[Brice]

Hi folks

Looking into this pig for food growing. I'm not planning on more than one or two, but I've been reading around here and see terms I don't know.

Can you give me a list of some of the main words I need to research and learn so I can learn from what you are saying.

Thanks

 

[stormyday]

What words don't you understand? Post the here and someone will explain I'm sure

 

[Andi]

Basic ...

"Barrow" - a castrated male
"Boar" - a mature male
"Farrow" - to give birth, a litter of "piglets"
"Gilt" - a female that has not been pregnant
"Hog" - a term used mainly in the U.S. for "pig" generally
"Pig" - in Old and Middle English, "pig" was originally reserved for small, young swine.
"Porcine - anything resembling or characteristic of pigs
"Sow" - a mature female
"Swine" - pig generally
"Queen" - A female that has never been mated

But for sure ... Folks from different areas may use a different term. (and sometimes it just best to ask if you are unsure)

 

[Brice]

Andi - thanks so much, that's exactly the vocabulary I was needing so I could understand what the more knowledgeable members here are describing.

 

[Angie]

Brice that was a really good question, and Andi that really is essential to understanding the post from people who have years of pig experience.

 

[crabapple]

Do not remember Queen or barrow from my childhood.
But we never had a Queen, we sold the gilt or made sows out of them.
We fatten the Barrow & call them fatten hog, which we butchered 4-6 week after he became a Barrow.
But that why I am on this site, to learn a better way, if there is one.
We are getting a few gilt for the Spring & Summer, the process them in the fall.

 

[Highlands]

There are many terms that are specific to pigs and pig farming, just like with most specialties. I've collected some together in a FAQ you can see here:

http://SugarMtnFarm.com/FAQ

There are some regional and national differences, of course.

 

[crabapple]

THANK YOU! Highlands!
I need two weaners, one for a roaster for the 4th of July.
One for a Finisher about the end of October.
Never heard most of these as a child.

 

[piglett]

Basic ...

"Barrow" - a castrated male
"Boar" - a mature male
"Farrow" - to give birth, a litter of "piglets"
"Gilt" - a female that has not been pregnant
"Hog" - a term used mainly in the U.S. for "pig" generally
"Pig" - in Old and Middle English, "pig" was originally reserved for small, young swine.
"Porcine - anything resembling or characteristic of pigs
"Sow" - a mature female
"Swine" - pig generally
"Queen" - A female that has never been mated

But for sure ... Folks from different areas may use a different term. (and sometimes it just best to ask if you are unsure)

outstanding info Andi

thankyou

 

[blonde1]

~suckers~ -still on Mum or just off for the first few days
~spits~ - to say 30 or 40 kg and used for a spit lunch or dinner
~finisher~ - bacon nearly ready or ready to hit the market
~choppers~ - old sows that have finished farrowing and are ready for market.