Feeder Hogs Research Paper

Hogs Some of the best reasons to own a hog is that you can make money from them and they are fun. “They are a major source of income for many of the world’s farmers.”(Jacobs 284). If you can have an animal that is fun to own as well as profitable, then why not get one today. There are many ways to make money from a hog. First you can get more and raise them to be sold, second you can sell them for butchering, and third you can show them at fairs to make money. The way hags are sold they are put into categories feeder hogs and fat hogs. Feeder hogs are sold to be fed out to a market weight. Fat hogs are sold to be butchered. If they are not butchered they might be sold as breeding stock. If they are sold as breeding stock they will be put back into production reproducing pigs. Feeder hogs have a special market just for them. They are usually sold in large groups at auctions. There can be as many as 100 hogs sold at a time. Some people even contract their hogs to be fed. Others prefer to feed the the hogs themselves. If the feeding is contracted it makes more jobs for other people. If there are more jobs made that is good for the economy. That is how hogs make
money and are good for the economy. While they are good for making money they also have costs. A few of the costs are feed, shelter, and medicine/vaccination. I believe that it all equals out in the end. If it did not equal out, not as many people would have hogs. There are many people that raise hogs to show at fairs or to make money from. Another great reason to own a hog is that they are actually “some of the cleanest farm animals.” (Spalding, Clay 228). If they are given the chance to stay clean they will do so. “They are careful not to soil the area.” (Peta.org). One of the reasons that people think hogs or pigs are so dirty is that they live in constant filth. Many people think that hogs like to live in filth. If they are put in a clean area they will keep that area clean as long as possible. They don’t even manure where they eat, or where they sleep, now that’s one smart animal if you ask me. Even though they usually like to stay clean, they aren’t against a nice mud bath every once in awhile. They do that to moisten their skin and get rid of bugs. Some farmers put oil or other bug repellents in the mud baths to kill or ward off insects like lice. Some farmers even believe that the oil helps protect against sunburn. “When using oil in wallows use about one pint per pig.” (Wikipedia). If a hog gets a sunburn they are not only uncomfortable, but if left untreated long enough that it peels the skin, that can dock the value of that animal. Another reason to own a hog or pig is that they are “relatively easy to house.” (Spaulding, Clay 228). All they need is a dry, draft free, snug area. That can be anything from a simple A-frame style hut to an expensive barn. As long as they can stay out of the elements, and keep dry in the cold months. One interesting thing about hogs is that they will always make their own bed. Even if you spread the straw or hay they will still form a nest-like place to bed down. You can even simply throw a whole bale of straw into a hut and they will spread it around, and make a bed out of it. If they are that simple to house why not get a hog or if you prefer hogs. One other great fact about how easy it is to take care of a hog is that you can keep them inside, as long as they have access to an outside pasture or yard area.
Keeping them inside can make it easier to feed them and care for them. The pasture or yard can be constructed of any thing that is strong enough to hold up to a hog’s strength. They are very strong animals, so cheap material will not old up to them. One prefered method of many farmers is electric fence or permanent paneling, that they cannot root under. If you don’t have the funds for that kind of building material you can use regular old woven wire fence, you just have to stake the bottom to the ground, because they will push under the fence to get out, because to a hog the grass is always greener on the other side, whether it really is or
not. If you have trouble with your hogs getting out you may need to resort to nose rings. The nose rings are a piece of stainless steel wire that is bent into an open diamond shape. The nose is the most sensitive part of a hog. If you insert one or two rings they will not use their noses for pushing or rooting. “The rings make rooting uncomfortable.” (Wikipedia). That is a favorite of hogs is rooting, it is what it sounds like. They uses their noses to dig in the dirt looking for bugs and other tasty things to eat. When they root they really tear up a lot of dirt. That can be a bad thing if they get out and do it in the wrong spot, like your mother’s flower bed.
Because hogs are so easy to take care of almost anyone can properly care for a pig or hog. Hogs are really simple to raise and care for, that is another one of the pluses or having hogs. They are also useful for keeping brush and weeds at bay. They are a very effective way to clear land of weeds and brush, because they love to eat, tromp, and root out brush. If you can raise a dog or cat you can probably own and raise a hog. They are a very fun and profitable project that your friends and family can all get involved in. Who knows it might even be the best animal to raise as a family. Having animals is not only fun but it teaches kids and sose adults about responsibility and commitment.