Interactive lesson

From weaner to pig-killing day, step by step

Interactive lesson: when to buy a weaner, fattening month by month, when a pig is ready, preparing for slaughter, the Trichinella test, what a pig gives and what comes after.

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The whole lesson as text

1. When to buy a weaner

Pig-killing day starts on the spring day you buy the weaner.

Count from slaughter — First decide when slaughter will be: in cold weather, roughly from late November to January. Count backwards from that date.
A commercial weaner in spring — A 25 kg commercial weaner grows to 110–130 kg in roughly 6–7 months on a home ration. For slaughter in December, buy it in April or May.
Why spring — The weaner grows over the summer on the run and on grass, when it's warm and green. By the end of fattening the new harvest and the maize are in.
Two pigs together — If you fatten two, buy them together and slaughter them 2–4 weeks apart. A pig mustn't be left alone for long.

Why: Count backwards from slaughter. Killing at home needs cold weather, when meat can be cooled and handled without a chiller big enough for a whole pig. In lowland UK and Ireland that's roughly from late November to January.

A weaner bought too early is ready in a mild September or October.
In the uplands buy weaners 2–4 weeks later; in milder areas home slaughter waits for the cold, which comes later.

2. Fattening month by month

From 25 to 120 kg, with a clear ration for each stage.

Grower to 60 kg — From 25 to 60 kg, roughly 10–12 weeks: a ration with 16 % protein, 1.2–2.2 kg a day. Run and grazing from May.
Finisher to 120 kg — From 60 to 120 kg, roughly 12–14 weeks: 13 % protein, 2.3–3.2 kg a day, with roots.
Summer: shade and water — In summer a pig needs shade, a wallow and water. In July feed goes in morning and evening.
Weighing with a tape — Measure the pig with a tape every 2–4 weeks and write it down. In August secure grain for the finish: roughly 300 kg of grain and meal per pig.

Why: A young pig builds meat and needs more protein. Later it eats more but needs less protein. If it grows more slowly than planned, check the ration, parasites and the pig house.

In hot weather, feed morning and evening.
Write every weighing in the fattening log.