Guide to Determine What Weight Show Pig to Buy

Traditionally, the swine show at the Dixie National Junior Round-Up is scheduled for a Saturday near February 1 each year. In 2022, the Dixie National Junior Round-Up Swine Market Hog Show is scheduled for Saturday, February 5.

Each year, many swine exhibitors purchase the pigs they intend to show at the Dixie National Junior Round-Up in Jackson. Some exhibitors purchase pigs at show pig sales, on-farm sales, or from individual producers usually in late September and October. Sometimes they purchase in early November, since the ownership deadline for pigs is December 1. Don’t wait until November to purchase a pig, because there may not be many left.

To be successful showing pigs, plan before purchasing the show pig.

It is a good idea to understand the show requirements.

• Become familiar with the rules and regulations of the specific show in which you will show the animal.
• Each show may have different requirements, and the requirements may change from one year to the next.
• Mississippi Bred Contest: If you want to be eligible for additional premiums provided by the Mississippi Pork Producers Association for Mississippi-bred tagged pigs, ask the seller if the pig will be tagged Mississippi-bred before you purchase the pig. All Mississippi-bred tagged pigs should be tagged before change of ownership.

Here are more things to consider before purchasing the show pig:

• Animal care—Who will provide daily care for the pig?
• Housing—Do you have a shelter and pen to keep the pig comfortable?
• Transport of the pig—Do you have a truck or trailer to haul the pig(s) you purchase?
• Equipment—Do you have a self-feeder and water supply for the pig?
• Feed—What will you feed your pig, and will you have the feed when the pig arrives?
• Health program—Ask the seller what vaccinations or dewormers the pig has received and when the treatments were given.
• Market situation—What do you plan to do with your pig after the show?
• Sources of show pigs—Where will you go to purchase a show pig?

How to Use the Tables

The following tables will help you determine what weight pig to purchase at various times. Each table is for a different purchase date (September through November). The purchase date is listed at the top left side. Also, the number of days to the show date (February 5) is listed on the top row after the pig purchase weight. Be sure you use the table that matches your pig purchase date.

Table 1 – Purchase date, September 1

Table 2 – Purchase date, September 15

Table 3 – Purchase date, October 1

Table 4 – Purchase date, October 15

Table 5 – Purchase date, November 1

Table 6 – Purchase date, November 15

Pigs must weigh 200 pounds or more at the show. There is no maximum weight for the market pigs. Barrows entered in the MS Bred Barrow Show must weigh between 200 and 290 pounds at the time of show check-in.

There are different ways to use these tables. One way, if you know the weight of the pig you want to buy, is to locate that weight on the top row of the table, then locate the expected average daily gain (ADG) in the column on the left side of the table. The number at the intersection of the row and column is the projected weight of the pig on February 5, 2022.

Example: Table 2. Purchase Date: September 15—You found a pig you want to purchase. The pig weighs 60 pounds, and you think the pig will gain 1.5 pounds per day. The projected weight of the pig on February 5 is 275 pounds.

Another method, if you know what weight you would like your pig to weigh at the show, is to locate that weight in the unshaded area of the table along the same row you think the pig will gain (ADG), then go up the column from the desired show weight to find what weight pig you need to purchase (pig purchase weight).

Example: Table 3. Purchase Date: October 1—You want your pig to weigh about 280 pounds at the show, and you estimate the pig will gain 1.75 pounds per day. From the 282 value located in the 1.75 row, go up the column to the top row (pig purchase weight), and determine a 60-pound pig is what you need to purchase on October 1.

In this same table with the same show weight of about 280 pounds, there are other pigs with a similar weight. For instance, if you purchased a 90-pound pig October 1, you have to make sure the pig gains no more than 1.5 pounds per day to weigh 281 pounds on the show date. And a 120-pound pig purchased October 1 needs to gain only 1.25 pounds per day to weigh 279 pounds on February 5, 2022.

Approximate Show Pig Weight Tables

Table 1. Purchase date: September 1, 2021

Average Daily Gain, lb/day	Pig Purchase Weight, lb (157 days to show)
	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100	110	120	130	140	150
1.00	187	197	207	217	227	237	247	257	267	277	287	297	307
1.25	226	236	246	256	266	276	286	296	306	316	326	336	346
1.50	266	276	286	296	306	316	326	336	346	356	366	376	386
1.75	305	315	325	335	345	355	365	375	385	395	405	415	425
2.00	344	354	364	374	384	394	404	414	424	434	444	454	464

For a September 1, 2021, purchase date of a pig weighing 30–150 pounds that gains between 1 and 2 lb/day, the expected weight range is 207–287.

