How To Raise Pigs - Step By Step

Pig farming is actually the raising and breeding of domestic pigs as livestock principally for food. Pig or hog farming is a branch of animal husbandry. And it’s a very popular agribusiness throughout the world.

Pigs are well adapted to a wide variety of climatic conditions, and they can be raised in many different ways. They can be raised in intensive commercial units, extensive system, or in commercial free range systems. Pigs are among the most popular form of livestock, with more than one billion pigs butchered each year throughout the world

Raising pigs for meat can be difficult, but it can also be profitable and rewarding in many ways. I've raised pigs for a large portion of my life. There are many reasons to raise pigs, but whatever your reasons are, you need to have a basic understanding about how to go about raising pigs.

It is a good idea for beginner pig farmers to start with feeder pigs. You will want to purchase these pigs around two months old. A good time to get them is spring and raise them until fall or early winter. 

We typically raise our pigs for four or five months, which prevents us from worrying about feeding and housing them through the winter. 

First Week of Raising Pigs

Once your pigs are home, you can put them in their holding area. This space can be their permanent place to live or a training ground. Make sure you put down 8 inches of bedding in this space. Using wood chips helps keep the area dry and warm. 

The first week is an excellent time to ensure you have healthy pigs. You can add 6 cups of apple cider vinegar to a 55-gallon waterer to help your young pig’s gut health, and this can also help fight against parasites.

We use the holding area to train the pigs to come to us and to bucket feed them. Also, using a holding stall teaches them to use electric fencing.

Give your pigs some leftovers. Pigs are sometimes referred to as living garbage disposals - which is a pretty accurate sentiment. However, keep the feed as their main course and give them scraps as a side dish. You can feed your pigs fruits, vegetables, meat scraps, garden clippings, and even spoiled eggs. Just make sure you are not feeding your pigs only scraps.

Keep in mind that things that are poisonous to humans (like rhubarb leaves or certain berries) are also poisonous to pigs. You should also avoid feeding your pig raw potatoes and raw meat, as both can be poisonous or carry bad bacteria.

Some professional pig farmers think it is best to boil any ‘human’ food that you are planning on giving to your pigs. Doing this will guard your piggies against any bad bacteria that the food might contain.

Feed ingredients

Pigs are monogastric (single stomach) animals and are inefficient digesters of fibre (only 50% efficiency depending on type of fibre and age of pigs) therefore they are not suited to eating pasture alone and need to be provided with supplementary feeding. 

It is recommended that pigs are provided with a complete (manufactured) diet or a home mixed diet that has been formulated to meet the pig’s needs. Cereal grains are a good feed source although they are best utilised by the pig if they have been cracked, rolled or soaked.

The major ingredients used by the Western Australian pig industry are wheat, barley and lupins, but other grains such as peas, canola meal and triticale are also used.

 The crude protein content of grains can vary considerably between seasons and source therefore it is important that care be taken if using apparently low cost ingredients of an inferior quality

How To Care For Pig

Pigs, like all animals, must have constant access to clean fresh drinking water. As well as tipping the trough to make a wallow, pigs will also stand in the water trough and wash their dirty faces in it, so it needs to be checked regularly, cleaned out and refilled. Galvanised troughs are robust and easy to clean, and not too easy for the pigs to tip over.  Automatic drinkers are available but aren’t half as much fun for the pigs.

Temperature

Pig temperature plays a pivotal role in pig growth and production. Pigs are remarkably adaptable animals and can perform well within a range of suitable temperatures. However, excessively high or low temperatures can adversely affect pigs.

In the event of extreme cold, the temperature can plummet, compelling pigs to eat more while expending extra energy to stay warm. This results in sluggish growth, heightened stress, reduced feed consumption, and eventually, the demise of pigs. Thus, it is crucial to keep pigs cool during summer.

 Water

Fresh water should be available at all times and accessible to all pigs (including piglets). The water supply should be cool (maximum 18-20°C). Supply lines should be buried or insulated particularly if they are black poly pipe outside in the full sun; otherwise the water is hot and undrinkable when it is most needed.

Conclusion

Raising pigs is different than raising other types of livestock. They require hard work, but they'll grow on you, too. They're smart and social animals.

Always provide them with a way to cool themselves off. Make sure that they have their nutritional needs met with corn, pig feed, leftover bread or even feed you mixed yourself.

Choose the best quality pigs that you can. Avoid pigs with feet or leg issues. Don't breed pigs that are carriers of the PSS or Napole genes.

​Choose a breed that suits your needs, or choose two (or even three) and crossbreed to raise pigs that fit your individual needs.