Registering Hogs
Membership
New Owner Questions
1. What kind of hogs can be registered with the LBHA?
2. What proof is needed to register a hog?
3. What is a "Litter Certificate"?
4. What is a "Registration Certificate"?
5. What is a "Birth Notification"?
6. I have a sow that is about to give birth. How do I get a Litter Certificate?
7. I am purchasing a registered hog from a breeder. How do I register the hog in my name?
8. I am purchasing a piglet from a breeder. How do I get it registered?
9. What is "Inbreeding Coefficient"?
10. Can I use a credit card or PayPal to pay for registrations?
11. Must I be a LBHA member to register my hogs?
12. Must I mark my hogs to register them?
13. How long before I get the Registration Certificate for my hog?
1. What kind of hogs can be registered with the LBHA?
Hogs registered with the LBHA must be 100% purebred Large Black. Crosses / mixed breeds are not eligible.
2. What proof is needed to register a hog?
We need information about you, where you got the hog, proof that the hog is purebred Large Black, it's date of birth and the litter number. First, send us the required information. You can fill in the online form from our website. We also need acceptable proof of the hog's pedigree. Usually that means sending in a Litter Certificate or certificate of registration from the LBHA or another registry. If you buy a previously registered hog, please send us the original registration certificate. If you buy a new piglet, get a copy of the Litter Certificate from the breeder and send it to us indicating which piglet you bought. The hog you are registering must have ear notches that match the registration or litter certificate.
Please understand that only LBHA members can register hogs with us, so you may need to join the LBHA first.
3. What is a "Litter Certificate"?
A Litter Certificate is a form that we provide to the breeder when they have a new litter. It identifies the sire and dam of the piglets, how many piglets were born and survived to weaning, and lists all of the piglets that the breeder wants to register or sell as registerable pigs. It serves as proof of the piglet's pedigree and can be used by buyers to register the piglets they purchase from a breeder. A copy is as good as the original as long as it is signed by the breeder. Litter Certificates are very useful not only to the breeder and purchaser but also to us; it gives us a head start on the registration process. You must get a Litter Certificate if you intend to register the piglets later or sell them as registerable. We will not register piglets (at least from LBHA registered hogs) that were not previously identified on a Litter Certificate. You can fill in the online form from our website.
Piglets must be appropriately marked (ear notched) before they can be registered. It is best, and most humane, to do that within two weeks of birth. We will not register pigs that were not appropriately marked.
Litter Certificates cost $5.00 per litter. Registration of the individual piglets costs $10.00 each and can be done at the time of requesting the Litter Certificate or later. You can send a check to the Registrar or pay via PayPal on our website.
If you just want to give us a birth notification (not sell any piglets as registered or registerable) there is no fee. You also don't need to notch their ears. Birth notifications help us keep information on the proclivity of the sows and total number of Large Black hogs born each year. This information is very important to gauge the health of the breed, so please report your litters to us!
4. What is a "Registration Certificate"?
A Registration Certificate is a form that proves that a hog is registered with the LBHA. When we register a pig we provide the Registration Certificate to the owner. If an owner later sells the pig he or she provides the Registration Certificate to the new owner. That person then sends the original to us so that we can register it in their name.
Registration Certificates cost $10.00 per hog. An additional fee of $10.00 is required to transfer a registration into a new owner's name. You can send a check to the Registrar or pay via PayPal on our website.
5. What is a "Birth Notification"?
A Birth Notification is simply what it is called when a breeder notifies the LBHA that a sow has given birth but does not intend to register any of the piglets or sell them as registerable pigs. The LBHA uses this information to track the proclivity of sows and overall herd growth. We report this information (raw numbers only) to agencies that are involved in the protection of this rare breed, such as the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy and its overseas counterparts. It is critically important that we track this information; for that reason we do not charge for Birth Notifications. If you have already requested a Litter Certificate you do not need to also make a Birth Notification.