Table 2. Purchase date: September 15, 2021

Average Daily Gain, lb/day	Pig Purchase Weight, lb (143 days to show)
	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100	110	120	130	140	150
1.00	173	183	193	203	213	223	233	243	253	263	273	283	293
1.25	209	219	229	239	249	259	269	279	289	299	309	319	329
1.50	245	255	265	275	285	295	305	315	325	335	345	355	365
1.75	280	290	300	310	320	330	340	350	360	370	380	390	400
2.00	316	326	336	346	356	366	376	386	396	406	416	426	436

For a September 15, 2021, purchase date of a pig weighing 30–150 pounds that gains between 1 and 2 lb/day, the expected weight range is 203–289.

Table 3. Purchase date: October 1, 2021

Average Daily Gain, lb/day	Pig Purchase Weight, lb (127 days to show)
	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100	110	120	130	140	150
1.00	157	167	177	187	197	207	217	227	237	247	257	267	277
1.25	189	199	209	219	229	239	249	259	269	279	289	299	309
1.50	221	231	241	251	261	271	281	291	301	311	321	331	341
1.75	252	262	272	282	292	302	312	322	332	342	352	362	372
2.00	284	294	304	314	324	334	344	354	364	374	384	394	404

For an October 1, 2021, purchase date of a pig weighing 30–150 pounds that gains between 1 and 2 lb/day, the expected weight range is 207–289.

Table 4. Purchase date: October 15, 2021

Average Daily Gain, lb/day	Pig Purchase Weight, lb (113 days to show)
	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100	110	120	130	140	150
1.00	143	153	163	173	183	193	203	213	223	233	243	253	263
1.25	171	181	191	201	211	221	231	241	251	261	271	281	291
1.50	200	210	220	230	240	250	260	270	280	290	300	310	320
1.75	228	238	248	258	268	278	288	298	308	318	328	338	348
2.00	256	266	276	286	296	306	316	326	336	346	356	366	376

For an October 15, 2021, purchase date of a pig weighing 30–150 pounds that gains between 1 and 2 lb/day, the expected weight range is 200–288.

Table 5. Purchase date: November 1, 2021

Average Daily Gain, lb/day	Pig Purchase Weight, lb (96 days to show)
	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100	110	120	130	140	150
1.00	126	136	146	156	166	176	186	196	206	216	226	236	246
1.25	150	160	170	180	190	200	210	220	230	240	250	260	270
1.50	174	184	194	204	214	224	234	244	254	264	274	284	294
1.75	198	208	218	228	238	248	258	268	278	288	298	308	318
2.00	222	232	242	252	262	272	282	292	302	312	322	332	342

For a November 1, 2021, purchase date of a pig weighing 30–150 pounds that gains between 1 and 2 lb/day, the expected weight range is 200–288.

Table 6. Purchase date: November 15, 2021

Average Daily Gain, lb/day	Pig Purchase Weight, lb (82 days to show)
	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100	110	120	130	140	150
1.00	112	122	132	142	152	162	172	182	192	202	212	222	232
1.25	133	143	153	163	173	183	193	203	213	223	233	243	253
1.50	153	163	173	183	193	203	213	223	233	243	253	263	273
1.75	174	184	194	204	214	224	234	244	254	264	274	284	294
2.00	194	204	214	224	234	244	254	264	274	284	294	304	314

For a November 15, 2021, purchase date of a pig weighing 30–150 pounds that gains between 1 and 2 lb/day, the expected weight range is 202–284.

Ownership deadline: December 1

Example: How to calculate a projected pig weight for the show date

If you want to calculate the projected pig weight for a specific date not listed in the above tables, the following example should be helpful.

Item 1 First, determine how many days it will be from the date of purchase to the show date.

From October 4 to February 5, there are 124 days (see Table 7).

Item 2 Next, find out the weight of the pig you plan to purchase.

The seller may provide this information, or you can estimate the weight or weigh the pig on a scale.

Example: Starting pig weight is 59 pounds.

Item 3 Next, determine how many pounds of gain per day (ADG) the pig will average until the show.

This will vary depending on the genetic potential of the pig, health status, type and quality of feed, amount of feed provided to the pig each day, housing conditions, weather factors, and so forth. Pigs will grow better if they are not alone. Normally, a pig should gain within a range of 1.4 to 2 pounds per day. Example 1.78 pounds.

Generally, from 60 to 110 pounds, a pig will eat about 5 pounds of feed per day and should gain about 1.5 pounds per day. As the pig approaches 200 pounds, it will eat about 8 pounds of feed per day and should gain about 2 pounds per day.

Item 4 Last, calculate the estimated weight of your pig on the show date.

Multiply Item 1 by Item 3, then add the answer to Item 2; this value is the estimated pig weight on the show date.

