When Does a Gilt Become a Sow?

Both the gilt and the sow are female swine.

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.

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.

References

• Dictionary.com: Gilt
• Dictionary.com: Sow
• Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine Swine Production Glossary: Gilt