| Physical Description | ||
| Introduction Range Legal and management agendas
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The feral hog appearance is of a slightly modified
domestic hog form. They have a thick long matted hair coat of 5 main colors in either
stripes, patches or even some solid body color coverage. The main colors are black, white,
brown, gray and red. Color distinctions become difficult due to the caked mud to their
bodies from wallowing. Color of an individual is significantly effected by the genetic
base of that specific population.  In Texas, mature boars stand 40 inches at the shoulder and weights average around 190 with 400 to 500 pound individuals not being unheard of. Sows at maturity stand 30 inches at the shoulder and average 175 pounds, but 250 to 300 pounds are harvested. In a feral condition, hogs weigh in at 6 months between 40-60 pounds and at 1 year they will reach 100 pounds. The genetic ability for growth is not the limiting factor for size in a feral hog population rather it is the abundance or lack of suitable forage easily attainable (Mungull & Sheffield, page 68). Length of a hog carcass is regulated by the genetic background of that specific population coupled with the age and sex of the hog. |