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 2025, the Dixie National Junior Round-Up Swine Market Hog Show is scheduled for Saturday, February 1.

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 2, 2024. 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 1) 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

The shaded areas in each table represent pig weights that are outside the desirable weight ranges for the Dixie National Junior Round-Up. Pigs must weigh 200 pounds or more at the show. There is no maximum weight for the market pigs, but weights above 285 pounds are shaded in the tables. 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 1, 2025.

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 1 is 269 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 (see the PDF at the top of this page) 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 275 pounds at the show, and you estimate the pig will gain 1.75 pounds per day. From the 275 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 275 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 275 pounds on the show date. And a 120-pound pig purchased October 1 needs to gain only 1.25 pounds per day to weigh 274 pounds on February 1, 2025.

Approximate Show Pig Weight Tables

Table 1. Purchase date: September 1, 2024

Average Daily Gain, lb/day	Pig Purchase Weight, lb (153 days to show)
	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100	110	120	130	140	150
1.00	183	193	203	213	223	233	243	253	263	273	283	293	303
1.25	221	231	241	251	261	271	281	291	301	311	321	331	341
1.50	260	270	280	290	300	310	320	330	340	350	360	370	380
1.75	298	308	318	328	338	348	358	368	378	388	398	408	418
2.00	336	346	356	366	376	386	396	406	416	426	436	446	456

For a September 1, 2024, purchase date of a pig weighing 30–150 pounds that gains between 1 and 2 lb/day, the expected weight range is 203–283.

Table 2. Purchase date: September 15, 2024

Average Daily Gain, lb/day	Pig Purchase Weight, lb (139 days to show)
	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100	110	120	130	140	150
1.00	169	179	189	199	209	219	229	239	249	259	269	279	289
1.25	204	214	224	234	244	254	264	274	284	294	304	314	324
1.50	239	249	259	269	279	289	299	309	319	329	339	349	359
1.75	273	283	293	303	313	323	333	343	353	363	373	383	393
2.00	308	318	328	338	348	358	368	378	388	398	408	418	428

For a September 15, 2024, purchase date of a pig weighing 30–150 pounds that gains between 1 and 2 lb/day, the expected weight range is 204–284.

Table 3. Purchase date: October 1, 2024

Average Daily Gain, lb/day	Pig Purchase Weight, lb (123 days to show)
	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100	110	120	130	140	150
1.00	153	163	173	183	193	203	213	223	233	243	253	263	273
1.25	184	194	204	214	224	234	244	254	264	274	284	294	304
1.50	215	225	235	245	255	265	275	285	295	305	315	325	335
1.75	245	255	265	275	285	295	305	315	325	335	345	355	365
2.00	276	286	296	306	316	326	336	346	356	366	376	386	396

For an October 1, 2024, purchase date of a pig weighing 30–150 pounds that gains between 1 and 2 lb/day, the expected weight range is 203–285.

Table 4. Purchase date: October 15, 2024

Average Daily Gain, lb/day	Pig Purchase Weight, lb (109 days to show)
	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100	110	120	130	140	150
1.00	139	149	159	169	179	189	199	209	219	229	239	249	259
1.25	166	176	186	196	206	216	226	236	246	256	266	276	286
1.50	194	204	214	224	234	244	254	264	274	284	294	304	314
1.75	221	231	241	251	261	271	281	291	301	311	321	331	341
2.00	248	258	268	278	288	298	308	318	328	338	348	358	368

For an October 15, 2024, purchase date of a pig weighing 30–150 pounds that gains between 1 and 2 lb/day, the expected weight range is 204–284.

Table 5. Purchase date: November 1, 2024

Average Daily Gain, lb/day	Pig Purchase Weight, lb (92 days to show)
	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100	110	120	130	140	150
1.00	122	132	142	152	162	172	182	192	202	212	222	232	242
1.25	145	155	165	175	185	195	205	215	225	235	245	255	265
1.50	168	178	188	198	208	218	228	238	248	258	268	278	288
1.75	191	201	211	221	231	241	251	261	271	281	291	301	311
2.00	214	224	234	244	254	264	274	284	294	304	314	324	334

For a November 1, 2024, purchase date of a pig weighing 30–150 pounds that gains between 1 and 2 lb/day, the expected weight range is 201–284.

