Pigs getting too big too soon???

[txmom389]

Hello everyone.
This is my girls second year showing pigs so we are still pretty new to all of this stuff. Our show is in November our pigs where born April 20th and 21st.
We bought from a breeder that came and sold pigs for our show last year so the selection we had to choose from was said to be good for our show. (some where April born, some May born)
The thing is, I am worried they are growing fast. One weighs 78lbs(barrow) and the other 85lbs (gilt).

Should this be a legit worry or am I worrying too soon?? Any advice?
Any and everything helps.

[PJP]

I don't know when in Nov your fair is but at a guess you have around 90 days left. As a rule pigs gain an average of 1.5 pounds per day which means they will gain about 135 lbs between now and your fair. At the most pigs could gain 2 lbs per day so that would be 180 lbs. You are looking at your pigs going in between 220 and 270.

[PIGDADD]

Actually 90 days would be October shows. November could be as much as 130 days out. Yes that is big for a November show. Litter born dates for November show should be early/mid June.
I have some mid April hogs going into a show in early/mid October currently at the same weights as yours and my early projections are putting them in the 240 250 range. I could not show them in a November show.
You will be pushing close to 7 months on a November show and that Chine bone comes in around that time typically late 7 month.

[swinedad]

Your pigs will be 6 mos old in 95 days (about Oct 21st). 6 months of age is a good target for day of the show age. If they're good eating easily growing pigs then you'll need to manage weight for sure. If finicky slow growing possibly will still need some weight management due to the age of the pigs but not as much as a fast gaining pig.

To answer your question the pigs aren't too heavy they have too many days left to grow. But I think it's doable.

Swinedad

[PJP]

Oops I skipped a month (oct) when I did my math.

[txmom389]

We have 121 days until our show date

[txmom389]

120 I mean! I am not sure what we should do at this point.. Keep going and see where we end up, buying new ones, asking breeder to switch them out.. ect

[BACON]

First thing should be a call to your breeder. He should be able to help you out and have some idea of how those two will continue to grow if he has bred that sow before. That being said, i wouldn't begin to think about holding any weight until they are at least 150-180 pounds. They are at a point in their growth curve where they need full feed and all the nutrients in it. You don't want to stunt their growth. I would weigh them in 60 days. At 2 lb a day (which no 75 pound pig will gain), that puts you around 200 pounds. That means you would have approximately 60-80 pounds to go at that point with 60 days to do it.Very manageable. However, I would assume in 60 days they will weigh closer to 180 pounds, giving you much more room. I'd let them cruise!

[BACON]

Also, in the future, you DO NOT want a mid June baby. You'll never be where you want it to be. That hog will have just rolled 5 months old for mid November show. You'll be at 220 lbs if you're lucky. Stick with a May hog.

[PIGDADD]

Bacon Is correct I meant mid May hog for a November pig. Sorry I've been working 16hrs days for 5 weeks a bit tired.
But yes Bacon is on point, and I agree let them ride until about 180 and adjust at that weight.