4-H Animal Science Resource Blog

STEM Connections, know-how & Inspiration

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Sweating Like a Pig: Swine Thermoregulation

August 10, 2019

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 well-intended (though ultimately misinformed) someone will offer the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Animal Health, Swine Tagged With: Homeothermy, Thermoregulation, Warm-blooded

I’m All Ears – Understanding the Universal Ear-Notching System for Swine

July 14, 2019

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 writing, the best guess at the history of the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Current Issue, Focus on STEM, Swine Tagged With: animal identification, ear-notch, math

Farm to Fork – What We Get From Pork

June 18, 2019

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 Ohio State University, it has been estimated that pigs are about 23% leaner … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Focus on STEM, Swine Tagged With: healthy living, meat, nutrition, pork

“Don’t Root For That!” – Why All Aren’t Fans of Swine Rooting Behavior

April 30, 2019

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?  What is it about sticking their noses in dirt that is so … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Animal Health, Current Issue, Focus on STEM, Swine Tagged With: animal behavior, animal health, animal science project area, nutrition, rooting, Swine

Swine Domestication aka “The Pig Porkification Project”

March 15, 2019

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 blog.., swine. What was … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Animal Project Areas, Swine Tagged With: Charles Darwin, Domestication, Omnivores

Ask The Expert – Joanne Powell (part 2)

February 21, 2019

(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 Somerset County, a role she has had for nearly 30 years.  In … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ask the Expert, Career Profile, Club Programming Idea, Featured Resource, Swine Tagged With: 4-H Animal Science, animal science project area, Career Profile, Club Meeting Ideas, Club Programming Ideas, featured resource, Focus on STEM, STEM, Swine

Ask The Expert – Joanne Powell, Research Farm Supervisor (part 1)

January 14, 2019

(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 to spend time outdoors with animals.  We recently reached out to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ask the Expert, Career Profile, Featured Resource, Swine Tagged With: 4-H Animal Science, Career Profile, careers, featured resource, livestock, STEM, Swine

“How Swine-wise Are You?” – The Things You Learn (AND REMEMBER!) In 4-H

December 5, 2018

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 interview discussing his ongoing projects (such as Modern Family).  At around the 6:20 mark of the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Club Programming Idea, Current Issue, Swine Tagged With: 4-H, Eric Stonestreet, Feral, Swine, swine gestation, swine rate of gain

A Pig By Any Other Name

May 15, 2018

Swine

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 boars, and even razorbacks.  As fascinating an … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Swine Tagged With: Berkshire, Chester White, Duruc, Hampshire, Landrace, Poland China, Spot, Swine, Yorkshire

Porky Was Wrong; That IS NOT All Folks – Preparing For Your 4-H Market Swine Project

April 12, 2018

Swine

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 you though, when it comes to swine … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Focus on STEM, Swine Tagged With: behavior, care, digestion, health, housing

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New Jersey 4-H provides educational outreach programming for youth in grades K-13 (one year out of high school) through 4-H clubs, special interest programs, school enrichment, afterschool programs, and overnight camping.

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