Swine Discovery - Judging - Yorkshire Market Hogs

Yorkshire Market Hogs Adrian Austin

I liked the York Market Hogs 3124.

This top pair is sorted solely on personal preference, and when given the opportunity to use hogs with good skeletons, I do. It’s no secret that 3 is attractive, well balanced and maintains ring comfort. With the first drive across the ring she proves to be the best in the angle to her blade and set to her knee. Combine that with her ability to push her hock behind her tail root and a great pastern set, especially for the Yorkshire breed, and she wins for me. I admit, 1 is the most powerful, massive hog of the drive. He’s shapely and stout up high. Still, in a top pair of hogs that both have muscle- his build isn’t good enough. The mature, cresty necked barrow breaks in his topline and narrows up at the ground.

Even so, there’s a substantial gap in quality in the middle decision, and 1’s stoutness and power makes it not even close. 1 is the most pulled apart through his blade and center body and his shape up high makes him high cutability. Don’t get me wrong, 2 is a stout skulled, heavy structured hog that’s got turn to his blade and shape to his upper hip. Unfortunately, his impractical structure makes him the wrong kind. The down headed barrow pushes out at his elbow and rolls outside his hoof wall from behind.

Yet, he’s simply the more genuine, massive option in the final decision. The wider chested, bigger bladed barrow is heavier muscled. Now sure, 4 is cleaner jointed and stays squarer from hock to ground, but honestly it’s not difficult to stay square when you’re that flat and narrow made.

Thank you