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Pig Terminology

 

Gilt – a female pig that has not yet had a litter of piglets.  Also known as a maiden sow.

Sow – a female pig that has had at least one litter of piglets

Boar – an entire male of any age

Rig – a male pig with an undescended testicle (can still be fertile)

Barrow – a castrated male pig

Oestrous – what occurs when a female pig comes on heat.

Farrow – a litter of piglets.  Sows are said to be farrowing when they are giving birth.

Litter – a group of piglets produced at one birth

Sucker – a young suckling piglet

Runt – the smallest piglet of a litter

Piglet – a young pig up to weaning, after which it becomes a weaner

Weaner – a young pig being weaned from milk onto compound feeds (up to about 10 weeks of age)

Fattener – a pig being prepared for slaughter

Porker – a pig slaughtered at about 50kg (liveweight) for fresh meat

Baconer – a pig slaughtered at about 80kg (liveweight) to produce ham or bacon

Chopper – an older, mature culled animal that is used for byproducts

Liveweight – the weight of the animal before slaughter

Deadweight – the weight of the animal after slaughter


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