Estimated Mature Weights and Growth Curves for Large White Sows

Mature weight for Large White sows was estimated as the asymptote of a negative exponential growth curve. The data consisted of 2620 weight recordings from 147 sows for the period 1995?1999. Body weight was recorded every 2 weeks from 150 days of age until first service and at parturition and weaning in each parity. A starting point of 150 days was chosen in order to fit the Brody function to the data. Estimates of mature weight in relation to the number of records available (5?10, 11?15, 16?20 and >20) per sow were 285, 258, 260 and 270 kg, respectively. The goodness of fit was calculated as a residual standard deviation (9.7?15.4). No significant effect on mature weight was found for feeding level during rearing or age at first service. The estimated mature weights increased with the number of records available and was more reasonable if the weights were collected throughout the growth and reproductive period.