How to Start a Pig Farming Business [Complete Guide] 

Starting
a piggery is a good solution if you are a small farmer who wants to add
livestock to the farm. Guess what… even women in the agricultural
sector can try their hand at this job.

 Pig farming is a good business for anyone who wants to make a lot of profit from farming.This
is also a great food business for you if you are looking for a part
time business that will bring in extra income. Even if you are
uneducated and unemployed, you can still earn good money by raising pigs
with proper training.
 
Pig Products You Can Focus On Commercial Pig Farming
 
Pig has many uses and is in high demand as meat for human consumption and as a raw material for many industries. Many people use pork as an ingredient to make many types of sausages.
 
Ham and bacon are also popular products made from fresh pork. Pork is prepared from salt and/or smoked pork from the pork belly, while pork shoulder and leg are prepared like ham.
 
Other useful products you can focus on in a commercial pig farm include:
 
 Pigskin: 

 Did you also know that pigskin is a good model for tattooing? Skin is also used to mimic human tissue when testing bullets. Other products such as fat-free butter, x-ray film, medical capsules, protective coatings and even chewing gum come from pigs.

internal organs: 

Pig internal organs are used for animal feed, leather and football (bladder), surgical anticoagulant (stomach), heart valves (surgery) and insulin (pancreas). .
 
 Pig bone: 

Pig bones are used to make soft toys, game heads, train brakes, yogurt, beer, wine, ice cream, inkjet paper and to stabilize bullets.

 Pork Fat: 

Pigs are high in body fat and the fat used to make soaps, crayons, shampoos and biodiesel.

 Pig blood meal: 

It is used in the production of fish meal, aluminum ingots, cigarette filters and toothpaste.

Cost of starting a pig farming business. 

• In order to work efficiently and profitably in large-scale farming, you need to consider the following cost-effective center
  

• Buying or renting land.

•  Cost to build a warehouse where pig feed can be mixed and stored, things can be stored there. 

• Depending on where the farmer is located, you may be able to get money to build a house for you and your workers.
  

• pig housing construction.The cost of installing water infrastructure includes pumps, pipes, taps, nipples, tanks and wells if necessary.

• Money for self feeder

•  Power factor

• Cost of fencing and the gate

•  Money was invested in road construction. Buying of private truck for transporting pigs and feed.

• the beginning stock of gilts (female pigs) and boars (young males) are 8 to 10 years old for raising pigs. The beginning stock of piglets for young breeders, as “finishing”. 
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Other costs related to pig farming:
 

•  Cost of labor

•  Travel expenses

•  Fuel cost

•  Veterinary fees

•  Medicine

•  Cost of slaughter

• Repair and maintenance of fences, buildings and vehicles

 Other animals.
 
How to start a commercial
pig farming business
 
Every farmer has his own plan for success. But the first thing you need to know to be a successful farmer is to have a basic idea about pigs and how to raise them.
 
Other things you should know before starting your pig farming business include
 

• How to choose a high quality pig. 

• What should a pig breeding site look like?

• How to build a safe and secure pig shelter for your pig.

•  What is the process for planning and organizing pig food? 

• How to manage a pig farm 

• Health and disease of pigs and how to manage them.

 
Another tip for success is using a well-prepared pig business plan. This will be a great guide to running a profitable pig business.
 
A complete business plan for a commercial pig business should include all financial details of the purchase of the type of pig, administrative costs and marketing costs.

Also read:THE HAMPSHIRE PIG: CHARACTERISTICS, ORIGINS AND LIFESPAN

 How to choose the best place to start a good commercial pig farm.
 

•  The place should not be in a swampy area where rain can happen quickly.

• The site of your pig farm should be well protected from direct sunlight and should be provided with adequate fresh air. 
•  
• The farm will be located far away from the residential area because of the bad smell.

•  If you are running a large pig farm, your pig farm site must be well accessible from the road.
•  
• Your pig should have a proper waste disposal system.

•  A good place for a pig farm should be connected to a reliable source of water and electricity. 
•  
• Build your pig farm where you can get veterinary help quickly.

•  Human labor will be required for a large pig farm.

• So, find your farm where you can get enough workers.

•  Find your farm near your target market so you don’t have to spend extra money on travel.

What are the features of a pig house
 
After choosing the right land for your pig farming business, the next step is to build a pigsty or pig pen. Here are some features that should be there

1. Pig house should be very good and aerated. 

A well-ventilated enclosure is essential if you don’t want your pig to get hurt. In addition to this, it is important to give your pig enough space in the yard to improve health. 

