Breeds of swine /

Abstract

Swine production is a highly scientific and specialized business in American agriculture. According to the Foreign Agricultural Statistics Web site, the total world hog numbers in 1999 were 762 million head. China ranks highest in the production of hogs, which amount to 422.5 million head. The European Community, which consist of France, and Portugal, ranks second in hog production with 122.8 million head. The U.S. ranks third with 62.2 million head. In the U.S., Iowa ranks first in hog produc-tion, while Texas ranks fifteenth. Hogs rank second only to cattle in total livestock production in the U.S. The per capita consumption of pork has remained fairly constant, but the human population has greatly increased. The increase in human population has caused swine production to increase through improved breeding, feeding, and management programs. Hog producers must select hogs to meet the needs of the current swine market. The swine population is large and consists of several breeds. Personal preference and/or individual merit of the hog are the basis for the selection of a breed. No one breed is perfect in every respect. Breeds of swine are commonly chosen by producers to meet the conditions under which the hogs are to be raised. The producers need to establish why they are raising hogs; for breeding stock or to sell at the market. Individual merits of the animal are the key to establishing and maintaining a profitable herd, particularly if the objective is to produce and sell breeding stock. Today, a structurally sound, healthy, thick muscled, highly efficient hog with a large body capacity is considered the " ideal " hog. Highly controlled selection and breeding programs within breeds and specialized crossbreeding programs have put the swine industry near the top in production among the various livestock enterprises.