Table 6. Purchase date: November 15, 2024

Average Daily Gain, lb/day	Pig Purchase Weight, lb (78 days to show)
	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100	110	120	130	140	150
1.00	108	118	128	138	148	158	168	178	188	198	208	218	228
1.25	128	138	148	158	168	178	188	198	208	218	228	238	248
1.50	147	157	167	177	187	197	207	217	227	237	247	257	267
1.75	167	177	187	197	207	217	227	237	247	257	267	277	287
2.00	186	196	206	216	226	236	246	256	266	276	286	296	306

For a November 15, 2024, purchase date of a pig weighing 30–150 pounds that gains between 1 and 2 lb/day, the expected weight range is 206–277.

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 1, there are 120 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 = 120 days until show

Item 2 = 59 pounds, initial pig weight

Item 3 = 1.78 average daily gain

Item 4 = 272 pounds of weight on show date

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

(120 days x 1.78 lb ADG) + 59-lb pig = 272-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 2, 2024.

Example Purchase date: October 1, 2024

Show Date: February 1, 2025

Number of days to show: 123

Pig purchase date	Number of days to show
1-Sep	153
2-Sep	152
3-Sep	151
4-Sep	150
5-Sep	149
6-Sep	148
7-Sep	147
8-Sep	146
9-Sep	145
10-Sep	144
11-Sep	143
12-Sep	142
13-Sep	141
14-Sep	140
15-Sep	139
16-Sep	138
17-Sep	137
18-Sep	136
19-Sep	135
20-Sep	134
21-Sep	133
22-Sep	132
23-Sep	131
24-Sep	130
25-Sep	129
26-Sep	128
27-Sep	127
28-Sep	126
29-Sep	125
30-Sep	124
1-Oct	123
2-Oct	122
3-Oct	121
4-Oct	120
5-Oct	119
6-Oct	118
7-Oct	117
8-Oct	116
9-Oct	115
10-Oct	114
11-Oct	113
12-Oct	112
13-Oct	111
14-Oct	110
15-Oct	109
16-Oct	108
17-Oct	107
18-Oct	106
19-Oct	105
20-Oct	104
21-Oct	103
22-Oct	102
23-Oct	101
24-Oct	100
25-Oct	99
26-Oct	98
27-Oct	97
28-Oct	96
29-Oct	95
30-Oct	94
31-Oct	93
1-Nov	92
2-Nov	91
3-Nov	90
4-Nov	89
5-Nov	88
6-Nov	87
7-Nov	86
8-Nov	85
9-Nov	84
10-Nov	83
11-Nov	82
12-Nov	81
13-Nov	80
14-Nov	79
15-Nov	78
16-Nov	77
17-Nov	76
18-Nov	75
19-Nov	74
20-Nov	73
21-Nov	72
22-Nov	71
23-Nov	70
24-Nov	69
25-Nov	68
26-Nov	67
27-Nov	66
28-Nov	65
29-Nov	64
30-Nov	63
1-Dec	62

Passed ownership deadline	Number of days to show
2-Dec	61
3-Dec	60
4-Dec	59
5-Dec	58
6-Dec	57
7-Dec	56
8-Dec	55
9-Dec	54
10-Dec	53
11-Dec	52
12-Dec	51
13-Dec	50
14-Dec	49
15-Dec	48
16-Dec	47
17-Dec	46
18-Dec	45
19-Dec	44
20-Dec	43
21-Dec	42
22-Dec	41
23-Dec	40
24-Dec	39
25-Dec	38
26-Dec	37
27-Dec	36
28-Dec	35
29-Dec	34
30-Dec	33
31-Dec	32
1-Jan	31
2-Jan	30
3-Jan	29
4-Jan	28
5-Jan	27
6-Jan	26
7-Jan	25
8-Jan	24
9-Jan	23
10-Jan	22
11-Jan	21
12-Jan	20
13-Jan	19
14-Jan	18
15-Jan	17
16-Jan	16
17-Jan	15
18-Jan	14
19-Jan	13
20-Jan	12
21-Jan	11
22-Jan	10
23-Jan	9
24-Jan	8
25-Jan	7
26-Jan	6
27-Jan	5
28-Jan	4
29-Jan	3
30-Jan	2
31-Jan	1
1-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-09-24)

Revised by Dean Jousan, PhD, Extension Professor, Animal and Dairy Sciences.