[kitchen cottage]

As against my tape measure my piglets are doing okay to go to slaughter at 25 weeks
 
I'm working out the killed weight as 72% of live weight.
 
The reason it matters is I only do one litter a year but do "pigs  in baskets" and need 18 kilos per pig for each basket.
 
I'm using a chart from the berkshire website (I've got Essex Pigs, call them saddlebacks if you want, I don't) and they are about a week ahead of that.
 
 

[ppd]

Hi KC
I can't answer your question as have weight taped mine but they are not going off for a couple of weeks. I will tape them just before they go and see how accurate it is. I am sure there will be loads along to let you know the answer and I will be looking out to see what everyone thinks

[HappyHippy]

Hiya 

I don't have a pig tape, we do the measurement calculation ;
{girth(m) x girth(m) x length(m)} mulitplied by 69.3 = liveweight (Kg) It's accurate enough for us  The deadweights are never hugely different to what we expect - always within a couple of kilos.

Killing out percentages are harder to assume - unless you know it's going to be 72% (because that's what it's been consistanly with this breed, location, feed regime, weather etc) you'll probably find it varies a bit  It could be anything from 70% - 80%
I always kinda work on the assumption that I'll get around half the live weight back in actual cuts, joints, mince, packaged and ready to go etc - it's not exact but it works for me 
So if it was me and I had 5 folk buying (18Kg) pigs in baskets, I'd be looking for around 180Kg total liveweight of pigs to go to slaughter (but I'd probably have a wee bit left over as it's not exact  )

Hope that helps a bit ?
Karen

[kitchen cottage]

Thanks that helps a lot 
 
I'll do the girth thing.  Oh that I'd ever been knowledgeable enough to have a pig tape before!  A neighbour gave it to me.
 
Charlotte had 8 piglets, I'm keeping one and sending 7 to slaughter.  I have 15 "pig peeps" so should have enough because they are doing better than I expected.
 
Because I am with them everyday.... I don't seem to notice them growing and had "misplaced" my tape, so I was panicing! I found it in the boot of the car today and had a nice surprise with their size against the tape.
 
I'll try the length thing as well.
 
I choose 72 percent cos that seemed to be what the interwebby used!
 
Thanks again 

[kitchen cottage]

I sent two tammy's to slaughter a few months back (raised for friends not mine) and they came back 68kilo's of actual meat.  I have bought in some Essex/Tammy crosses to fatten for Christmas 
 

[Tamsaddle]

While it is easy getting a consistent girth measurement, the length can vary by as much as 10 cms depending on whether the pig's head is down (eating) or up (for a few seconds then off they rush again).   Which one is it meant to be, does anyone know?   Tamsaddle

[HappyHippy]

I do mine head up 

[manian]

we do head up; that way we are under not overestimating weight
wonder if i can weigh OH like that i'll try while he's sleeping
Mx
 

[P6te]

Whilst I have a tape measure, I am somewhat sceptical because it only takes the girth into account and as we all know the length varies from breed to breed ... and to a lesser degree litter to litter. Personally I can't see how it can give an accurate result for everyone all the time but the calculation I believe is more reliable.

Pete

[RaisinHall Tamworths]

I've weighed some today that are going to market and put the weigh tape round them just to compare.  The weigh tape was 5kgs lighter than the scales  .  So quite accurate really. 

[kitchen cottage]

thank you