Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
When purchasing or raising a litter of purebred piglets, you will want to register them with the
agency handling that particular breed within 90 days of their birth. The litter certificate will
need to be filled out and sent in. Include copies of the registration for the parents.
Ear notching is the method used to identify the individual piglets. If they have not had the
procedure done, you should request that the breeder have it done before you take the piglet
home. Lack of ear notching will nullify any paperwork you receive for registration.
Pig registration has to be done by current members of the registry organization. If you are not
a current member, you will need to acquire membership or ask the breeder to complete the re-
gistration for you. The fee for registering is usually nominal, but make sure that the breeder is
able to register the pig before purchase if it is an important issue to you. For example, if you
raise Duroc, Hampshire, Landrace, or Yorkshire pigs, you can register them through the Na-
tional Swine Registry. The cost of registering a litter that is 90 days old and under is $12 if
you are an NSR member. For litters that are over 90 days old, the cost is $24 for members.
Non-members can register litters, but the costs are double. If you own a boar of one of these
breeds, you can have it on file with the registry. Sows and their litters can be tracked with the
sow productivity program. These programs allow the organization to follow things such as the
number of piglets being produced per sow, the number of piglets being weaned, and the
breed's efficiency of production as it depends on number of pigs weaned per sow.
Why is registration important?
Registering purebred swine is the only definitive method that agencies and organizations have
to keep track of the pig population. It shows the current trends in pig breeding and rearing by
offering true numbers regarding growth of the herd, litter sizes, and breeding successes or
failures. A real picture emerges of whether advances in genetic research and development are
working. The results can pinpoint problem areas that need to be worked on as an overall breed
to ensure their survival.
The swine industry depends on knowledge of where pigs that enter the marketplace originate.
Illness and disease can be traced easier by knowing the lineage of the hogs being sold. This
helps protect both the market and the consumer. In addition, purebred pigs provide the genetic
basis for commercial hybrids, which make up most of the pork production in North America,
and for breed improvement. Purebred pigs also have distinct characteristics that could disap-
pear without breeders and registries dedicated to promoting them.
