A sow earns her keep through litters. By parity 5 or 6, most of her productive curve is behind her, and every additional cycle costs the farm more than her cull value would pay. The decision is obvious in theory and routinely deferred in practice — backyard farmers run sows to parity 7, 8, sometimes 9, watching litter sizes shrink while the replacement cost stays fixed.
Here is the parity threshold, the cull weight math in 2026 pesos, and the decision framework for when to send the sow to the wet market.
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Pig Profit Simulator
Run your current sow's last 3 cycles versus a replacement gilt. The simulator will show you exactly how many cycles it takes for the gilt to pay back her purchase price — and whether your existing sow is already losing the math.
The Productive Curve of a Sow
A commercial Filipino sow follows a predictable productivity curve across her lifetime:
| Parity | Typical litter size (born alive) | Pre-weaning mortality | Weanlings to market | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (gilt) | 8-9 | 12-15% | 7-8 | First-time breeder, smaller litters |
| 2 | 10-11 | 10-12% | 9-10 | Peak productivity climbing |
| 3 | 11-12 | 8-10% | 10-11 | Peak productivity |
| 4 | 11-12 | 8-10% | 10-11 | Peak productivity |
| 5 | 10-11 | 9-11% | 9-10 | Early decline |
| 6 | 9-10 | 10-13% | 8-9 | Visible decline |
| 7 | 7-9 | 12-15% | 6-7 | Productivity drop accelerating |
| 8+ | 6-8 | 14-18% | 5-6 | Below break-even for most farms |
Three patterns repeat across small and large Filipino piggeries:
- Parity 1 is structurally lower than parity 2-4. A first-time gilt is not yet at her peak.
- Peak productivity is parity 2-5 in most commercial cross sows (Large White × Landrace × Duroc). After parity 5, the curve bends down.
- Parity 7 is the typical economic break point for backyard sows in 2026 conditions. Beyond that, each additional cycle costs more than it produces.
For pre-weaning piglet care details that shape these survival numbers, see Why piglets die in the first week.
Three Triggers That Mean Cull Now, Regardless of Parity
Parity is a guideline. These three triggers override it — when any one fires, cull the sow at the end of the current weaning, even if she is only parity 4 or 5.
Trigger 1: Two consecutive litters below 8 born alive
A productive sow consistently delivers 10-12 born alive per litter. Two consecutive litters at 7 or below means something has changed — uterine wall thinning, hormone disruption, body condition decline, or persistent low-grade infection. The fix usually costs more than a replacement gilt.
The math: at parity 5, expected weanling revenue is ~10 weanlings × ₱3,000 = ₱30,000/cycle. A sow stuck at 6 born alive delivers ₱18,000/cycle. The ₱12,000 gap per cycle, repeated 2-3 cycles, is more than the ₱18,000-₱25,000 replacement gilt cost.
Trigger 2: Conception failure on three consecutive services
A sow that takes three services to settle (or fails to take at all) is either developing reproductive disease, has a hormonal issue, or her ovaries are aging out of regular cycling. Each failed service costs roughly 21-25 days of feed and care for zero output. Three failed services = 60-75 wasted days at ₱600-₱800/month of feed = ₱1,500-₱2,000 of pure cost.
By the time three services have failed, the sow has lost the farm 2-3 months of productive cycle time. Cull and replace.
Trigger 3: Mastitis or MMA in two consecutive farrowings
Mastitis-Metritis-Agalactia (MMA) at one farrowing is a manageable problem with antibiotics and supportive care. MMA at two consecutive farrowings is a systemic issue — chronic mammary inflammation, partial functional loss of mammary glands, or persistent uterine infection. Piglets from these litters often suffer poor early growth, raising pre-weaning mortality and shrinking weanling revenue.
For MMA management and prevention, see Sow MMA / no-milk response.
What a Cull Sow Sells For in 2026
Cull sows are sold to wet-market viajeros, slaughterhouses, or occasionally lechon operations (rare — most lechon prefers younger pigs). Pricing in 2026:
| Channel | ₱/kg liveweight | Typical sow (180 kg) | Typical sow (220 kg) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wet-market viajero | ₱140-₱165 | ₱25,200-₱29,700 | ₱30,800-₱36,300 | Most common, fastest cash |
| Direct to slaughterhouse | ₱155-₱180 | ₱27,900-₱32,400 | ₱34,100-₱39,600 | Requires logistics; better price |
| Lechon operator (rare) | ₱170-₱200 | ₱30,600-₱36,000 | ₱37,400-₱44,000 | Only Visayas, only for specific cuts |
| Direct to neighbour butcher | ₱160-₱185 | ₱28,800-₱33,300 | ₱35,200-₱40,700 | Small volumes, slow but premium |
Cull sow prices typically run ₱20-₱45/kg below market hog prices because:
- Older sows have tougher meat
- Pork yield (dress percentage) is lower at 70-72% vs 76-78% for finished market hogs
- Mammary tissue and reproductive organs reduce usable carcass
Best practice: time the cull for the week after weaning the final litter, when body condition is at the lowest and the sow can be sold quickly without re-feeding. Holding a culled sow for "fattening" before sale loses money — see the FAQ at the bottom of this article.
