07/02/2026
🔨𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗢𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝟭𝟬𝟵🐽
𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲: 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆.
One of the biggest mistakes we see every summer is waiting until the week of the fair to clip.
If your pigs are protected from excessive sunlight, clip them early. We like to do the first full clip 2–3 weeks before the show.
Why?
Because hair grows back.
That regrowth is your insurance policy. If you get a little too aggressive somewhere, you'll have time to soften the mistake instead of living with it on show day.
𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝗰𝗸
Clip the head and neck much tighter than the body.
The gilt pictured here is clipped nearly to a buzz on the head, then blended gradually using:
▪️¼-inch guard
▪️⅜-inch guard
▪️½-inch guard
▪️¾-inch guard
▪️1 inch guard
From there, the hair transitions naturally into full-length hair over the shoulder and topline.
If you're new to clipping, don't start with the shortest guard.
Instead, begin with a ¾-inch guard on the neck and slowly work forward. You can always remove more hair. You can't put it back.
𝗘𝗮𝗿𝘀 👂
We recommend cleaning up around the ears for a sharper, cleaner appearance, but there's certainly room for personal preference here.
𝗧𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝗼𝘃𝗲 🕺
Don't forget the groove.
Carefully clip the midline groove to remove excess hair that can hide shape.
Start with a ¾-inch guard and gradually shorten only if you still can't clearly define the groove.
See link in comments to a Dadson video that is very helpful at illustrating the process much better than I can relay with even 3 paragraphs of confusion. Shout out to Dadson Farms for their hard work creating such important content for our industry. Your efforts are an asset for Swine Project Leaders everywhere.
𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 🏝️🍹
Early clipping also gives the skin time to settle. Any clipper marks, uneven transitions, or harsh lines will soften as the hair grows back, making for a much more natural presentation on show day.
𝗧𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗣𝗶𝗴𝘀 🌞
If your pig has dark skin pigmentation, clipped areas can appear lighter immediately after clipping.
Expose those clipped areas to controlled sunlight over the next couple of weeks so the skin develops a more natural, even color.
Protect white skin with livestock sunscreen to prevent sunburn. See below for a link to Valley Vet product in the comments.
Start with about 15 minutes of sun exposure, watch carefully for any signs of burning, and gradually increase exposure over the following days.
A little planning now almost always results in a cleaner, more natural-looking pig when fair week arrives.
Looking for more show day tips? 🔭
I highly recommend spending some time on the Dadson Farms YouTube channel. Their library is packed with practical videos covering clipping, fitting, daily management, and show day preparation.
As with any educational resource, take what fits your program, leave what doesn't, and keep learning. Every great stockman borrows ideas from others while developing a system that works for them.