6. I have a sow that is about to give birth. How do I get a Litter Certificate?
When your sow has a new litter of piglets you will need to get a Litter Certificate from us; at least for the piglets that you plan to sell as registered or registerable hogs. You can fill in the online form from our website. It's very important that you request the Litter Certificate before they are weaned and ready to sell; we will not register any piglet (from LBHA registered hogs) that was not previously reported on a Litter Certificate. The litter certificate has room to put who each piglet went to. You then sign it and provide a copy to each new owner who can use it to register their pigs.
Please understand that only LBHA members can register hogs with us, so you may need to join the LBHA first. If your customer wishes to register the pigs they purchase from you they will need to join the LBHA first. If you register the pigs in their name, this does not apply.
7. I am purchasing a registered hog from a breeder. How do I register the hog in my name?
We need the original registration certificate for the hog. This can be from the LBHA or another acceptable registry. Please check with the Registrar if in doubt. We also need a check for the registration fee ($10.00) made out to "LBHA" (or you can pay via PayPal), along with your name, address, telephone number and email address. You can fill in the online form from our website. Make sure the hog is clearly marked (ear notches or tags) and that the marking exactly matches the information on the registration form. This is the only way you can confirm that the hog you are buying is the registered hog you expected.
Please understand that only LBHA members can register hogs with us, so you may need to join the LBHA first.
8. I am purchasing a piglet from a breeder. How do I get it registered?
Ask the breeder for a copy of the Litter Certificate. The breeder should indicate which piglet(s) you are getting and sign the form. Make sure the piglet has ear notches that match the litter and birth sequence on the form. Send that form to us along with a registration form and a check for the fee (or you can pay via PayPal). You can fill in the online form from our website.
If the breeder has already registered the piglet, get the original registration certificate from the breeder, make sure the ear notches match, and send it to us along with your contact information. You will need to pay the registration fee to change it into your name (unless the breeder registered it in your name already).
If the breeder tells you that they are going to register the piglet in your name then ensure that this happens by following up with the breeder. You may contact the LBHA Registrar but please understand that we cannot contact the breeder for you or act as your agent.
Please also understand that only LBHA members can register hogs with us, so you may need to join the LBHA first. All piglets must be registered within 90 days of birth.
9. What is "Inbreeding Coefficient"?
There is a good explanation of this on our blog.
10. Can I use a credit card or PayPal to pay for registrations?
We only accept personal checks, money orders or PayPal at this time. Please make them out to "LBHA".
11. Must I be a LBHA member to register my litters and hogs?
Yes. You can join at the same time as you register your first pigs with us.
12. Must I mark my hogs to register them?
We require that all registered pigs have ear notches that correspond with their litter and birth sequence numbers. We have a guide to notching on our website.
Marking each hog is essential for registration; we cannot register any hog without that. If a hog is not marked there is no way to prove that it matches a record in our database. If we were to allow unmarked hogs in our registry we would lose whatever integrity we have as an official registry. It is that integrity that gives value to registered hogs; your ability to sell them at a premium is directly affected by the customer's faith in our registry. It is in your best interest to do it; so please make it happen. If not, we will not register your hogs.
13. How long before I get the Registration Certificate for my hog?
It should only take a couple of weeks to get your certificates after we receive payment. However, if the information is incomplete or incorrect, the Registrar has to contact you for clarification and this may delay the process. Your check will take a bit longer to clear. After the Registrar adds your information to our registry database, he mails your check to the Vice-President who manages the LBHA account and deposits checks. In any case, if you feel it is taking too long please contact the Registrar.
Please understand, we are all volunteers and our lives often get in the way. Please be patient :)
1. Can I become a member?
2. What does membership cost?
3. Is there more than one type of membership?
4. Do you have "family" memberships?
5. Do I have any obligations as a member?
1. Can I become a member?
Anyone who wishes can become a member of the LBHA. All it takes is a desire to help sustain this wonderful heritage breed!
2. What does membership cost?
We have annual and lifetime memberships. Annual memberships cost $20 and must be renewed each January 1st. Lifetime memberships cost $200 and never need to be renewed. You can fill out the online form and pay via check or PayPal.
