What is an isowean pigs?

Answer 1

I have worked over 10 years on an isowean farm. I'm not sure if this definition is one you would find in a dictionary or text book, but I would say an isowean pig is one that is raised to be approx. 10 pounds, given all necessary vaccination and medication as required. Typically an isowean farm will artificially inseminate sows (female pigs who have given birth before) or gilts (basically a young virgin pig) and then (approx. 3 months, 3 weeks, and 3 days later) the mother will give birth to anywhere between 1-20ish piglets (baby pigs), depending on how old she is, and if the person inseminating her did a good job; time of year and living conditions also will play a factor on litter (total number of piglets) size.

Then, about a month or so goes by and the piglets get to be about 10 pounds and the farmer sells them to another farmer, or "finisher". There, the isowean pigs are fed corn/soy bean mixture and grow to full size.

Hope this helps.