We bought our barrows the first of November, one weighed 53 lbs and the other was 60 lbs. We have been hand feeding the entire time (twice daily). At first we fed as much as they would eat, approximately 6 lbs/day sometimes a little more. We weighed December 15 and they came in at 116 (1.5 lbs/day) and 137 (1.84 lbs/day). We cut them back to 4 lbs/day and weighed again December 26. They have slowed a little coming in at 129 (1.18 lbs/day) and 151 (1.27 lbs/day). I've heard that holding early can hurt muscle growth but I also know, the heavier they get, the more daily weight gain they have. Our weigh in is 80 days from today and our max weight is 290. In the last three years of showing we've been trying to push weight on our pigs and coming in light so we are inexperienced on what to do when trying to keep them from coming in too heavy. Should we up their daily feed back to 6 lbs, continue to monitor, and then cut closer to weigh in? We'd appreciate any advice on how to manage their weight gain without hurting their development but also managing to make it come fair. TIA

Do not start holding below 175 lbs. You can easily slow them down to 1.5 lbs a day when their are bigger and cruise into your show looking good.

This is where we are right now, Pigs weigh 175, gaining 2.1 lbs/day on 18%. Fair weigh in is 69 days away so i only want them gaining 1.5lbs or less a day. These are long bodied blue butts. i'm thing i want them to finish around 280. Can anyone suggest a ratio? I used the search bar but every situation is a little unique. TIA.

You can use Powerfill as part of your slowing ration. To get 1.5 lbs ADG you feed 2 lbs Powerfill and 2 lbs of your show feed grower or finisher. That ration will still meet their daily requirement of Lysine. You can ask KGB for more info on slowing rations from Purina.

Thanks! I will check it out.