Words You Should Know
Lard Rendered pig fat
Sus scrofa The scientific name for domestic swine
Swine Generic term for all Sus scrofa
Pig Usually young pigs up to market weight
Hog Pigs approaching market weight
Feeder pig/Shoat Newly weaned pig
Gilt A young female swine that has not yet farrowed a litter of
pigs
Sow A female swine that has farrowed one or more litters
Boar Uncastrated male pig
Barrow Castrated male pig
Castration Removal of a male’s testes
Farrow Give birth
Industry consolidation Raising more hogs on fewer farms.
Vertical integration One person or company controlling two or more parts of
the pork production chain (feed manufacture, production,
packing, processing, retailing)
Multiple-site production Raising different aged pigs on different farms.
All-in, all-out production Sows and litters are moved out of a room before another
groups of sows is moved in.
Suggested Activities
• Make a chart of the different names used for pigs.
• Have members of your club answer roll call at a meeting with one name used for swine.
• Name the two major products we get from a pig’s carcass.
• Explain the difference between multiple-site production and all-in, all-out production.