swineswine

Breeding & Farrowing

The lifecycle of swine starts with breeding and farrowing. Sows (female pigs that have given birth) are bred through natural mating or artificial insemination, with a gestation period of about 114 days, three months, three weeks, and three days. During pregnancy, sows are given a balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and energy to support their developing piglets. This should include high-quality forage and Kawmix Hog Finisher 14%. After farrowing, sows produce milk to nourish their piglets.

Feed consumption of swine raised for meat (Market Hogs) varies based on their growth stage and body weight. Their dietary needs change as they progress through different phases to support optimal growth and weight gain.

Piglet: 0-4 WKS

Piglets are newborn pigs that rely mainly on their mother’s milk for nutrition. The first milk, colostrum, is essential because it provides crucial antibodies for immune protection. By 2-3 weeks, piglets begin to nibble on solid food. They are given Kawmix Pig Starter 18%, a high-protein starter feed, to support rapid growth and development. Clean water is always available, and piglets are gradually introduced to solid feed.

At this stage, boar piglets not being kept for breeding purposes should be castrated between 14 and 25 days of age. After castration, male pigs are known as barrows.

Feed Consumption: Piglets at this stage consume approximately 6-8% of their body weight in feed per day.

Weaning: 4-8 Wks

Piglets are weaned from their mother’s milk at around four weeks old. At this stage, called weaners, pigs start eating solid food exclusively. They should be fed Kawmix Pig Starter 18%, which is easy to digest and rich in protein to support growth until they reach 50 lbs. The environment should be managed to reduce stress and promote socialization with other piglets.

Growing: 8-16 Wks

Once piglets reach 50 lbs, they become growers and transition to Kawmix Pig Grower 16%. This feed supports muscle development and overall growth for pigs up to 100 lbs. Growers need plenty of space to encourage natural behaviors and maintain health.

Feed Consumption: Growing pigs typically consume around 4-6% of their body weight in feed per day.

Finishing: 16 Wks +

When pigs reach 100 lbs, they enter the finishing stage and are called finishers. They are fed Kawmix Hog Finisher 14%, designed to maximize weight gain and meat quality until they reach a market weight of around 250 lbs. The reduced particle size in Kawmix feeds improves digestion and conversion, ensuring efficient growth. The environment is kept stress-free to ensure healthy development.

Feed Consumption: Finishing pigs consume about 2-4% of their body weight in feed per day.