For region-by-region farmgate prices that inform cull sow pricing, see Pig price per kg by region and Crossbreed pig price.
Replacement Gilt Costs
The other side of the cull decision is what you replace her with. 2026 pricing for gilts:
| Gilt type | Weight at purchase | Cost | Time to first service |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1 LW × Landrace, proven | 100-120 kg | ₱18,000-₱25,000 | 0-30 days |
| F1 LW × Landrace, young | 50-70 kg | ₱11,000-₱16,000 | 60-90 days |
| Duroc-cross gilt | 90-110 kg | ₱22,000-₱28,000 | 30-45 days |
| Native cross gilt | 60-80 kg | ₱8,000-₱14,000 | 90-120 days |
| In-house retained gilt | n/a | Cost of raising (₱10,000-₱14,000) | 90-150 days |
Most cost-effective in 2026: retaining one or two F1 gilts from your own farrowings and growing them out to breeding weight. Cost is similar to the young-gilt purchase price, but the genetics are known and the gilts adapt to your conditions from day one.
For details on gilt selection and breeding readiness, see When is a gilt ready to breed?.
The Cull Decision Math: A Worked Example
Take a parity-6 sow producing 9 weanlings per cycle (down from 11 at parity 3). The decision is: cull her after the current litter or keep her for one more cycle?
Scenario A: Cull now, replace with a proven F1 gilt
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Cull income (200 kg × ₱155/kg) | +₱31,000 |
| Replacement gilt (proven F1) | -₱22,000 |
| Net cash position | +₱9,000 |
| First cycle from new gilt (parity 1) | 7-8 weanlings to market |
| Expected weanling revenue cycle 1 | 7-8 × ₱3,000 = ₱21,000-₱24,000 |
Scenario B: Keep current sow for one more cycle
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Maintenance through next cycle | -₱4,500 (feed + meds, gestation + lactation) |
| Expected weanlings (parity 7) | 7 (declining from 9) |
| Weanling revenue | 7 × ₱3,000 = ₱21,000 |
| Net from one more cycle | +₱16,500 |
| Then cull at end (probably 175 kg by then) | +₱27,000 cull |
| Replacement gilt later | -₱22,000 |
| Net from delayed cull | +₱21,500 over the extra 5-6 months |
What the math actually says
Scenario A: ₱9,000 from cull + replacement, plus ₱21,000-₱24,000 from cycle 1 of the new gilt = ₱30,000-₱33,000 over 6-8 months.
Scenario B: ₱21,500 net over 5-6 months = roughly half the cycle income.
For a sow that is still producing reasonably (7+ weanlings), keeping her for one more cycle is competitive. For a sow that has dropped to 5-6 weanlings or has hit any of the three triggers, scenario A is the correct decision — and the longer you defer it, the more you give up.
The decision flips when the sow drops below 7 weanlings per cycle. Below that, every cycle costs more in feed and risk than it generates in weanling revenue, and the cull cheque is the better outcome. Track your litter size by parity. The data tells you the answer before you have to guess.
Common Mistakes Backyard Breeders Make
Three patterns are responsible for most "kept her too long" stories in Filipino backyard piggeries.
Mistake 1: Treating cull income as the only return
Backyard breeders think: "If I cull now, I get ₱30,000. If I keep her, I get the litter income too." They forget that the cull cheque is still available at the end of the cycle, plus the litter income, plus the new gilt's productivity has already started compounding.
The replacement gilt is what compounds. A parity-1 gilt today is a parity-3 sow in 18 months — at peak productivity. The current sow at parity 7 today is a cull at parity 7 in 18 months.
Mistake 2: Not tracking parity at all
Most backyard piggeries don't keep formal breeding records. Sow age becomes a guess, parity is "she's been around a while," and the cull decision is made on physical appearance rather than productivity data. By the time the farmer realises productivity has declined, he or she has already lost 2-3 cycles of opportunity cost.
The fix is free: a notebook with one page per sow. Date of service, date of farrowing, litter size born alive, litter size weaned, mortality, weaning date. Three lines per cycle. You will know exactly when to cull.
For broader breeding tracking and what to record, see Common breeding mistakes and Native pig breeding program for breed-specific guidance.
Mistake 3: Skipping replacement planning
When a sow finally gets culled in a panic — emergency cull due to disease, sudden lameness, prolapse — there is no replacement gilt ready. The farm is left with a gap of 4-6 months while a new gilt is sourced, grown out, and bred. That gap is pure lost revenue.
