When Does a Gilt Become a Sow?

Gilt and sow are terms for a female pig in different stages of its life. Both words have used for centuries, if not millennia, and the boundary between the two terms is sometimes blurred.

  1. Gilt

    • Derived from the Old Norse "gylta," the word "gilt" has been used in English since at least the 1300s. A gilt is generally defined as a young female pig, specifically one that has not yet farrowed, or given birth.

    Sow

    • The word "sow" has been in existence, in one spelling or another, since about 900 AD, and comes from the Old Norse "syr." A sow is simply an adult female pig.

    Time Frame

    • A gilt can be said to become a sow when she first farrows. However, according to the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine's Swine Production Glossary, the word "gilt" specifically applies to a female pig 6 months old, weighing between 200 and 220 pounds.