Check with your veterinarian to make sure that you have all of the necessary health papers for the upcoming shows. Get this done in plenty of time before the show.
At one month to six weeks prior to the show, you absolutely must know on an on-going basis, the weight of your pigs. This will allow you to determine how much they need to gain prior to the fair in order to be at ideal show weight. Not all pigs look the best at the same weight due to differences in frame size and body length. So make sure you have an ideal weight in mind and target yourself to make the pig weigh within 2 to 3 pounds of that desired market weight on the day of your show. If you wait until two weeks before the show to determine your pig's weight, you run the risk of ruining them, as too many pigs have been pushed or held too close to the show to look natural on show day.
Much controversy has been raised concerning the clipping of pigs.Therefore, make sure that you know the rules on clipping your pigs and abide by those rules. If you are planning to clip your pigs, do it three to four days prior to the fair. Body clipping pigs will make the pigs look fresher, cleaner and more youthful in their appearance. Also remember to keep your pigs out of the sun to avoid sunburning them prior to the show.
Washing your pigs two to three weeks prior to the fair is a good practice, but be sure to rinse all of the soap out of the hair after you have washed your pigs. Also, avoid getting water in their ears. Water in a pig's ears can cause the pig to walk with its head sideways.
