Note that there will be 125 days from the weigh-in date to the fair show date. The purpose of the Derby Hog show is to challenge youth members in 4-H or FFA to feed their pigs to gain the best rate of gain per day and produce a lean carcass for today's consumer market, according to Jerry Long, Cedar County Extension Director. The market hogs will be chosen on their finished conformation and their rate of gain. All market hogs will be live-scanned for their carcass quality. Hogs that have low backfat depth over the loin and a large loin-eye area between the 13th and 14th ribs will score well in this class.
Pigs can be of any starting weight at the time of weighing.
Barrow and gilt pigs are both accepted. The pigs will be ear notched for identification. The contest measures the rate of gain for each individual hog and the judge uses the rate of gain as a factor in placing the hogs in the show ring. The hogs are also placed by scanning for the amount of back fat and loin area in the loin of the hog. The results of the scanning will indicate the amount of lean in the finished hog.