Example calculation:

Item 1 = 124 days until show

Item 2 = 59 pounds, initial pig weight

Item 3 = 1.78 average daily gain

Item 4 = 280 pounds of weight on show date

(Item 1 x Item 3) + Item 2 = Item 4.

(124 days x 1.78 lb ADG) + 59-lb pig = 280-lb pig at the show

A show weight calculator to help with the purchase and growth management of your show pig is available in an excel spreadsheet. Go to http://extension.msstate.edu/agriculture/livestock/swine, and scroll down the page to Other Information/Show Weight Calculator (Excel file).

Table 7. Determine the number of days from purchase to show. Ownership deadline is December 1, 2021.

Example

Purchase date: October 1, 2021

Show Date: February 5, 2022

Number of days to show: 127

Pig purchase date	Number of days to show
1-Sep	157
2-Sep	156
3-Sep	155
4-Sep	154
5-Sep	153
6-Sep	152
7-Sep	151
8-Sep	150
9-Sep	149
10-Sep	148
11-Sep	147
12-Sep	146
13-Sep	145
14-Sep	144
15-Sep	143
16-Sep	142
17-Sep	141
18-Sep	140
19-Sep	139
20-Sep	138
21-Sep	137
22-Sep	136
23-Sep	135
24-Sep	134
25-Sep	133
26-Sep	132
27-Sep	131
28-Sep	130
29-Sep	129
30-Sep	128
1-Oct	127
2-Oct	126
3-Oct	125
4-Oct	124
5-Oct	123
6-Oct	122
7-Oct	121
8-Oct	120
9-Oct	119
10-Oct	118
11-Oct	117
12-Oct	116
13-Oct	115
14-Oct	114
15-Oct	113
16-Oct	112
17-Oct	111
18-Oct	110
19-Oct	109
20-Oct	108
21-Oct	107
22-Oct	106
23-Oct	105
24-Oct	104
25-Oct	103
26-Oct	102
27-Oct	101
28-Oct	100
29-Oct	99
30-Oct	98
31-Oct	97
1-Nov	96
2-Nov	95
3-Nov	94
4-Nov	93
5-Nov	92
6-Nov	91
7-Nov	90
8-Nov	89
9-Nov	88
10-Nov	87
11-Nov	86
12-Nov	85
13-Nov	84
14-Nov	83
15-Nov	82
16-Nov	81
17-Nov	80
18-Nov	79
19-Nov	78
20-Nov	77
21-Nov	76
22-Nov	75
23-Nov	74
24-Nov	73
25-Nov	72
26-Nov	71
27-Nov	70
28-Nov	69
29-Nov	68
30-Nov	67

Passed ownership deadline	Number of days to show
1-Dec	66
2-Dec	65
3-Dec	64
4-Dec	63
5-Dec	62
6-Dec	61
7-Dec	60
8-Dec	59
9-Dec	58
10-Dec	57
11-Dec	56
12-Dec	55
13-Dec	54
14-Dec	53
15-Dec	52
16-Dec	51
17-Dec	50
18-Dec	49
19-Dec	48
20-Dec	47
21-Dec	46
22-Dec	45
23-Dec	44
24-Dec	43
25-Dec	42
26-Dec	41
27-Dec	40
28-Dec	39
29-Dec	38
30-Dec	37
31-Dec	36
1-Jan	35
2-Jan	34
3-Jan	33
4-Jan	32
5-Jan	31
6-Jan	30
7-Jan	29
8-Jan	28
9-Jan	27
10-Jan	26
11-Jan	25
12-Jan	24
13-Jan	23
14-Jan	22
15-Jan	21
16-Jan	20
17-Jan	19
18-Jan	18
19-Jan	17
20-Jan	16
21-Jan	15
22-Jan	14
23-Jan	13
24-Jan	12
25-Jan	11
26-Jan	10
27-Jan	9
28-Jan	8
29-Jan	7
30-Jan	6
31-Jan	5
1-Feb	4
2-Feb	3
3-Feb	2
4-Feb	1
5-Feb	0

Summary

Careful attention to the pig’s growth rate can identify other management practices that may need attention. If the rate of growth is less than you expect, consider other influences you may need to address, such as health status, animal comfort (housing conditions), and dietary concerns. The information in this publication can help you monitor and adjust the growth of the pig throughout the feeding period before the show. Purchasing a show pig that is the correct weight for the intended show gives you a good beginning to your swine project.

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Publication 2516 (POD-09-21)

Revised by Dean Jousan, PhD, Associate Extension Professor, and Mark A. Crenshaw, PhD, Extension Professor (retired), Animal and Dairy Sciences.