84 days till fair hogs weigh 150# 145#

[hogwings]

What is better hand feeding or self feed my fear is a hog that is at weight limit way to early?

[CHOPSTER]

are they currently on full feed? what is their average daily gain? what is your maximum weight limit? more than likely they need to be hand fed. i normally shoot for a target weight of about 220-230, 21 days out from show date. that way they can really fed hard that last 3 weeks. our max major show weights are 270 with a 10 pound overage.

[hogwings]

They are on full feed.Some say get them to 200 or so then hand feed. Others say hand feed 5-6lbs. per day and adjust as needed.This is our second year so not much experience.We got these pigs 4/20/08 100#and 98# 5/11/08 150 & 145.AT this rate I am afraid they will need to be held to long or not even able.Top weight is 280.

[CHOPSTER]

if i'm looking at this right they are on about a 2.5#/day average. i'm afraid if you don't slow their daily gain from now to 21 before show date to about 1.3#s your going to have to hold them to hard at the end. you don't want to do that. for todays shows they have to go into the ring looking full and fresh. if you continue feeding them as you are now they are going to hit 200# in the next three weeks. that will only leave you with 80#s of gain possible in the last 60 days. and if your shooting for a 230# target weight 21 days out you'll only be able to put 30#s on them in 40 days. you'll practically have to starve them for 6 weeks. if at all possible you never want to hold a pig to less than a pound a day gain. if you have access to some Powerfill i would give them about 3#s per day plus 1# of their regular feed. that sould give you the gain your looking for. i would also add as much beet pulp as they will eat as filler. every pig is different so weigh them weekly and adjust the amount of feed up or down as needed but leave the Powerfill the same.