud and deception rules.

11. Swine grooming: No paint or color enhancing products (i.e. white out, powder fill, hair dye) will be allowed once animals are checked into the fairgrounds. No adhesives will be allowed. Added hair or other material, natural or man-made, may not be used in grooming. Skin conditioners and oils are permitted (i.e. pepi, revive, champions choice). If found, the animal will not be eligible to show for champion. Depending on the extent of the incident, fraud and deception rules may need to be implemented.

12. Breeds containing more than five classes of barrows or gilts may be divided into divisions and division champions will then be selected. An overall champion and reserve champion will be selected from the division champions. There will be one champion and one reserve champion per breed.

13. NOTE: Classes will be offered in any breed having three or more entries; breeds having less than three may be shown in the “all other” breeds class (exception for breeding gilt classes).

14. All swine must cross the scales unless a declared weight system is used. Purebred gilts may not be required to cross the scales unless there is a possibility of them being sold in the auction or pool OR if they are questionable of the weight eiligibility. Please refer to information from project leaders for date and time of weigh in. Reweighing: At least one hour after completion of all first weigh-ins. One reweigh only for barrows weighing under 220 lbs or over 295 lbs. and for any gilts weighing under 200 lbs. or over 360 pounds for crossbred gilts. Reweighs must cross the same scales as they were initially weighed. No animal can cross the scales wet.

15. A declared weight system may be used for barrows and crossbred gilts and may be required to submit prior to check-in. Updated weights will be accepted after check-in. Please refer to information from project leaders for submission instructions and the deadlines for weight declaration. Scales will be available on the fairgrounds at check-in and superintendents can enforce weighing if declared weight is questionable. Weights may not be changed after the classes have been posted unless an error was made during entry into the system. 

16. Auction: All pigs with the possibility to be entered into the auction or pool must cross the scales on the designated swine weigh-in day to be eleigible to sell. There will be no exceptions or late weighing allowed. Barrows and gilts must weigh a minimum of 220 lbs to sell in the auction or pool.   

17. Each 4-H member must declare his/her pig when entered at checked in. Ownership must remain the same through the 4-H Swine Show, the 4-H Livestock Auction and state fair. Purebred papers must be presented at check-in. If there any discrepancies with purebred papers, they will be handled with the executive committee, 4-H educator, project superintendents, exhibitor’s family, and may be verified by the purebred associations.

18. Each member may show only those animals enrolled on his/her form, unless they have multiple swine in the same class or except under adverse conditions, as determined by the superintendent. 4-H members must show their own animals in showmanship.

19. During the judging only 4-H swine exhibitors will be allowed past the holding pen and around the placing pens.

20. Water troughs, waterers, feed pans and feeders are prohibited from being in swine pens unless secured to pen and approved by Swine Superintendent. Water nipples must use hose clamps or zip-ties, not U-bolts.

21. Hog check out time will be determined by the project leaders before the fair.

22. Wood shavings must be used in the swine barn for bedding.

23. Only county approved scales will be allowed in the hog barn.

24. No bred gilts are allowed.

25. Superintendents have the right to address issues concerning the health and well-being of all involved in the swine program.

26. All medications, oral or injected, must be approved by the superintendents prior to being given with the exception of matrix or pepto bismol. If found to be given without approval it will result in immediate automatic dismissal from the show and auction/pool and the 4-H member will be unable to participate in the swine project the following years.

27. Superintendents, in conjunction with the Executive committee and 4-H educator, reserve the right as a group to finalize or clarify any previously stated rule. Each situation will be handled individually in a professional manner. 

28. Family Animal Allocation changes must be turned into the superintendent by 2 weeks prior to check in.

FAIRGROUNDS CURFEW

The swine barn will follow the fairgrounds curfew and will be closed at 11:00 PM and will open at 6:00 AM every day with exception to the morning of the show, when the barn will open at 5:00 AM. . If anyone is found in the swine barn without prior fair executive and superintendent approval, it will result in immediate automatic dismissal from the show for the exhibitor(s) impacted. Special arrangements must be made prior with approval and notification. Emergency situations will be handled on a case by case basis.

VETERINARY EXAMS

At check-in an onsite licensed veterinarian will be inspecting all incoming swine at the fairgrounds. At the discretion of the extension educator, superintendents, current BOAH recommendations and the veterinarian, a final decision will be made prior to the fair, as to what will be addressed at swine check-in. A veterinarian will also be involved in the animal surveillance of the swine barn to determine if any out of the ordinary illness event is occurring, and if so, can make any health related decisions. Any animal displaying signs of illness possibly contagious to humans OR other pigs will be sent home immediately at check-in or throughout fair week.

CLEAN PEN RULES

1. All pens and aisles must be cleaned daily.

2. Pens may be damp, but not dirty, or odor smelling.

3. A clean pen includes all aisle ways around your pen.

4. All rules in handbook will apply.

5. One warning will be given to a 4-Her during fair week.

6. Failure to clean pens after warning will result in selling at the end of the 4-H Livestock Auction.

Pens must be completely cleaned after animal dismissal.

