[Bullseye]

I have 2 beautiful pedigree Gloucester Old Spot gilts (5 months old) both quality breed standard pigs, except having 1 extra smaller nipple (about a third of the size of the others) placed between the first and second nipples on the right hand side  We hoped to show these girls if they grew out nicely but would we be disqualified for this abnormality? We are new to showing so unsure how strict the requirements are.

[Berkshire Boy]

Bullseye,
I am also new to showing but as I understand it you can show them but it will always go against them in the ring and could also be passed down to their young. The breed spec always says 14 or what ever teats evenly spaced and inline length ways and accross.
I went on a showing course recently and someone asked about extra teats as in a odd number and the guy said he would not show a pig like that but that was his personal opinion.
I'm sure someone with more experience will be along with a better answer.

[lill]

Any competitor who is showing pigs must adhere to the show standard ie, 2 lines of nipples on each side of the belly and exactly in line with each other, correct markings for breed, good on their feet etc, please don't think I am trying to put you off but if you went into a show ring with pigs that were inferior you would be told off  by someone probably in front of others . If you look on the BPA website it will give the correct breed standard for the gos and all the other breeds as well. Showing is a fun way of meeting other like minded piggy people but all are not nice, I have enjoyed my showing and have met good folk and have become friends. Have fun in the show ring and good luck 

[robert waddell]

bullseye you have shot your self in the foot with this one  did you buy this pig like that or is it your own breeding
if it is a rare line then it is acceptable to keep the line going it can breed perfect examples in the future
with showing it can make the difference betwean coming first in class and not advancing beyond that if it is better than others entered        it all depends on circumstances  we have a rare line in the Tamworth's with an odd number of teats but otherwise a perfect example of the breed and she was the only gilt in that litter and has been shown  and was breed champion  but we were open about her abnormality and more than surprised with the result Mandy the resident GOS expert will defiantly have more to say

[suziequeue]

Nipples are a BIG issue with pedigree pigs....... and I'm no expert!!

We get pedigree Tamworth weaners for fattening and the key feature that determines whether the the breeder keeps them for breeding or sells them for fattening seems to be.... NIPPLES

[Bullseye]

My last post appears to have been deleted- but thankyou for your info! We will be going to a few shows this year to have a look around and talk to people so fingers crossed.

[robert waddell]

there are a lot of small shows round your way some are desperate for more entries and the more shows you attend the more experience you will gain  you just never know 

[Fowgill Farm]

Hi Bullseye
Good to hear you want to show your GOS.
GOS breed standard is the same as all other breeds 14 or more evenly spaced teats.
Last year i showed a gilt with an uneven underline (15) (long story but lost her mum and last gilt of certain line that i love) at some shows she was placed 2nd and 3rd, at others they didn't even look at her, one even threw a rosette at her when she got 3rd by default, only 3 in class! She is a good example of the breed in every other way except for her underline, she has been an excellent mum but nearly all her offspring have duff underlines, all her offspring are sold for meat, we would never sell any of her prodgene for breeding.
Show your girls in some of your local shows for practice and then send them for bacon. read the showing forum on the GOS website, lots of stuff there, get some experience and mostly enjoy yourselves and make friends. We will be out on the Yorkshire circuit this summer. As Lill said there are some people who will scoff at you for showing 'imperfect' pigs but so long as you don't go expecting to win and know of your imperfections you'll be ok.
And anyway find me the perfect pig and i'll shoot it, stuff it and mount it on the wall as it would be a very rare beed to find indeed.
Whatever you decide, best of luck
Mandy
Fowgill herd of GOS pigs, North Yorkshire

[oaklandspigs]

And anyway find me the perfect pig and i'll shoot it, stuff it and mount it on the wall as it would be a very rare beed to find indeed.

No wonder they are are rare if that's what you're doing !!  :-)

We started showing a couple of years ago, and have found the showing circuit to be a friendly helpful crowd , good company and fun to do, so give it a try !

[Berkshire Boy]

But only if you have the right amount of nipples.

[Polished Arrow]

Okay, I have been and counted them and now please help me to understand... if the pigs have say 12 evenly spaced nipples, do they count?  And what about little ones at the back - much smaller than the main ones, but matching?  Do they count?  What about if they have 16 big nipples but two of them in the middle of the rows (matching, as a pair) are smaller than the others?  Does this make these pigs unshowable?! 

I'm only here for the sausages, really 

[HappyHippy]

If you want to show them, you should  Even if you don't win anything you'll have a great time and meet lots of other pig keepers 
I think what folks are trying to say is that at the big shows where there are loads of pigs, you might not get any prizes - but I doubt you'd be ordered from the ring or anything  The smaller nipples are likely to be invalid, so if one has these and the other doesn't - show the one who doesn't, providing her's are even and 14 or more (and she's a good example of the breed). I showed a Large Black last year which had one dodgy nipple - she still got placed as she was cracking in every other way, but it was a small show 
It's a great way to bond with your pigs and once you've got them trained they are just so much easier to work with anyway, so get your board and stick out and start practicing 
Good luck 
Karen 

[lill]

 Ok PA, a show pig must have from 12 nipples onwards, the little nipples at the back- as long as the nipples are in line you are fine. The little nipples in the middle of the pig will not degrade her as when she has her babies they will or should drop down, we had a lovely pietrain on show at the highland with smaller middle nipples, she had piglets and her underline is perfect. Show you pig, have fun and enjoy working with the pig, it won't be easy but you will get there.

[Polished Arrow]

That's lovely, thank you  ]
I am just back from tickling said nipples in the field 

[Tudful Tamworths]

When I started showing, I took four pigs around about half a dozen shows. One was a January-born gilt who, at the Royal Show (the English one!) won her class and went on to win best female Tamworth and was also one half of the best pair. She did similarly well throughout the season, sold for £300 at the BPA sale, and went on to be an excellent breeding sow.

When the very experienced judge handed me the first rosette, he pointed out that she had a small extra teat. I was genuinely surprised, because, when I checked her at eight weeks, I had not noticed anything. So, being a novice, I asked why he hadn't marked her down for that. He said that everything else about her was perfect - she had "ticked all the boxes" in every other respect.

Since then, several breeders who also judge on a regular basis have also said that they would not mark down a pig with an additional teat. Of course, it's all purely subjective. You may get a judge who is extremely fussy, but most will look for a full set of 12 (or 14, depending on the breed standard - check which applies) fully-formed teats.

I've heard tales of people slicing off additional teats for showing purposes, but I don't know if that's just a myth.

Do have a go at showing. It's great fun and I'm sure you'll enjoy it. The entry forms for most shows are out now, so don't waste any time in getting yours in. Showing is also a good way of getting a professional opinion on how good your pigs really are, so take criticism - good or bad - and use the knowledge to improve your herd in the future.

Where are you thinking of showing? If you want to message or email me for any advice, please do.

All the best
Liz