Swine Terms

• Boar

  Mature intact male pig
• Barrow


  Male pig castrated while young, before the development of its secondary sex characteristics
• Gilt


  Young female pig up to one year of age, usually one that has not yet given birth
• Litter


  A group of pigs born in one farrowing
• Litter size


  The number of piglets born in one farrowing
• Shote


  Young pigs of either sex weighing approximately 60 kg
• Sow


  Mature female pig, one that has given birth
• Stag


  Male pig castrated after sexual maturity
• Suckling


  Young pigs from birth up to weaning
• Weanling


  Young pigs weaned from the sow, about five weeks old