Benefits of pig farming
1. Pigs produce valuable, nutritious meat from inedible feeds, forages, certain grain mill byproducts, meat byproducts, damaged feeds, and rubbish. Most of these diets are either unpalatable to humans or not edible.
2. Pigs have prolific breeders and develop quickly, giving birth to 10 to 12 piglets at a time. Two litters can be born each year by a sow under ideal management circumstances.
3. Pig farming has a high rate of return. Pig feces are utilized as manure to preserve soil fertility, thus the farmer can profitably spend his time and labor in this side job with a little investment in structures and equipment, adequate feeding, and a sound disease control program.
How to begin a pig farming business
1. Purchasing the pigs. It is crucial that you prepare purebred stock from a reputable breeder who has high-quality purebred stock, as this will benefit your future marketing and advertising efforts by giving you immediate credibility.
2. Housing and bonding: Wood shaving would be the best choice for pig bedding, and the living environment for pigs should be all-natural and chemical-free. For the first 4-6 weeks, it is better to keep new pigs away from predators by placing them in a stall or safe quarters, which will also help you keep a close eye on your pigs to observe their performance.
3. A fence and a covered area outside. The first four to six weeks are a good time to begin fencing, and there are numerous techniques to fence pigs. The top three pig fencing options are.
The least expensive type of perimeter fence, particularly for large areas, is hot-wire roll fencing. Hog wire roll fencing with metal T posts and wood posts for bracing corners and lengthy spans is a bit more expensive.The most expensive option is hog panels with metal T posts for support, but it is also the simplest to install and requires almost no maintenance.
It is usually preferable to employ the natural environment for protection and shade while providing outdoor shelter. A wooden area is a fantastic option, but if you don’t already have one, you’ll need to build or buy one.
4. Plan for feeding and watering the pigs. Pigs require a lot of fresh, clean water, so make sure you always have an ample supply on hand. Starting your pigs off with 18–20% pig feed is a smart idea. The young pigs should ideally be given a free choice diet, but you should avoid giving them more than 20% protein because it might lead to scours, which is harmful to young pigs.
5. A schedule for worms. To get rid of external parasites and perpetual worms, you can either use organic worming solutions or feed your pigs ivermectin every six months.
6. Mating. After roughly 6 months, your pigs should weigh 200–250 pounds, at which point they are prepared for breeding.
7. Pig farrowing and gestation. The 114-day pig gestation period will take place. It is crucial that you keep track of the breeding days so that you can estimate the arrival date of the new piglets. One month before to giving birth, your sows must be moved from the other pigs’ housing spaces into their own separate living quarters and placed on an 18% 12 to 15 pound diet.
8. bringing up piglets. After 8–10 weeks, the piglets should be weaned from the sow and grown to market weight, after which they should be separated from the sow and given a proper nursery.