Admin Table of Contents
How old are hogs when they are sent to the butcher?
Most pigs in the U.S. would be butchered at 250-300 pounds live weight or between 6-7 months of age. Butcher ready pigs will have wide hams, flat wide backs and a double chin. By the time your pigs get to butchering size, you will have put in months of care and feed.
When should piglets be processed?
four to 14 days
The best time to castrate a piglet is when it is four to 14 days of age. Young piglets are easier to hold or restrain, bleed less from surgery, and have antibody protection from the sow’s colostrum and milk.
How much does it cost to raise a pig from birth to processing?
Local farms charge $4 per pound hanging weight, and then charge the buyer for slaughtering and butchering fees on top of that. The same pig, purchased from a local farm would have cost around $600. Assuming our labor is free, raising our own pigs saved us a total of $225 per pig.
How old are pigs when killed for bacon?
Slaughtering Pigs
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Baconer | A pig being reared for bacon rather than pork, and which will be slaughtered at 80kg – 100kg live weight, at about 8 – 10 months of age. |
| Cutter | A pig between pork and bacon weight, raised to produce larger joints. |
How many times a year can a sow give birth?
Hogs are very prolific; a sow can have two litters of pigs a year. The average litter size is 7.5 pigs, and it is not uncommon for a sow to have 12-14 pigs per litter. The gestation period of a sow (from the time she is bred until she farrows) is 114 days.
How long do pigs stay in the nursery?
36 to 46 days
The average time spent in the nursery ranged from 36 to 46 days. Because pigs are typically weaned earlier and enter the nursery at a younger age on large and medium sites, these pigs spent more time in nurseries on average than pigs on small sites (Table 1).
How much is a piglet worth?
So, the short and sweet answer is, for a good feeder pig, expect to pay from $60-$100 depending on age and breed. For breeding pigs of good quality and genetically sound bloodlines, expect to pay somewhere between $300-$1000. Keep in mind that some of these pigs sell at shows for thousands of dollars.