The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: c day on August 13, 2010, 09:11:43 pm

Title: age of sows
Post by: c day on August 13, 2010, 09:11:43 pm

Hello all,
just wondering what age do sows stop being productive and end up as pets you dont want to get rid.

Title: Re: age of sows
Post by: daniellestocks on August 13, 2010, 10:59:07 pm

Sorry cant help, but would be interested to know  ???

Title: Re: age of sows
Post by: Hilarysmum on August 14, 2010, 08:24:27 am

Our oldest sow is 7 and produces 10 at each litter.  A friend had a sow who died at 16 and who even months before still produced 4 or 5 live piglets .

Title: Re: age of sows
Post by: JulieS on August 14, 2010, 10:22:25 am

I know someone with a 10 year old that still produces large litters. 

I think it probably really depends on the sow. 

Title: Re: age of sows
Post by: oaklandspigs on August 14, 2010, 07:09:07 pm

and how many litters!

Generally a sow is considered to be at her most productive for 5-7 parities (the technical name for having a litter). 

The commercial guys have 2.5 (or more) litters a year, and burn their sows out at 3-4 years old

However the key word above is "generally" and averages are always a bad predictor.

We have 2 litters in 14 months (4 months pregnant, 2 months with litter, 1 month's rest), but some of our sows carry on to produce good litters at 8-10 years old.

We generally cull when we have had two below par litters for that sow, but this is always a judgement call not a formula, and some added sentiment from 'er indoors means that some go on longer!