Ever wondered how to weigh a pig without a scale?
This article explains how you can obtain a good estimate of a pig’s weight by measuring its girth and length and doing some simple math.
The most accurate way to measure the weight of a pig is to use a specialist pig weigh. However, these can be expensive and if you only have a few pigs to weigh and a high degree of accuracy is not necessarily needed, we explain how to obtain a good estimate of a pig’s weight using only a measuring tape and a calculator.
Obtain a fabric measuring tape or a piece of string to use as a measure. If using string mark the dimensions on the string and then measure the dimensions using a steel tape measure.
Place the tape/string under the pig just behind the front legs and measure the circumference of the pig’s girth in inches. This measurement is known as the Heart Girth (see graphic)
Then measure the Length of the pig along its back from the base of its ears to the base of its tail, again in inches. (see graphic)
To calculate the pig’s weight, first square the Heart Girth to get the Girth Result.
Now Multiply the Girth Result by the Length and DIVIDE by 400.
You now have the weight of your pig in Pounds.
Porky Pig has a Heart Girth of 50 inches and a Length of 40 inches.
Squaring the Heart Girth (50 x 50) = 2500 = Girth Result
Multiply the Girth Result (2500) by the Length (40) and divide by 400 = 250 Pounds.
LIVEWEIGHT vs DEADWEIGHT
The above formula gives you the liveweight of your pig. The conversion from liveweight to deadweight can vary somewhat, however using a ratio of 72% will give a good approximation. Thus in our
example Pork Pig would have a carcass weight of around 180 pounds (250 x 0.72) or 82 Kg.
Credit for the article goes to: http://www.thepigsite.com/articles/541/weighing-a-pig-without-a-scale (Tuesday, March 12, 2002)
Credit for the liveweight formula goes to the Old Farmer's Almanac.
Reprinted with permission.
©Melanie Lankford-Edwards, Just Mini Pigs FB Group
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