[arusse23]

What if any is the best age & weight for slaughter of female GOS? What is the best way to measure them to calculate their weight?

thanks

Andrew

[Beewyched]

Sorry, I'm a Kune keeper myself, but as a guess probably from 6-months onwards depending on what weight you are looking for.  As for her weight -

Weighing a Pig Without a Scale
By thePigSite.com - Ever wondered how to weigh a pig without a scale? This article explains how you can obtain a good estimate of a pigs weight by measuring its girth and length and doing some simple math.
The most accurate way to measure the weight of a pig is to use a specialist pig weigh. However, these can be expensive and if you only have a few pigs to weigh and a high degree of accuracy is not necessarily needed, we explain how to obtain a good estimate of a pigs weight using only a measuring tape and a calculator.


IMPERIAL - Weight of your pig in POUNDS
Obtain a fabric measuring tape or a piece of string to use as a measure. If using string mark the dimensions on the string and then measure the dimensions using a steel tape measure.
Place the tape/string under the pig just behind the front legs and measure the circumference of the pigs girth in inches. This measurement is known as the Heart Girth (see graphic)
Then measure the Length of the pig along its back from the base of its ears to the base of its tail, again in inches. (see graphic)
To calculate the pigs weight, first square the Heart Girth to get the Girth Result.
Now Multiply the Girth Result by the Length and DIVIDE by 400.
You now have the weight of your pig in Pounds.
 
Example:
Porky Pig has a Heart Girth of 50 inches and a Length of 40 inches.
Squaring the Heart Girth (50 x 50) = 2500 = Girth Result
Multiply the Girth Result (2500) by the Length (40) and divide by 400 = 250 Pounds.
METRIC VERSION - Weight of your pig in KILOGRAMMES
Use the same procedure as above taking your measurement in Meters.
Then use the following formula.
Square the Heart Girth to get the Girth Result.
Now Multiply the Girth Result by the Length and MULTIPLY by 69.3
You now have the weight of your pig in Kg.
Example:
Porky Pig has a Heart Girth of 1.27 meters and a Length of 1.02 meters.
Squaring the Heart Girth (1.27 x 1.27) = 1.6129 = Girth Result
Multiply the Girth Result (1.6129) by the Length (1.02) and MULTIPLY by 69.3 = 114 Kg.
This procedure is reported to be accurate to within 3%.


CONVERSIONS
Alternatively use either procedure and convert the result to your chosen units.

To convert KILOGRAMMES to POUNDS multiply by 2.2
To convert POUNDS to KILOGRAMMES multiply by 0.455


LIVEWEIGHT vs DEADWEIGHT
The above formula gives you the liveweight of your pig. The conversion from liveweight to deadweight can vary somewhat, however using a ratio of 72% will give a good approximation. Thus in our example Pork Pig would have a carcass weight of around 180 pounds (250 x 0.72) or 82 Kg.

Credit for the liveweight formula goes to the Old Farmer's Almanac.

Bet she'll taste great 

[arusse23]

Thanks very much, we have two female GOS both are 7 months old, I will need to measure them tomorrow to find out their approximate weights.

I have loads more questions as this is our first time with pigs:

1 - Is there a minimum weight that I should consider as being minimum before slaughter?
2 - How do you know if they are too fat or not fat enough?
3 - Are there any advantages of slaughter at an earlier age for females? I am thinking along the lines of more tender meat etc
4 - Should you always send both to slaughter at the same time as they are quite social animals? Could a piglet or two be added to the same pen and ark without any issues to keep one happy if the other were to be taken to slaughter? I am worried that two pigs sent to the slaughter would be uneconomical rather than one at a time over the years, however I am not keen on the idea of a lonely pig so if more could not be introduced they would both be taken at the same time.

thanks again

Andrew

[Beewyched]

Again, I'm not a GOS expert at all - tho there are a few on here - where are you all    Lisa ?

IME:
A Kune weighing less than about 70kgs live weight won't give you very big joints - not sure if that would apply to GOS as they're a different build.
With most pigs, you shouldn't be able to feel their backbones, but be able to just about feel the ribs.
Not slaughtered a female (yet  ) but the most tender pork we've had so far was from a 14-month castrate.
You should be able to introduce new pigs - but remember to be careful introducing infections! - I find the best way, after isolating them against infections for at least a month & treating them with Ivomectin, is to have a seperate run side-by-side so they can see & sniff each other for a week, then put the older one (who is more likely to be terratorial) in with the new ones after feeding them so hunger doesn't become a "free for all".
Either that or get a bigger freezer.  Please don't keep one on her own - you will end up with a depressed & possibly destructful gilt (especially when she comes into season!).

I'm sure you'll get some more specific advice from one of the GOS lot on here soon.

HTH Lynne

[robert waddell]

the old weight issue       check with the slaughterhouse what there maximum weight capacity is first
to fat to thin                if they are to fat you will have the best lard ever  if to thin you will have the ideal rasher of bacon with rind on also the neck will show as being to solid if it is fat
 no advantage in slaughtering light pigs  more disadvantages IE costs to much per kilo to raise
introducing new pigs        some times you can put them straight in  no problem others well  it depends on the pigs         but if you have them in a pen next door they can be introduced without fighting

[arusse23]

Not had a chance to measure them yet however our GOS seem quite fatty around the underside of the neck, I have assumed this is normal as they dont look excessively fatty elsewhere however I will measure tomorrow and calculate. From reading previous posts does that mean the main joints of meat will not be fatty within the cut, just more fat around the meat if that makes sense?

[princesspiggy]

our gos gilts are 7 mths and although they are breeders, they look ready to send away for pork. very meaty and chunky, not too fat and look delicious...lol...they have filled out alot in last 4 weeks, so i think 7 mths is better than 6mths.

[Fowgill Farm]

Hi
I am a GOS keeper and at 7 months old your girls should be ready for pork (40 inches or more measured round the chest) See GOS website "Getting started" section "Time for pork" article www.oldspots.org.uk.
Anything over 44 inches i send for bacon.
If you can send them together you could do one for pork and one for bacon. Introducing some younger pigs to one left behind is ok but watch for her bullying and pinching the little ones food because she will because she can!! GOS are very greedy!
HTH
Mandy 

[arusse23]

Going by the previous calculations the girls are 171 & 140 pounds with heart girths of 39 & 34 respectively.

What would everyone with experience recommend I go for in terms of butchering if I wait until the smallest is up to 40 inch girth assuming the bigger is approx 45? Any tips would be appreciated

thanks again

Andrew

[Fowgill Farm]

I'd start feeding the smaller one extra rations (not too much) knock the larger one back slightly on feed, you may have to fed them separately to stop pinching! then send the smaller one for pork and the larger one for bacon. You could get away with sending the smaller one at 38" so long as they're bigger than 37" they'll be fine its just i pefer 40".
HTH
mandy