Let us debunk a couple common misconceptions right here and now. At one point or another, we have all perhaps used the phrase, on a hot summer day while soaking in the sun along the Jersey Shore, “I’m sweating like a pig!” The message communicated is that one is sweating profusely. And then invariably, a […]
The Universal Ear-Notching System used to identify individual pigs in a litter has been around for.., a while.., but finding the actual historical roots of the how and why this system originated has proven elusive. What was found is not altogether that informative, nor does it come from any legitimate primary source. As of this […]
When one thinks of a nutrient rich meal, pork products aren’t generally the first food that comes to mind for most. That written, compared to values from a decade ago, pork today is on average leaner, contains less fat (up to 31%), and also has fewer calories (up to 14%). In fact, according to The […]
There’s something about that nose of a pig that stands out. In addition to its unique shape, it also serves some important functions. Though smell is a given, there are some other utilities employed by pigs that make their nose stand out. One behavior in particular that seems to stand out is rooting. But why? […]
According to author Jared Diamond in his work “Guns Germs and Steel”, of all the large animals in the history of the world, only 14 have been domesticated: goats, cows, horses, Arabian camels, Bactrian camels, llamas and alpacas, donkeys, reindeer, water buffalos, yaks, Bali cattle, Mithan (gayal, domesticated Gaur) and our personal favorite of this […]
(Editor’s note: This is part two of a two-part series) Every day is a new adventure for Joanne Powell. As the Research Farm Supervisor for the large animal unit at Rutgers University, Joanne gets to do the things she loves, including being outside with animals! In addition to that, Joanne is a 4-H leader in […]
(Editor’s note: This is part one of a two-part series) For Joanne Powell, no two days are the same. Joanne is the Research Farm Supervisor for the large animal unit at Rutgers University. Having grown up on a farm herself, she appreciates not only the rewards of a hard day’s work, but also being able […]
One of the stars of the ABC sitcom Modern Family is Emmy Award winning actor Eric Stonestreet. A native of Kansas City, Kansas, Eric is a proud 4-H alum. In June of 2017, Eric was a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. As most guests do, Eric spent a large part of the […]
New Jersey 4-H Swine Projects have many names – pigs, hogs, boars, sows, barrows, and gilts. Whatever the name, they all are members of the Suidae family. Members of this family are “artiodactyl” (a fancy word for “even toed ungulates”) mammals that include in their family tree, in addition to the domestic pig, warthogs, wild […]
Raising, caring for, and thinking about future 4-H market swine projects is a task that requires a great deal of forward thinking and dedication. Arguably, the most famous swine in our collective pop-culture memory is Porky Pig. Equally famous as the character himself is his sign-off, “That’s All Folks!” As any swine producer will tell […]
