How much does a pig weigh: how to know and determine, size table

It is not always possible for livestock breeders to weigh their animals at home using scales. You can find out approximately how much a pig weighs using specially developed techniques. This is very important, because from a fat pig you will get a lot of fat, but not enough meat, but from a skinny pig you will get neither one nor the other. The methods themselves are not difficult to use, and even beginners can use them.

Content

Why do you need to know the weight of a pig?
Average weight of a pig at different ages
How to determine the weight of a pig without scales
Measuring by table
Calculation by formula
Calculation by fatness category

Why do you need to know the weight of a pig?

The owner needs to know the weight of pigs not only for the purpose of determining the time of slaughter and adjusting the feeding regimen. It is recommended to separate pigs of equal weight and keep them together. This is especially important if the farm is large and pigs of different ages are raised on it.

The weight of animals varies depending on such factors:

belonging to a certain breed;
conditions of detention;
feed used;
selected feeding mode.

All this should be taken into account when weighing or making the necessary measurements.

Average weight of a pig at different ages

If a livestock breeder is just going to breed pigs, then he should immediately decide on the breed. Nowadays, increasing preference is given to meat ones, which by 23-24 weeks have already gained 100 kg of weight. At the same time, almost no lard is obtained from them. To produce lard, you need to choose a different breed that will have low growth rates. Accordingly, feed costs in this case will be higher. The best option is considered to be a large white pig, which has high productivity and is suitable for producing lard and meat.

On average, a fattened animal gains approximately 650 g per day. This figure may vary by month. When raising a queen, you must keep in mind that at 7 months the pig is already sexually mature. A one-year-old pig is quite capable of producing healthy offspring. During this period, weight gain stops, and even a plumb line is observed. Mating is allowed only if the live weight has reached 115 kg.

An adult female gains 25 kg after each farrowing. If at the time of the first insemination her weight was 120 kg, then by the second she will gain it up to 145 kg, and by the third - up to 170 kg. Accurately determine weight by measurements.

How to determine the weight of a pig without scales

There are several proven methods that make it possible to determine the weight of a pig without professional scales.

Measuring by table

To calculate the weight of piglets using specially designed tables, it is necessary to make the appropriate measurements using a tape measure. Experienced livestock breeders also recommend using a 1.5 m long tailor's tape for these purposes. Measurements are taken in the morning, while the animals have not yet eaten. Make sure the pig stands upright. To do this, it is better to use an assistant who will hand-feed her with her favorite food.

First of all, you need to determine the length of the body. To do this, a tape measure or tape must be attached with one end to the back of the head and the other to the base of the tail. After this, measure the girth behind the shoulder blades. Based on measurements, weight is determined using a special table. It can be found in the livestock breeder's directory and made a photocopy. The intersection of rows and columns will show the resulting mass of the pig. Weight calculation based on dimensions is accurate. This method is used not only by livestock breeders themselves, but also by professional butchers. The error is approximately ±12%.

