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Swine Growth Target Planner.

Calculate required ADG to reach market weight on schedule. Color-coded pass/warning/fail feasibility check against nursery, grower, and finisher benchmarks.

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Validated2026-04-08
CitableMethods and citation included

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Growth Target Inputs

When to use

  • Planning pig placement schedules to hit packer harvest windows
  • Evaluating whether a current growth trajectory will meet market weight
  • Assessing the feasibility of a contracted delivery date before placement
  • Comparing planned vs. actual ADG during a closeout
  • Training farm staff on growth phase expectations

Do not use for

  • For individual pig projections — this tool assumes group-average performance
  • As a substitute for a full nutritional modeling program (consult a swine nutritionist for diet formulation)

Use accurate current weight for the calculation

ADG projection is highly sensitive to starting weight. A 10-lb error at 120 lbs changes the required ADG by 0.12 lbs/day for an 85-day period — enough to shift from "Pass" to "Warning". Weigh a representative sample (minimum 10% of pen) before planning.

Required ADG is a group average, not a minimum

Individual pigs will vary ±20% around the group mean. A required ADG of 2.0 lbs/day means some pigs need 2.4 and some only 1.6. Ensure the barn environment supports the entire distribution, not just the average.

Phase boundary affects benchmark

A pig at 125 lbs is classified as grower (benchmark 1.5–1.8 lbs/day), but most of the remaining gain will occur in the finisher phase (benchmark 1.8–2.2). If the pig spans both phases, the actual achievable ADG may be higher than the grower-phase benchmark suggests.

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Method

Required ADG = (target weight − current weight) ÷\div days available. Phase is inferred from current weight: nursery < 50 lbs, grower 50–130 lbs, finisher > 130 lbs. Feasibility benchmarks: nursery 0.8–1.2, grower 1.5–1.8, finisher 1.8–2.2 lbs/day (NRC 2012; PIC Technical Manual 2023). All computation is client-side — no data leaves your browser.

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Validated

Last validated 2026-04-08. Calculations are designed for planning and documentation support; verify procurement decisions against manufacturer specifications or institutional SOPs.

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How to cite

How to Cite

ConductScience Swine Growth Target Planner (v1.0). ConductScience, Inc. 2026. Available at: https://conductscience.com/tools/swine-growth-target-planner

National Research Council. Nutrient Requirements of Swine. 11th ed. National Academies Press, 2012.

PIC. Wean-to-Finish Nutrient Specifications. PIC Technical Manual, 2023.

ADG Benchmarks by Production Phase

Average daily gain varies substantially across production phases due to differences in nutrient partitioning, gut maturity, and frame size.

Commercial ADG targets: - Nursery (12–50 lbs): 0.8–1.2 lbs/day. Limited by gut maturity and immune challenge at weaning. - Grower (50–130 lbs): 1.5–1.8 lbs/day. Rapid lean tissue accretion phase; most responsive to protein/amino acid optimization. - Finisher (130–280+ lbs): 1.8–2.2 lbs/day. Top PIC and Topigs Norsvin genetics can achieve 2.3+ under ideal conditions.

Factors limiting ADG below benchmarks: subclinical respiratory disease (PRRS, IAV-S), nutritional gaps (lysine below requirement), environmental temperature extremes, stocking density above 7–8 sq ft/pig in finishing.

Planning for Market Weight

Market weight planning balances packer requirements, seasonal pricing, and production capacity. Typical commercial market weights in North America range from 260–300 lbs live weight (130–150 lbs carcass weight).

Key planning considerations: - Packer specifications: Many packers apply discounts for over/underweight carcasses. Target your ADG to hit the weight window, not just a minimum. - Days-on-feed variation: Individual pig variation means the group will not all finish simultaneously. Plan for 10–15% sorting tolerance around market weight. - Seasonal ADG adjustments: ADG drops 5–8% below thermoneutral zone in winter (below 60°F) and by similar margins in summer heat stress above 80°F. - Health events: A 2-week PRRS outbreak can cost 0.3–0.5 lbs/day ADG during active disease, adding 10–20 days to closeout.

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