How to Measure a Hog Using a Cow Weighing Tape

Large farm animals, such as hogs are difficult to maneuver onto a scale for weighing. To get around the size issue, farmers have developed formulas based on a hog's girth and length to get an accurate estimate of the animal's weight. To find the weight of a hog, you'll need a measuring tape or a cow weighing tape. The cow weighing tape instantly converts a cow's girth into weight for the farmer, but it uses a different formula than is needed for pigs. However, this tape does is an accurate measuring device to find the inches in circumference and length of a hog.

Things You'll Need

  • Cow weight measuring tape or standard measuring tape
  • Paper
  • Pencil
  • Calculator
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Get a standard tape measure or a cow weight tape measure. Both measure in inches.

    • 2

      Measure the pig's girth by wrapping the tape measure around the pig's torso, just behind its front legs.

    • 3

      Record the circumference measured. For example, a pig's girth at 40 inches.

    • 4

      Measure the pig's length from the base of its ears to the base of its tail.

    • 5

      Record the length. For instance, a pig is 35 inches long from ears to the end of the tail.

    • 6

      Square the pig's girth. A girth of 40 squared is 1,600.

    • 7

      Multiply this squared number by the pig's length. So, 1,600 times 35 is 56,000.

    • 8

      Divide this result by 400. The number 56,000 divided by 400 equals 140. A pig with these girth measurements would weigh roughly 140 pounds.