Body length (cm)	Chest (cm)	Weight (kg)
38	60	11
	64	13
	68	15
42	60	13
	64	14
	68	16
	72	18
46	60	14
	64	16
	68	18
	72	20
50	60	15
	64	17
	68	19
	72	22
	76	24
	80	27
54	60	16
	64	18
	68	21
	72	23
	76	26
	80	29
	84	32
58	60	17
	64	19
	68	22
	72	25
	76	28
	80	31
	84	34
	88	37
62	60	18
	64	21
	68	24
	72	27
	76	30
	80	33
	84	37
	88	40
	92	43
66	60	19
	64	22
	68	25
	72	28
	76	32
	80	35
	84	39
	88	42
	92	46
	96	50
70	64	24
	68	27
	72	30
	76	34
	80	37
	84	41
	88	45
	92	49
	96	53
	100	58
74	68	28
	72	32
	76	36
	80	39
	84	44
	88	47
	92	52
	96	56
	100	61
	104	66
78	72	37
	76	41
	80	46
	84	50
	88	55
	92	59
	96	65
	100	70
	104	76
82	76	39
	80	43
	84	48
	88	52
	92	57
	96	62
	100	69
	104	74
	108	79
	112	85
86	80	46
	84	51
	88	55
	92	60
	96	65
	100	71
	104	77
	108	82
	112	89
	116	96
90	84	53
	88	58
	92	63
	96	68
	100	75
	104	81
	108	94
	112	101
	116	108
94	88	60
	92	66
	96	71
	100	78
	104	85
	108	91
	112	105
	116	113
	120	120
98	92	69
	96	74
	100	81
	104	88
	108	95
	112	101
	116	110
	120	118
	124	125
	128	133
102	96	78
	100	85
	104	92
	108	99
	112	106
	116	114
	120	123
	124	131
	128	139
	132	147
106	100	88
	104	95
	108	103
	112	110
	116	119
	120	127
	124	136
	128	144
	132	153
110	104	99
	108	107
	112	114
	116	123
	120	132
	124	141
	128	149
	132	158
	136	170
	140	180
114	108	111
	112	119
	116	128
	120	137
	124	146
	128	155
	132	176
	136	186
	140	196
118	112	123
	116	132
	120	142
	124	151
	128	160
	132	170
	136	182
	140	193
	144	203
	148	215
122	116	137
	120	146
	124	156
	128	166
	132	176
	136	188
	140	199
	144	210
	148	222
126	120	151
	124	161
	128	171
	132	181
	136	194
	140	205
	144	217
	148	229
130	124	166
	128	177
	132	187
	136	200
	140	212
	144	224
	148	236
134	128	182
	132	193
	136	206
	140	218
	144	230
	148	244
138	132	199
	136	212
	140	225
	144	237
	148	251
142	136	219
	140	231
	144	244
	148	258
146	140	238
	144	251
	148	266
150	144	258
150	148	273

Calculation by formula

You can also calculate the weight of a pig using the developed formula by taking the appropriate measurements using a tape measure. It looks like this:

M=0.99·D+1.54·O-150,

where M is the mass of the pig;

D - body length of the pig;

O - girth behind the shoulder blades.

Calculating the mass in this case will not present any difficulties if the measurements are taken correctly. It is worth keeping in mind that the data obtained from the table and calculated using the formula are very different. As practice shows, tabular data is accurate, therefore it is recommended to use them.

The presented method does not make it possible to determine the weight of a newborn piglet. In this case, you will still have to use scales. It is not necessary to purchase professional ones; ordinary household ones will do. As you gain weight, you will no longer need to weigh the animal, but you will be able to measure it and find out how much it weighs using the same tables or calculate it using the formula.

Calculation by fatness category

Another method has been developed for calculating the live weight of pigs according to fatness categories. To do this, you need to multiply the length of the body by the girth behind the shoulder blades and divide by the coefficient. For piglets of average fatness, the value of this coefficient is taken to be 156.

The result of determining the mass in this case is greatly underestimated, so experienced livestock breeders still recommend using tabular data.

Determination of fatness is necessary when it is necessary to adjust the diet of pregnant queens. According to certain criteria, the following categories of fatness are distinguished:

Skinny - the hips and spine are expressed in relief.
Thin - the spine and hips can be easily felt by applying light pressure with the palm of your hand.
Medium - with strong pressure with your palm, you can feel the spine and hips.
Above average, the hips and spine cannot be felt.
Fatty - the spine and hips are hidden and cannot be felt.

To normalize weight, it is recommended to feed skinny animals 4 kg of compound feed daily, and fat animals - 2 times less.

The weight of small piglets is initially determined using growth charts or using portable scales. Next, when they gain 25-30 kg, individuals are separated for fattening and for renewing the herd.They are given different nutritional plans and measurements are taken monthly. Slaughter occurs when the pig reaches a weight of about 100 kg. It is not advisable to feed her further, since weight gain occurs due to lard, the cost of which is lower than the cost of meat.