Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
tance around the pig just behind its elbows), then measure your pig's length, from between the
ears to the base of the tail. Use the following calculation:
Heart girth x heart girth x length, divided by 400 = estimated weight
If your pig is going to weigh a little more than 225 pounds at the time of processing, there is
no need to panic. Consumer tastes tend to prefer leaner meats these days, but some excess fat
can be trimmed off. If the meat is good, people will appreciate it. Some breeds are known for
having more fat as marbling, and the fat adds taste to the meat. The important thing is to know
your breed and know what is ideal for it.
If your pigs are being given antibiotics in their feed or other supplements that should not be
given to humans, you will need to discontinue feeding them to your pigs during these last sev-
eral weeks. You should consult the labels on anything you are giving to your pigs and make
sure you follow the label directions to discontinue use before slaughtering. There is often a
withdrawal period of several weeks between the time an animal stops receiving a medication
or supplement and when it is butchered. Be sure you are complying with these safety instruc-
tions for human consumption.
As the time for slaughtering and processing approaches, you will need to arrange transporta-
tion to the butcher for your pigs. Whether you have one or two pigs or a much larger number,
it is important to keep your pigs calm and stress-free before, during, and after transport. Pigs
that are stressed and upset before being butchered do not have tasty pork. You do not want to
do anything to cause your pigs to release too much adrenaline into their bloodstream from be-
coming anxious.
If you have the space, you can place the pigs that are headed for slaughter in a separate pen a
couple of days before their trip to the butcher. You can wash them down at this time. Most
farmers also remove feed from pigs 24 hours before taking their pigs to slaughter. This re-
duces the chance of contamination from food being digested in the animal's digestive tract. It
also makes it easier to remove the internal organs of the pig.
It is recommended that you transport pigs that already know each other together in a livestock
trailer. If you attempt to transport your pigs with pigs that they do not know, you will likely
have fighting and pigs that are upset. This is the last thing you want. You should also avoid
transporting two unfamiliar boars at the same time, as they are likely to fight.
