The "Worlds Most Attractive Swine"

The Worlds Most Attractive Swine HOG EQUIPMENT & IDEAS Hog Equipment & Ideas 351 My grandfather John C Schulte had Hereford cattle and that s what led him to breed a Hereford hog says Orlan Schulte of Norway Iowa He started with Durocs and black Poland China hogs then line bred them and bred them back with crosses
    John Schulte started his work in the 1920 s and eventually got what he wanted a red body with white feet and ears at least 4/5 white face and a tail or tail tip that s white
    Ninety years later Hereford hogs are considered to be the world s most attractive swine The National Hereford Hog Association NHHA has 2 200 purebred hogs in its registry although Schulte says there are many more than that in the U S
    NHHA president Ellis Burger bought his first Hereford hog 60 years ago at a county fair The sow was close to farrowing and the owner didn t think he could get it home in time Burger lived nearby so he bought it and took it home
     She raised 10 pigs for me and the next year she was the champion sow at the Illinois State Fair Burger says
    He also raised Chester White and other breeds but eventually sold them all except for the Herefords
     Hereford is just a good breed that excels over the rest They grow fast and they re docile and quiet Burger says They re a smaller breed and it was easier to buy a good boar At 81 he still has three sows and has no problem selling the litters
    Schulte s father Bernard continued his father s Hereford bloodline and John Schulte now runs 30 to 40 sows a year
     They re about as great a mother as I ve seen Schulte says They average 7 to 15 a litter and grow fast Most are pretty good natured
    Sows breed back fast just three days after weaning and boars are aggressive breeders
    Hereford hogs have a tough hide and handle cold and warm temperatures well The meat is redder than most pork and has good marbling Some growers sell the meat directly to customers
    The cost of good stock is similar to other purebred breeds Schulte says Gilts typically run $300 to $400
    A good place to find out about the breed is at the 2011 NHHA National Show and Sale Aug 26-27 in Janesville Wis The association also has a book for sale that explains the history of the breed
     They re something different that catches the eye You get them in a pen and you recognize individuals because of their distinct markings says Schulte
    Because of their medium size and gentle nature Hereford hogs are ideal for small farms and youth projects
    Schulte is hopeful his children or grandchildren will carry on the family tradition of raising the breed his grandfather developed
    Currently Hereford hogs are more common in the Midwest but breeding operations are also located on both coasts and as far south as Texas
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Orlan Schulte 2833 78th St Dr Norway Iowa 52318 ph 319 213-1794; nrdeborah@aol com; www nationalherefordhogassociation com

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