Managing Purchased Feeder Pigs John C. Rea and George W. Jesse Department of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia 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. Buying feeder pigs Missouri is recognized for having an established program in most of its feeder pig markets. Pigs can be purchased from these markets that have performance standards on breeding stock, a selection program on quality and requirements on health including on-farm monitoring and testing to ensure freedom from pseudorabies. Purchasing pigs from this type of market greatly reduces risk.