Life Cycle of a Market Pig
Sows have areas in their
barns that they can walk
into to eat their food.
This way other sows can
not chase them away
from their food.
Farrowing pens allow
the sow to eat and lie
down while keeping the
piglets safe from being
stepped on by the sow.
The weaned pigs have
access to food and
water 24/7. The floor
is designed so urine
and manure will drop
through the floor. This
keeps the pigs cleaner.
These hogs are in the
finishing barn. They are
just about ready to go to
market.
Colorado Ag in the Classroom
GESTATION (pregnancy) Gilts (female pigs)
reach maturity and are bred at 170 to 220 days
of age. After delivering their first litter of pigs,
gilts are called sows. Gestation (pregnancy)
is about 114 days, or 3 months, 3 weeks and 3
days.
FARROWING Sows and gilts are moved to
a farrowing barn when ready to give birth
(farrow). Usually, a sow or gilt will have 12 to 13
pigs per litter. The sow gives birth to the piglets
which weigh between 2-3 pound at birth. The
sow nurses the piglets for about 21 days (3
weeks). Then the piglets are weaned from the
sow. The piglets weigh 13-15 pounds
at weaning.
NURSERY After weaning, piglets are moved
to a nursery or to a wean-to-finish barn and
are housed with piglets from other litters.
These barns are temperature controlled and
ventilated to support the newly weaned pigs.
The pigs are fed a corn/soybean meal diet
and they eat between 1.4 to 4 lbs. of food
per day. During this time pigs grow to 50 to 60
pounds. They stay here for 42 to 56 days or 6 to
8 weeks.
GROWING AND FINISHING Pigs are
moved from the nursery to a finishing barn
to accommodate their continued growth. If
pigs are in a wean-to-finish barn, they remain
there. In the grow/finish phase, pigs consume
6 to 10 pounds of feed daily. A diet typically
consists of corn and soybean meal, as well as
vitamins and minerals to ensure proper health
and growth of the pigs. As the pigs grow, they
are monitored daily to ensure that they are
healthy. At about six months of age, the pigs
weigh about 280 pounds and are then market
ready.
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