Pig Terminology 

• Barrow – a male castrated before it reaches sexual maturity

• Boar – a mature male used for breeding purposes

• Farrow – to give birth to piglets

• Feed Efficiency (Feed Conversion Ratio) – the amount of feed consumed to produce a pound of meat

• Feeder Pig – a pig weighing between approximately 18-27kg

• Fetal Pig - unborn pig

• Finish – to feed a pig until it reaches a market weight, approximately 260-300kg

• Gilt – a young female that has not farrowed her first litter

• Nursery Pig – any pig weighing approximately 5 – 18kg 

• Piglet – newborn pig, young or juvenile pig

• Sow – a mature female that has farrowed at least one litter

• Wean – to separate pigs from the sow

There are four primary stages in porcine production:

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Breeding and Farrowing

• Gilts are bred when they are approximately 6 - 8 months old.

• Sows are bred approximately 3 days after piglets are weaned.

• The gestation period for pigs is approximately 114 days.

• Pigs farrow litter sizes average from 12 to 13 piglets.

• The average birth weight per piglet is approximately 0.9 - 2kg.

• Young pigs are introduced to regular pig feed at 10 – 12 days of age.

Weaning

• Pigs are generally weaned at three to four weeks of age.

• Weaned pigs weigh approximately 5 - 7kg.

• Weaned pigs are typically moved to a nursery and raised until they reach a weight of approximately 18 - 27 kg.

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Finishing

• Pigs are moved to a finishing barn at approximately 8 weeks of age and approximately 18 – 27kg.

• Pigs will remain at a finishing barn until they reach a market weight of approximately 260 to 300kg.