[ThefarmersWife]

Hello, this is my first time on your forum and I was hoping for a bit of advice.  We are beef & lamb farmers on a large scale but have recently acquired two female Gloucester Old spot pigs.  We've had them several months now and would guess they are about 10 months old or so.  Now with cattle & sheep we know what we're doing with judging whether they are fat enough to send to slaughter etc but I'm told it's different with bigs and we should go on weight not feel.  Can anyone tell me what weight a Gloucester Old spot should be when sent fat?
thank you
TheFarmersWife   

[Mr Pig]

For pork (best bet when you're starting out) aim for 70-75kg l/w which with a fair wind they should reach at about 24-26 weeks of age.

[Pel]

Pigs are no different in terms of how to tell when to slaughter as any other animal, agree when first starting out probably best to go on weight, but feel is very important too. Should be able too feel ribs as little point/ridges when pressing lightly, but not see them or feel them individually. If you can't feel any bone anywhere then they are fat, and best sent off very quick.
A bacon pig is anything over 80kgs, though in general most people i know send them off nearer 100-110kgs l/w in age around 8 months, but some pigs can be as young as 6months at that weight (80kg). Your piggies should be around bacon weight by now. Do you have weigh scales you can use for them?

[faith0504]

Hi and welcome from moray 

[Eve]

Yes, your pigs will be fine to go to the freezer. Enjoy the pork! 

[Fowgill Farm]

At 10mths old you would not be able to carry them in your arms or alone! A good tip i use is put a tape measure round the chest behind the front legs. if it reads 40 inches or more they're ready to go.
You say you have GOS go to the GOS website and read 'Getting Started' articles theres a picture of one of my pigs being measured in the article 'Time for Pork'.
HTH
Mandy

[chickenfeed]

hi you dont say what part of the country you are in  but i would ask someone local that has pigs to come and talk to you they will soon put you right, they should know what the local slaughter house is about too.