Many farmers who have not raised animals before are interested in how long a pig grows before slaughter. It is difficult to answer this question unambiguously, since the growth time may vary. However, if you become familiar with the developmental characteristics of piglets in advance, it will be possible to determine the appropriate time for slaughter.
Factors influencing growth
There are several factors that influence the rate of development of farmed animals. Among them are the following:
- Breed. Pigs of different breeds differ from each other in their growth rates.For example, one Vietnamese pig grows up to one hundred kilograms within a year. The Estonian pig grows twice as fast, which is why it gains so much weight in just six months. At one year of age, their body weight increases to one hundred and fifty kilograms.
- Diet. A pig's weight gain largely depends on the food it is given daily. Food should contain the optimal amount of vitamins and other nutritional components. If you feed a pig more than 5 times a day and do not let it go for a walk, the weight gain will increase by a quarter. However, when raised in this way, the animal becomes overgrown with fat, and also becomes clumsy and slow. Because of this, he may have problems with the liver and stomach.
- Heredity. The growth rate largely depends on heredity. If the parents grew quickly, then their piglets will also gain weight during the year.
How long does a pig grow before slaughter?
Beginning farmers are often interested in how long a pig should grow before slaughter. The fattening period for piglets is divided into three stages:
- Lactic. During this period, pigs do not eat anything other than mother's milk. Sometimes vitamins are added to their diet to strengthen the immune system. This stage lasts two months.
- Growing up. Grain crops are gradually added to the diet, which contribute to initial weight gain. Rearing lasts for six months.
- Fattening for slaughter. This is the final stage when piglets begin to be given food to increase body weight. It lasts until the pig gains 150-200 kilograms.
When can you slaughter an adult animal?
To determine the moment of slaughter of an animal, the following factors are taken into account:
- Weight. You can send a pig for slaughter when its weight reaches one hundred and fifty kilograms.The main thing is that he does not have time to become overgrown with fat.
- Hormones. Every 2-3 months, pigs experience a hormonal surge, which negatively affects the taste of meat. Therefore, it is recommended to slaughter animals 2-3 weeks after the end of the hunting period.
- Season. It is recommended to engage in slaughtering in the spring or summer at a temperature of 15-20 degrees above zero.
- Volume of meat. It is necessary that the volume of meat be more than 70% of the total body weight.
- Number of farrows. Sows are sent to slaughter only after they have farrowed more than five times.
Conclusion
People who plan to breed piglets are interested in when they can be slaughtered. To do this, you need to understand the growth rate of pigs and other factors that influence slaughter.
