I have a young gilt,who weighs about 40 lbs.How old is she,based on weight?(she's a run of the mill weaner pig).At what age can she be bred? I read that gestation for a pig is 114 days...is this correct?How do I tell if she's 'in season'?

Thanks in advance!!!

-- Johna (in central TX) (marcnjohna@aol.com), April 04, 2002

Answers

It's been a few years since I raised pigs but I would guess she is 2-4 months old. Depending on genetics and her past care. My vet used to recommend that a gilt be 200-240lbs and about 8-12 months before they are bred. Younger then that and they aren't always the best mothers. Sort of like a teenage mother. They go into heat once a month and you can tell if they are ready to breed by "pushing" down on their back. If they are ready they will stand with their butt in the air.

Commercially raised pigs go from 3lbs or so at birth to 220lbs at 6 months. Most old timers I talked to claimed they had much better live pig rates and healthier pigs if they let the gilt grow at a slighlty slower rate and let them get a little older before breeding. My neighbor had a gilt get pregnant at what he claimed was 5 months and raised 5 pigs fine but I wouldn't recommend it.

I used to raise the pigs in huts outside and in farrowing cages. I found that the pigs outside were healthier and I lost much less baby pigs.

-- Robin (darkdakota@aol.com), April 05, 2002.

Robin pretty well covered it all.

Gestation is 3 weeks, 3 months, three days (give or take).

You'll know the gilt is "ready to be bred" when she is in "standing estrus" as Robin described. Leading up to that will be lots of complaining and squealing and irritability.

Not only will she "stand" when downward pressure is applied to her back, she may just "stand there" for a prolonged period of time... (its actually kinda funny...its almost impossible to "drive" gilts in season anywhere , if one or more get pushed, they'll just stop and won't proceed any further.)

And yes, its recommened that gilts not be bred until they are in the 200 pound/9-12 month age range.

Hope this helps.

Oh, and if you DO get pigs, we'll need to cover wolf teeth, iron shots, and castration-how-to's!

-- onceapigfarmer... (wind_n_her_hair@yahoo.com), April 05, 2002.

You forgot one... 3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days and 3:00 in the morning!!

-- jay (candlebn@maxminn.com), April 05, 2002.

3 months 3 weeks 3 days 3:00 am raining snowing or -30F yes like sheep the worst possiple moment!!

-- sm4farm (dshans@hotmail.com), April 05, 2002.

YEA Johna! Glad to hear you found a pig! You're going to have so much fun raising little ones. Best wishes.

-- cowgirlone in ok (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), April 05, 2002.