Hello Everyone.
My Yorkshire gilt will most likely not be making weight this year. So i decided i would like to breed her to have hogs for next years fair. Yes i know, it is entirely early, just planning and thinking. Soo
Everyone around here gets hogs in December weighing around 90-110 pounds. To make the 230-280 pound weight limit at our fair in March. So when should i breed my hog, and raise the piglets to 90-110pounds by December of 2008.
Sorry i am only 16, and new to pigs. Thank you ahead of time, everyone, for all the help!!
-Devon
New At Breeding, Please Help!
I'm no expert on this, and have only been in it myself for 1 year.
trivswine is right about breeding in May for Sept. pigs. Which would make them 6 months old at the show in March.
If you know the day of the show you plan on attending it can help narrow down the days to when you should breed her. I bred mine to where the pigs would be no older than 6 months old at the show. Much older than that and you have to hold them too much to make weight limit. I even had some of mine show at 5 months old, granted they were in a lighter weight class but I would prefer to take a younger, fresher looking pig that is on full feed, than I would to take one that has had to be held for a long time. This is just me though, I'm sure others do it or prefer different looks than me.
If you didn't know already the gestation of a sow is 114 days, if you know when the show is, count back 6 months, then count back another 114 days, this will give you the day you need to breed. Depending on her cycle you might hit it just right or you could wait until her next cycle up to 21 days later, which would make the pigs a little more than 5 months old at the show.. The younger they are the harder you can push them. I think it's easier to push a pig rather than hold one back.
Hope this helps.. Sorry for the rambling.
James
trivswine is right about breeding in May for Sept. pigs. Which would make them 6 months old at the show in March.
If you know the day of the show you plan on attending it can help narrow down the days to when you should breed her. I bred mine to where the pigs would be no older than 6 months old at the show. Much older than that and you have to hold them too much to make weight limit. I even had some of mine show at 5 months old, granted they were in a lighter weight class but I would prefer to take a younger, fresher looking pig that is on full feed, than I would to take one that has had to be held for a long time. This is just me though, I'm sure others do it or prefer different looks than me.
If you didn't know already the gestation of a sow is 114 days, if you know when the show is, count back 6 months, then count back another 114 days, this will give you the day you need to breed. Depending on her cycle you might hit it just right or you could wait until her next cycle up to 21 days later, which would make the pigs a little more than 5 months old at the show.. The younger they are the harder you can push them. I think it's easier to push a pig rather than hold one back.
Hope this helps.. Sorry for the rambling.
James
As said decide when you want them born but I use a gestation chart to be sure of my math. This link will take you to 1 you can print
http://bigvalleyswine.com/FAQ/Gestation%20table.htm
http://bigvalleyswine.com/FAQ/Gestation%20table.htm