Fast-growing AGH pigs

[boar_boer]

I bought a couple of 25lb AGH gilts in August. From everything that I had researched, I expected that they wouldn’t get to over 100 pounds until at least one year old, and was planning on having the butchered at around 18 months. However, based on my measurements of their heart girth and body length, they appear to be already be over that. Is this normal? Maybe they aren’t pure AGH?

Over the winter, I’ve been feeding them 4% of their body weight with quality hog feed daily. As far as I can tell, they don’t appear to be overweight, but they’re also not skinny. Should I be feeding them less to slow their growth rate?

I attached a couple photos from last month (have grown slightly bigger since then).

 

[farmerjan]

May not be pure .... why do you want them to grow slower? I do not understand why you want to put more feed into them for longer? Growing slower is not going to change the composition of the meat. That is determined by the type of feed they get. If you are feeding a good hog feed, get them grown and get them in the freezer... They are obviously getting exercise so the muscle will not be "soft", it will be firm meat. Alot of milk can make them "softer" so the meat is not as firm, but it has to be a great percentage of their feed with little to no exercise. Also alot of bakery products can make the meat "softer", but again, it has to be a huge percentage of their diet. Getting exercise is the trick to having a firm meat also.
Muscle is heavier than fat, so if they are heavier that means they have more meat than fat.

 

[boar_boer]

I guess I just I wasn’t prepared for them to grow so fast, given the breed’s reputation as slow growers, and wanted a gut check I wasn’t doing anything wrong here. This is my first time raising pigs.

Their butcher date is in September, but not sure it’s going to be worth the cost to feed them through then if they keep growing at their current rate. Though they do have access to woods and pasture which will help reduce the feed cost after winter is over.

 

[farmerjan]

My suggestion is to call butcher and see if you can get an earlier date. Here we still have a long lead time, we keep the same dates year to year in order to be assured of a butcher date so I understand the problems with that. Luckily there are a couple places we can use, and can usually find something closer in date if necessary.

Doesn't sound like you are doing anything wrong. They look good in the pictures. I would not have pegged them at over 100, more like 75 lbs.... but pictures are extremely hard to tell from.

Hogs also slow down growth after the first 100 lbs or so. Understand that hogs grow their entire life... not like other animals that reach a "mature weight" and then pretty much maintain status quo, although can get fatter. Hogs will gain much slower but they will continue to grow a bit all their life. We have had red Durocs that have been over 600 lbs and one boar we used for breeding that was over 900 when we finally shipped him. Best dispositioned hog we ever had. Most are killed long before they get so big, so people do not realize just how big the conventional breeds will get. I have not personally had AGH , only the "regular" breeds of hogs but have had several different ones and crosses.

Where are you located? If you go to your name top right, down to account details, down to location, you can put in a state, area, something that tells us the general area... Sometimes things rely on the area of the country you are in... such as feed, grasses, even parasite and worming techniques. And naturally, THE WEATHER.... and we all love to read about everyone else's weather....

By the way, ..... some of us..... me.... tend to be a little straight forward with our answers.... plus I have a cold/flu bug and have been a little short on energy/temper... so I apologize if my answer was a little curt.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I had AGH's for a few years. I find that they grow pretty well as youngsters and slow down a little as they near maturity. Great breed and absolutely delicious!

 

[Mini Horses]

My AGHs grew about like you say yours are. Mine were finished out at a little over 200...delicious meat. Pleasant temperament for the animal.

 

[boar_boer]

@farmerjan No offense taken! And thanks for your insight. I’m in NH. Woke up to -7 this morning

Thanks @Mini Horses @frustratedearthmother, it’s always better to get real live people‘s experiences then just reading random articles off the Internet. Sounds like I am having a normal experience raising them.

As they got bigger, did you need to feed them much grain during the warmer seasons or were they able to forge for most of their food?

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Mine were mostly pastured but always got some grain. Mostly because I like a good lard pig to have a good bit of lard, lol. Plus, I always had mixed groups. Mama's raising babies and babies that needed to grow. Also makes them a bit friendlier if they know you have goodies.