3. Is there more than one category of membership?
ACTIVE MEMBER: Any person, family or corporation located in North America who owns and breeds Large Black Hogs is eligible to become an Active Member of LBHA. Active Members must be current in their membership (in good standing) to be eligible to vote and/or hold elective office, and/or to register Large Black Hogs with LBHA.
ASSOCIATE MEMBER: Any person, family or corporation interested in the promotion of Large Black Hogs may become an associate member of the LBHA, and as such is entitled to all privileges of full membership except that they shall have no vote, nor shall they be eligible to hold elective office, nor shall they be eligible to register Large Black Hogs with the LBHA.
One of the benefits of membership is having your name listed in the member breeder list. We can put in logos as well as a short description of what you have or would like to have to help us all grow and develop the large black hog breed. Another very important benefit is that you will have access to the pedigrees of all hogs
4. Do you have "family" memberships?
Yep. Any membership extends to all family members. However, Active memberships only allow one vote per family.
5. Do I have any obligations as a member?
Yes. Our ByLaws have the following member obligations:
9.2 BREEDER OBLIGATIONS AND CODE OF ETHICS: Breeders are obligated to keep accurate records, to refrain from the introduction of other breeds of pigs or hogs to be presented for Registration or Progeny Testing, to practice honesty in all its forms in dealing with genetics of one's herd of Large Black Hogs and in dealing with the public and potential purchasers of one's stock, to conduct oneself with dignity and honesty at any breed organization public function in such a manner that enhances the image of Large Black Hogs. Breeders are obligated to register their litters or submit a birth notification within 90 days of farrowing, and/or to register their eligible Large Black Hogs with LBHA prior to sale, prior to use in breeding. Birth Notifications shall be filed with the LBHA Registrar for the purposes of adding information into the registry database. If they opt for a birth notification, Birth Notifications shall be free of charge to the breeder. As such time that the pigs would be bred or sold, an application for registration shall be filed and the adult hog registration fee would apply.
1. Where can I find Large Black hogs for sale?
2. How can I know that the hog I want to buy is registered with the LBHA?
3. Where can I get info about raising Large Blacks?
1. Where can I find Large Black hogs for sale?
The first place to look is our Member Breeders page. All members are listed there and many advertise their hogs for sale under their listings. Another place is in our Forum. You'll need to join the Forum to see the discussions, but once there you can choose the "Sale Barn" category and see all active advertisements.
2. How can I know that the hog I want to buy is registered with the LBHA?
The seller should provide you with either the original registration certificate for the hog, a copy of the hog's Litter Certificate or copies of the registration forms for the hog's parents. This is very important; we can't register the hog without proof of heritage.
One very important thing to check is that the hog has ear notches that match the litter number and sequence listed on the form. For example, if the registered name is "HGA Matilda 4/1 *0444" or if it is listed as "4/1" on the Litter Certificate, it must have notches on its ear that indicate that it is the fourth litter and first piglet from the litter. You can see examples of ear notches by downloading our guide here.
Occasionally you may encounter a pig that was first registered with a different registry. If this is the case, it should have an extra set of numbers in its name (indicating the registry number from a different registry). Here is an example: "HGA Matilda 4/1 #345 *0444". The #345 is the registry number from the other registry. However, it should still have correct ear notches or tags.
It is very risky to purchase a hog that does not have correct ear notches or tags. Without that, it is impossible to verify that the hog you are buying is the same hog that was registered or eligible for registration. The LBHA requires that all previously unregistered hogs must be notched correctly (ear tags are not acceptable) before they can be registered with us. The only exception is for hogs that were first registered with a different registry (but they must meet that registry's requirements).
3. Where can I get info about raising Large Blacks?
Our current LBHA President (Kay Wolfe) has developed a very informative website that explains much about how to raise these wonderful hogs. We also have an article in our Blog and you can browse the Forum for discussions about this. Of course, just post a question in the Forum and the membership will help out!