Pig Terminology
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Barrow – a male castrated before it reaches sexual maturity
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Boar – a mature male used for breeding purposes
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Farrow – to give birth to piglets
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Feed Efficiency (Feed Conversion Ratio) – the amount of feed consumed to produce a pound of meat
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Feeder Pig – a pig weighing between approximately 18-27kg
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Fetal Pig - unborn pig
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Finish – to feed a pig until it reaches a market weight, approximately 260-300kg
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Gilt – a young female that has not farrowed her first litter
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Nursery Pig – any pig weighing approximately 5 – 18kg
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Piglet – newborn pig, young or juvenile pig
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Sow – a mature female that has farrowed at least one litter
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Wean – to separate pigs from the sow
There are four primary stages in porcine production:
Breeding and Farrowing
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Gilts are bred when they are approximately 7 - 8 months old.
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Sows are bred approximately 3 days after piglets are weaned.
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The gestation period for pigs is approximately 114 days.
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Pigs farrow litter sizes average from 10 to 12 piglets.
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The average birth weight per piglet is approximately 0.9 - 2kg.
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Young pigs are introduced to regular pig feed at 10 – 12 days of age.
Weaning
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Pigs are generally weaned at three to four weeks of age.
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Weaned pigs weigh approximately 5 - 7kg.
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Weaned pigs are typically moved to a nursery and raised until they reach a weight of approximately 18 - 27 kg.
Finishing
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Pigs are moved to a finishing barn at approximately 8 weeks of age and approximately 18 – 27kg.
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Pigs will remain at a finishing barn until they reach a market weight of approximately 260 to 300kg.