Managing Purchased Feeder Pigs

Abstract

Missouri is a major feeder pig producing state and annually markets large numbers of pigs that other farmers feed out to market weight. During these marketing and transportation processes, stress can affect the performance of feeder pigs. Buyers often complain of recently purchased pigs that cough, scour or die. Pigs that are slow to start growing and that have poor feed efficiency also may be a problem. This publication recommends procedures for buying, feeding and managing purchased feeder pigs.