Swine Introduction and Breeds

Question 1

200 years ago, it took up to ___ months for pigs to reach

slaughter weight

Answer 1

18 months

Question 2

Today, pork makes up ____% of the meat market

Answer 2

40%

Question 3

What is “market weight” for pigs?

Answer 3

240 - 260 lbs

Producers want pigs at market weight by 6 months old

Question 4

The pork industry is strongest in these 2 regions of America

Answer 4

Midwest and Southeast

Question 5

What are the top 2 major breeds of pigs in

EUROPE?

Answer 5

1: Large White

Question 6

What are the top 4 major pig breeds in

USA?

Answer 6

Yorkshire

Hampshire

Duroc

Landrace

Question 7

This breed of pig is large, white in color, with a long body and

floppy ears.

They are bred for quick growth, stamina, and a long, lean carcass

Answer 7

Landrace

Question 8

This pig breed is large, red in color, with small, floppy ears.

They are fast growing and fairly common in the USA

Answer 8

Duroc/ Duroc Jersey

Grown in New Jersey, thus the name

Question 9

This pig breed is very lean and muscular.

It is either white or gray in color, and has black patches.

It is a Belgian breed and double-muscled.

There is a crease in the center of their back due to well-developed loins.

This breed used to drop dead under stress, but the gene for this

was bred out of the lineage.

Answer 9

Pietrain

Question 10

This breed of pig is black with a white band behind the shoulders-

belted (“stress gene”)

In Essex, it is called the Wessex Saddleback

Answer 10

Hampshire

Question 11

This breed is large and white in color with erect ears.

It grows well and produces large litters.

Is sometimes known as the “London Porker”

Answer 11

Yorkshire

Question 12

This pig breed is pure black in color with white feet.

It is a rare breed today that stemmed from Asian pigs.

They have short legs and a long snout, and are known for

especially tasty meat.

They are early to mature, fast growing, and have lean meat

Answer 12

Berkshire

Question 13

This is a miniature breed of pig and have a belly

suitable for large amounts of available feed, like rice bran, and

aquatic plants. They are found all over China, as well as

their namesake country.

Answer 13

Vietnamese Potbelly

Question 14

This breed of pig is fairly small, and their name literally translates to

“fat and round”. They are spotted with different colors and

hail from New Zealand. This breed is quiet in nature with

erect ears, and 2 wattles that dangle under their jaw.

Seen frequently in petting zoos.

Answer 14

Kune Kune

Question 15

This pig is descended from Lincoln

and has a curly coat!

Answer 15

Hungarian Wooly

Question 16

This pig breed is unique in that it only has one toe!

Answer 16

Mule Foot Hog

Question 17

In order to keep this breed, you’ll need a Dangerous Wild Animals license.

They have tusks used for digging and fighting.

Socially- they live in matriarchal groups.

Males are solitary unless during the “rut” (November to January).

They are nest-makers and babies are born from February to May.

They have a stripe for camoflage and wean naturally at 3 - 4 months

Answer 17

Wild Boar

Question 18

This breed of pig is all red in color and is close to the Wild Boar.

They have erect ears, and Wilbur, the pig at Reggae Beach that was raised

in Nevis was this breed.

They have quick reactions and good at escaping.

They are broad-sided and have long snouts.

Imported boars have been used to increase their litter sizes,

but even so, they are still a RARE breed!

Answer 18

Tamworth

Question 19

This breed of pig has a white belt that includes the forelimbs.

It is a combination of the Wessex and Essex breeds.

While a minor breed today, they are making a comeback

with the recurrence of outdoor pig rearing.

Answer 19

British Saddleback

Question 20

This hardy outdoor pig breed is found in St. Kitts.

They have giant ears that almost cover their eyes!

Answer 20

Large Black

Question 21

This is a giant outdoor pig breed. They have huge floppy ears and

are strong and economical.

They thrive on subtle grass/woodland areas.

Answer 21

British Lop

Question 22

This pig breed is sandy in color with a few black spots on its back

and is a British breed.

It is sometimes referred to as “Plum Pudding”

Answer 22

Oxford Black (Oxford Sandy and Black)

Question 23

This breed of pig reaches market weight very quickly

Answer 23

Siamese, Chinese

Question 24

This is one of two main breeds used for reproduction/meat purposes

in the world today.

Answer 24

Large White

Question 25

This is one of two main breeds used for reproduction/meat purposes

in the world today.

They are known for their fine bones, and milkiness.

Answer 25

British Landrace

Question 26

This breed of pig is derived from a population of feral pigs on an

island in Georgia, United States.

They are descended from foundation stock brought by Spanish explorers

over 400 years ago!

Currently, they are being used at Purdue as a model for female research.

Answer 26

Ossabaw Island Pig

Question 27

Pigs susceptible to the “stress gene” used to be tested

using this method; now, they are identified by genetic testing

Answer 27

Halothane anesthesia

Question 28

Pigs with the “stress gene” are susceptible to

these 2 conditions, associated with pork quality

Answer 28

PSE- pale, soft, exudative pork

DFD- dark, firm, dry pork

Question 29

When selecting seeding stock for breeding, it is important to

evaluate the performance of ALL related individuals,

to arrive at a prediction for genetic merit.

This is known as

Answer 29

EBV- Estimated Breeding Value

Question 30

When selecting seed stock for breeding:

This value is the prediction of the difference in pig performance

relative to a certain point of reference. It is equal to

half of the EBV (estimated breeding value).

Traits compared include: # born alive, total litter weight at 21 days,

back fat adjusted to 230 lbs, and # of days until 230 lbs.

Answer 30

EPD- Estimated Progeny Difference

Question 31

This pig breed has come close to extinction several times, and

is a cross between the Berkshire and Tamworth breeds.

Answer 31

Oxford Sandy and Black pig

Question 32

The finishing weight for Wild Boars

Answer 32

42 kgs (~92lbs)