MARKETING
PIH-24
pork industry handbook
COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE • PURDUE UNIVERSITY • WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA
Optimal Weight to Market Slaughter Hogs
Authors
Glenn Grimes, University of Missouri
G. R. Carlisle, University of Illinois
Reviewers
William T. Ahlschwede, University of Nebraska
Philip L. Spike, Iowa State University
Linden Olson, Worthington, Minnesota
For many years the recommended weight to sell barrows and gilts as slaughter hogs was, in most instances, 200-220 lb. Two reasons for this recommendation were: (1) available research indicated that feed costs increased substantially above this weight, and (2) most of the added pounds above 220 were fat. A possible third reason was that the wholesale cuts—hams, loins, butts, and bellies— from heavier hogs weighed more, and these heavier cuts were discounted. This was, of course, related to the second reason: heavier cuts in the past were fatter because they came from the bigger and fatter hogs and were, therefore, of less value.
The best weight to market hogs now is influenced by a number of factors. They include: (1) type of hogs produced: (2) price of hogs relative to feed prices; (3) market discounts for heavier weights; (4) season of the year.
Feed Conversion
Research results in feed conversion and other production characteristics for meaty hogs at a number of stations are shown in Table 1. Pigs were fed from starting weights of 40-60 lb. to the final market weights shown.
Table 1. Summary, research with meaty hogs, selected university experiment stations, 1966-1974.
Missouri, 1966—25 pigs per lot	Pounds	
Market weight	223	262
Daily gain	1.68	1.52
Feed/lb. gain	4.00	4.12
Feed/lb. gain from 223 to 262 lb.		4.64
Missouri, 1967—25 pigs per lot		
Market weight	229	269
Daily gain	1.54	1.63
Feed/lb. gain	3.80	3.76
Feed/lb. gain from 229 to 269 lb.		3.58
Florida, 1969—18 pigs per lot		
Market weight	200	250
Daily gain	2.03	2.02
Feed/lb. gain	3.14	3.43
Feed/lb. gain from 200 to 250 lb.		4.06
South Dakota, 1972	Pounds	
Market weight	210	250
Daily gain	1.80	1.81
Feed/lb. gain	3.25	3.50
Feed/lb. gain from 210 to 250 lb.		4 50
Iowa, 1974		
Market weight	200	250
Daily gain	1.81	1.93
Feed/lb. gain	3.27	3.38
Feed/lb. gain from 200 to 250 lb.		3.71
Texas, 1974		
Market weight	200	250
Daily gain	2.04	2.02
Feed/lb. gain	3.14	3.43
Feed/lb. gain from 200 to 250 lb.		4.30
Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Horne Economics, State of Indiana, Purdue University and U. S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating. H. G. Diesslin, Director, West Lafayette, Ind. Issued in furtherance of the Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914. It is the policy of the Cooperative Extension Service of Purdue University that all persons shall have equal opportunity and access to its programs and facilities without regard to race, religion, color, sex or national origin.