BARROWS

Purebred barrows must have registration papers in exhibitor’s name or family name to be shown in a purebred barrow class. Those purebred barrows without certificates must show in the crossbred classes.

Three or more entries of barrows within a breed that qualify between 220 and 295 pounds will constitute a breed.

Only barrows weighing 220 to 295 pounds will be eligible to show for champion.

Barrows weighing 219 pounds or less (if 4-H member’s only pig exhibited) OR 296 pounds or more will show with 12 per class and all breeds showing together in “other barrows class or a market class”. This is the only case where barrows and gilts may show in the same class (market class)

If there are between 12–24 barrows in a class, they will be divided into two classes.

If there are less than 12 barrows of a breed, two weight classes may be offered.

Barrows with ear notches or RFID tags that do not match enrollment forms will show in “other barrows class or a market class” if they are the 4-H member’s only pig. Otherwise, these animals will not be allowed to unload or show.

For the Grand Champion Barrow drive, Reserve champions through the 4th overall barrow will be brought to the ring and eligible to be selected for the top 5.

GILTS

Purebred gilts must have registration papers in exhibitor’s name or family name to be shown in a purebred gilt class. Purebred gilts without certificates must show in crossbred classes. All gilt classes will be judged as breeding gilts.

All purebred gilts in a breed will show in one class, unless there are more than 30 days difference in age.

Only gilts weighing over 200 will be eligible to show for champion, regardless of breed. Crossbred gilts weighing OVER 360 pounds will not be eligible to show for champion. 

Gilts weighing 199 pounds or less (OR 360 pounds or more for crossbreds) will show with 12 per class and all breeds showing together in “other gilts class or a market class”. This is the only case where barrows and gilts may show in the same class (market class).

Gilts with ear notches or RFID tags that do not match enrollment forms will show in “other gilts class or a market class” if they are the 4-H member’s only pig. Otherwise, these animals will not be allowed to unload or show.

For the Grand Champion Gilt drive, reserve champions through the 4th overall gilt will be brought to the ring and eligible to be selected for the top 5.

CROSSBREDS

Crossbred barrows and gilts will show by light and dark division guidelines. Further divisions within the light and dark classification may be made based on number of entries. Division champions will then be selected. A champion and reserve light cross and a champion and reserve dark cross will then be selected to show for the overall champion and reserve champion crossbred. For further clarification, overall, there will be one champion and one reserve champion crossbreed to show in the grand champion drive. 

Classification will be conducted by a classifying committee determined by the swine superintendents after arrival to the fair. There will be no altering of natural color (i.e., painting, dying), if this is observed the animal will be disqualified and will not be eligible to show in any class. Final decision made during the sift is not subject to grievance and will not be changed after classes are posted unless there is an entry error in the system.

Light Cross- Any hog with white and/or blue only.

Dark Cross- Dark Cross - All other colors, (black, red, and sandy), excluding solid white or blue.

BRED & OWNED

Purebreds will only be eligible as there is no way to officially track crossbreds.

The exhibitor’s first and last name must be listed on the pedigree as the owner and breeder to be eligible for the Bred and Owned selection. There may be multiple names listed, as long as the additional names are in the immediate family.

The exhibitor must have owned the dam at time of breeding.

The exhibitor must be listed on the pedigree as BOTH the breeder and the owner of the barrow or gilt. Exhibitor must declare that his/her gilt is eligible for Bred and Owned awards at the time of check-in. The 4-H member must bring a photo copy of the pedigree at check-in. If not declared at the time of check-in, you will not be eligible for selection on show day.

The highest placing of the top 5 of each class will be selected and eligible to return for the selection of the Champion Bred and Owned Barrow and Gilt.

An overall Bred and Owned Champion and Reserve Champion gilt and barrow will be selected by the judge after the completion of gilt show and the completion of the barrow show. 

Awards 

Tippecanoe County Pork Producers will award $100 to all 10 year 4-H swine members who have participated in the 4-H swine project for six (6) or more years. Awards will be presented at the beginning of the Swine Grand Drive.

Tippecanoe County Pork Producers Grants. To be eligible for the $500.00 grant, the applicant must be a current dues paying member of the Tippecanoe County Pork Producers Association, completed the 4-H swine project for a minimum of 6 years, must be a high school graduate or equivalent, and admitted full time at an accredited 2 or 4 year college, university, or vocation school.

4-H Swine Achievement Award. This award is being presented to a 10 year members who have demonstrated hard work and achievement throughout their 4-H career by helping younger members, keeping good records, attending meetings and workshops, and always going beyond what is required of them. This award is sponsored by Mike & Cindy DeGolyer & Family.

Braxton Lee Peters Above and Beyond Award. This award is being presented to a first year 4-Her who has shown superior dedication to their swine project. They have attended the most workshops, maintained the cleanest pen, and shown a true compassion for their pigs. The member will also receive a $25.00 scholarship.