Livestock

Pig Terminology

Like many areas of farming and livestock, pig-keeping has its own lexicon and terminology. This glossary of pig terms should help you understand the most commonly used words and phrases.

Term Definition
Boar An uncastrated male pig over six months old.
Sow A female pig that has had its first litter.
Gilt A female pig which has not yet produced a litter.
Gestation Period Length of pregnancy. In pigs, three months, three weeks and three days.
Hog A castrated male pig.
Piglet A young pig.
Weaner A piglet separated from its mother and eating only solid food. Weaning can take place anytime between five and ten weeks of age.
Porker A pig reared to pork weight, normally about 60kg live weight, rather than to bacon weight. Usually achieved between four and six months of age, depending on breed.
Baconer A pig being reared for bacon rather than pork, and which will be slaughtered at 80kg - 100kg live weight, at about 8 - 10 months of age.
Cutter A pig between pork and bacon weight, raised to produce larger joints.

If we've missed any commonly used terms please tell us and we'll add them.

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Rosemary Champion

About Rosemary Champion

Rosemary lives on a 12 acre smallholding in Angus, in the east of Scotland, where she keeps Ryeland Sheep, Shetland cattle and assorted poultry. She was destined to be a smallholder from an early age.

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