The fix: if you have 2 sows, retain 1 gilt for every 2-3 farrowings. If you have 4 sows, retain 1 gilt per farrowing. The retained gilts cycle through the breeding herd and replace the culls without a gap.
Compared to Pasalo Sow Purchases
A common question in Filipino breeder circles: "Why not just buy an older sow on pasalo instead of a new gilt?"
The honest answer is that pasalo sows are usually being sold for the same reason you would cull them — they are past peak. A pasalo sow priced at ₱15,000 versus a fresh gilt at ₱22,000 looks like a discount until you factor in:
- Remaining productive cycles (often only 1-2)
- Unknown disease history (see Pasalo piggery evaluation)
- Less competitive genetics by definition (better genetics get kept by the seller)
The economics rarely work. The ₱7,000 you save on purchase is consumed by 1-2 cycles of lower productivity and the risk of bringing latent disease into your herd.
Bisaya / Cebuano
Kanus-a Sigaria ang Sow: Presyo + Replacement Math
Ang sow naa lay limited nga productive years. Sa Pilipinas, ang typical nga break point mao ang katapusan sa parity 6 o sa sinugdanan sa parity 7. Pasulod pa, mosaka ang gasto, manaog ang gidaghanon sa weanlings.
Tulo ka tigger nga magpasabot nga sigaria karon, bisan unsa pa ang parity:
-
Duha ka sunod-sunod nga litter nga ubos sa 8 ka buhi. Ang normal nga sow mohatag og 10–12. Kung 6 o 7 lang nahimugso, naa nay problema.
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Tulo ka services nga wala mosulod. Kung tulo ka beses mag-service ug dili pa gihapon mag-conceive, ulahi na — wala nay paglaom.
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MMA o mastitis sa duha ka farrowings. Ang mastitis usa pa, manageable. Duha ka cycle, sistemiko na ang problema. Maubos ang gain sa piglets, mosaka ang mortality.
Presyo sa cull sow karong 2026:
- Sa viajero sa wet market: ₱140–₱165/kg, mga ₱25,000–₱36,000 para sa 180–220 kg nga sow
- Direkta sa slaughterhouse: ₱155–₱180/kg, mga ₱28,000–₱40,000
- Sa neighbor butcher: ₱160–₱185/kg, mas mahal apan hinay ang pagbenta
Presyo sa replacement gilt:
- F1 Large White × Landrace, andam na sa pag-breed (100-120 kg): ₱18,000–₱25,000
- Bata pa nga gilt (50-70 kg): ₱11,000–₱16,000, apan 2-3 ka bulan pa ang paabuton sa pag-breed
- Sariling pinili gikan sa kaugalingong litter: presyo sa pagpadako lang (mga ₱10,000–₱14,000)
Ang sayop nga gibuhat sa kasagaran nga backyard breeder: dili pag-record sa parity. Dili nimo mahibal-an kung kanus-a nahimugso ang sow nimo, dili nimo mahimo'g determinar kanus-a sa tamang sigaria. Ang solusyon libre: usa ka libro nga adunay usa ka pahina matag sow — petsa sa service, petsa sa farrowing, gidaghanon sa nahimugso, gidaghanon sa naweaned. Tulo ka linya matag cycle. Sa pagkahanap nimo niini sa pagsulod sa parity 5–6, klaro kaayo ang decision.
Ayaw paghupot sa cull sow para sa pag-fatten. Ang sow nga 200 kg na, dili na mosaka og daghan og timbang. Ipanglahok mo, mosakit, magprolapse, makasakit ang resulta. Ibaligya dayon human ma-wean ang katapusang litter, kung ang body condition pa-ubos pa.
Run Your Own Numbers
Every breeder's numbers are different. Use the calculators to verify your cull decision before you commit:
- Profit Simulator — model your current sow's remaining cycles vs a replacement gilt's productive years
- Break-Even Calculator — minimum weanling price needed to justify keeping a sow for one more cycle
- Setup Planner — sizing your breeding herd and replacement gilt buffer
Related Articles
- Sow vs Fattener: which earns more — broader sow vs fattener economics
- When is a gilt ready to breed? — replacement gilt timing
- Sow MMA / no-milk response — managing the trigger condition before cull
- Why piglets die in the first week — pre-weaning mortality context
- Pasalo piggery evaluation — when not to buy older sows
- Common breeding mistakes — including parity tracking failures
- Breeding & Production topic cluster — the full set of sow-management guides
Sources: PSA Hog Farmgate Price Survey (Q1 2026) for cull sow pricing, DA-BAI swine breeding standards, BAI gilt registration records for replacement pricing, field interviews with backyard breeders in Bohol, Cebu, and Davao del Norte (2025-2026), USDA FAS Manila Livestock and Products Annual for productivity benchmarks. Figures are typical ranges and vary by region, breed, and management.
