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From sound, to unsound, back to sound?

Posted: Tue May 01, 2018 8:50 pm
by hogger39
I have a blue butt gilt that I picked out on April 22. When I picked her, she was perfectly sound and visibly had some of the best genetics in the barn. Walking her this evening, she seemed to bring her legs inward, obviously indicating unsoundness. I know that pigs have many changes to their structure over time. My questions are: 1. Can the changes go from sound, to unsound, back to sound? 2. Is there anything else other than genetics that could cause unsoundness? 3. Is there anything I can do about it now? She is about 100lbs on Sunglo 18-G. Any and all input is greatly appreciated.

Re: From sound, to unsound, back to sound?

Posted: Wed May 02, 2018 3:17 pm
by mjw1980
I would say either one is sound or not. If you aren't walking on a great surface you can see changes. We had a barrow that was sound but at times appears to walk funny on a rear leg. It was all on where he was walking at the time. If you can find a good hard level surface to walk on that will tell you a lot.

Also depending on how fast you are growing them. If they start growing too fast and get outside of their skeleton then you can see some changes in the way they walk. I had to start hand feeding ours at 100lbs because they were getting bigger than their frame at that time. We ended up willing a Jackpot and placing well in our class at our Co Fair.

I learned that I couldn't worry about things like that. WE didn't have the option to get another pig so we just had to work with what we had. If I worried about it I would stress for no reason. Take the pig you got and do your best to make it reach its potential.

Re: From sound, to unsound, back to sound?

Posted: Wed May 02, 2018 8:26 pm
by hogger39
Thank you. I think I stressed a little too much over the issue. I am not a new showman, but not an expert either. How can you tell when a pig is growing out of its skeleton?

Re: From sound, to unsound, back to sound?

Posted: Thu May 03, 2018 6:47 am
by mjw1980
I am not an expert on this by no means. I heard this phrase for the first time this year from our Breeder and the Judge at our Terminal Show.

I think it means they are starting to bow their back legs. Walking becomes more difficult and maybe tighter but not lame or hurt. Also they start to have to swing their body to have to be able to walk.

I hope that someone on here who knows more about this can explain it better.

Re: From sound, to unsound, back to sound?

Posted: Tue May 08, 2018 9:28 pm
by hogger39
I wish I would have known more last year then. This must have happened to my pigs. Thanks for your help on the forum lately.

Re: From sound, to unsound, back to sound?

Posted: Wed May 09, 2018 2:03 pm
by insulator
What I have seen judges refer to as "outside its skeleton" it is usually those hogs on the front end that has that bulldog look to them where it appears that there shoulders are setting outside there body. On the back end it's the ones that tend to get extremely wide and yes sometimes bow out. They tend to look awkward and out of balance. I have seen this in pigs at 50-100 pounds and if they are showing this at an early age it tends to only get worse.

Re: From sound, to unsound, back to sound?

Posted: Sat May 12, 2018 5:07 pm
by hogger39
My pigs' back legs are starting to bow inward. Is there anything I can do? Heaviest is around 120. Anything is appreciated.