different weights in different breeds

[Pepperdog]

Having weighed my guys yesterday I was wondering how normal they were, I know each individual pig will be different from the next and even variations in their breeds but I was just wondering for instance if flash will ever go over the 1kg mark or will he stay 900g or there abouts, plus why is my rex crystal lighter - yet bigger than my abby who seems to be the heaviest of the girls.

Their weights as of yesterday

Crystal 859g (rex)
Minty 913 (abby)
Fudge - 791g (4month smooth coat)
Flash - 899g (11 month smooth boar)

When looking up the different breeds I know it said rex pigs were larger than most other breeds - well she is body sized larger (I think she might be a few weeks younger but not much than minty), but she is lighter than minty and always has been. Is this perfectly normal for rex pigs - to be taller but a little more slender?

Flash in rescue had issues when he was younger with his weight and lost a lot but recovered it back and then some, as he is nearly a year old (if not already) I wondered why he still hasnt topped the weights with the 1kg mark. Do some of you have boars that are around the 900g mark or will he eventually catch up? I wondered if he will always be lighter because of his history, maybe he wasnt given the right food as a baby before he was dumped on the rescue - who knows.

 

[Wiebke]

Generally, weight and size are very individual and piggies on a good diet will stop growing around 12-15 months old (runts will often do so a earlier) once they have reached their ideal weight/size.

However, unlike the other breeds, rex piggies will go on growing throught their second year and won't reach their full size/weight until the end of it.

 

[flintstones]

When I got my Fred - he was apparently 18 months. Which I do believe as he had tooth issues this year which would make him 3 which is the right age for such problems.

He was 876g when I got him - he now is 1100g at 3 and a half years old. He still gains weight now infact since he's had his teeth done he has gained over 100 grams.

Were as Milo - is only 870g granted he is believed to be unwell - I have also noticed a trend in lightweight pigs being ill with genetic problems.

My two Aby girls are sisters and both around the top end of 900g, Pebbles is normally just over the 1000g and then there's Esme who is only 8 months she tops my scales at 1042g.

Patrick - Rex is small possibly a runt. He's 944g for a boy that's quite low but he is also over 4 and tend to have health problems.

 

[Pepperdog]

Thank you both for that, I have never had a rex before and I never weighed the girls I had many years ago so I hadnt come across what weight they were and what age - all were mature when I adopted them. I was a little worried that flash will stay slender but if he hasnt quite stopped growing yet I dont need to worry that he has reached his full weight, he must be a steady gainer (unlike fudge who is lumping it on)

It did surprise me that minty was heavier than crystal but then if the rex generally continue to mature and grow over a longer period then that explains why minty is speeding ahead of the others - well her and her daughter fudge as she will reach her destined weight before crystal who will then continue to grow for a bit longer.

Bit off topic but relevant, farm animals have different maturity periods depending on breeds - our native beef cattle breeds are slower to grow into their mature weight, these are the herefords and aberdeen angus cattle, unlike the continental breeds such as charolais, blonde d'aquitaine and even the belgium blues. I keep coming up with these useless bits of info :red but it shows how breeds of the same animal can grow at different weights but are still healthy for their breed or type. And did you know that most dog breeds are mature at 2 years old, labradors mature later at 3 years old.