This reduces the spread of disease and other contamination in the farm.
 
You can build separate pens for boars, farrowings, dry sows and weaners if you have the resources. This is highly recommended for successful pig trading.

2. It is best to keep pigs in pens with proper drainage system
 
You should build your pigsty in such a way that you can get rid of the land used in the farm. If you have standing water in the pen, it will attract insects and other harmful bacteria that can harm your pigs.

3. Make a pool in your yard where your pig can swim.
 
Pigs do not have sweat glands in their skin. Therefore, the only way for them to cool down is to swim in cold water.
 
By providing a pool in the garden, you have not only given them a place to cool off, but you have also given them a place to wash when they get dirty. Make sure you change the water regularly. Fill the pool as often as possible to keep the water clean at all times. If you keep them outside, a strong house must be built to protect them from rain and the heat of the sun.

4. Arrange all the necessary pig raising equipment before bringing in your pig. 

Do not attempt to bring your pigs to the farm until you have completely prepared their enclosure. Be sure to install feeders and drinkers that meet all specifications for a proper piggery.

 Build a shelter that can protect pigs from bad weather, prevent disease, control parasites and protect them from outside predators.

5. Make arrangements to keep your pig warm during the cold season.
 
If you live in a cold area, cover the bottom of the pen with straw or rice straw to keep the pigs warm. A light bulb can be placed in the pigsty to provide warmth during extreme cold.

6. Use the perfect pigsty dimensions to build your pigsty.

 A good pigsty should have a floor size of 3 x 3 meters, while the side walls should be raised 4 to 5 feet above the ground. 

7. Provide good shade.

 Pigs can overheat quickly when exposed to the sun for long periods of time. As mentioned earlier, they do not have sweat pores. You should provide them with shelter to protect them from the hot sun. Don’t forget to provide the small pool that I mentioned earlier.

 8. Build your pigsty with solid materials.

This is very important because pigs can be big and heavy. If you use the wrong things, they can knock them down while playing in the park. Make sure you use sturdy materials and check your construction regularly to make sure they are sturdy.

9.Disinfect the pen and invest in disease prevention on your pig farm
 
Finally, disinfect the pen before introducing the piglets, especially when feeding pregnant piglets.
 
Take strict measures on the farm to control diseases as much as possible. You may need safety shoes, gloves, nose mask, etc.
 
Invest in building suitable piggeries that provide comfort for the pigs and allow the daily cleaning process to be successful. 

How to buy your first pig for a small business
 
You are ready to equip your farm with pigs that will bring you profit. Before you do that, here are some tips to help you choose the right pigs for your farm.
 
1. You need to decide whether to buy pigs and sell them or buy young (weaned) pigs to raise and sell. I recommend that you start with wild pigs, raise them and sell them several times before you try to breed pigs. This will give you experience and an indication of the debt. You will also learn to understand pigs better and be able to develop effective management systems.

 2. You must make sure that the pigs you bring to your farm are safe and healthy. 

3. Buy only from reputable sources and make sure the people you buy from have a good vaccination history.

4. Take someone with experience and knowledge in this area with you when you first buy a pig. If you can get one, a veterinarian is the best person to turn to for getting your pig back on the ground.
 
It is better to pay for a good pig than to pay less for a pig that may die quickly or not perform well. Inspect the pig carefully to make sure you are buying a healthy animal.
 
Ask the seller several questions to help you assess the condition of the pig. If you don’t know the right questions to ask when buying a stocking pig, use the following as a guide: 

What questions should you ask yourself when buying your Christmas gift?
 

• How old is the pig? 

• Has he ever been sick?

•  Is he or has he been vaccinated? If yes, what disease?

•  Has he received treatment for the parasite? 

• For older pigs, ask if they have ever given birth.

• Is there a reason why the seller is selling the pig?

What are the factors to consider when buying your own storage pig?

1. Check the pig when it is lying down

•  Is the body healthy and comfortable?

•  Is he breathing properly and regularly? Make sure the pig is not wheezing or panting. Look at the pig’s belly to see if it expands when it breathes. If it contracts, it means that the pig has breathing problems. Only a breathing pig’s chest should rise and fall. 

• Watch the pig’s reaction when you clap your hands, shout or hiss loudly. Good health pig should react by looking at your eyes when you make a sudden noise. 

2. Study each pig while standing 

•  Check the size to see if it’s too big or too small. If the hip, shoulder, rib or backbone under the skin is sticking out of the pig, it means that the pig is too thin. If he has excess fat around his neck, it means he is too fat.

•  Pigs that are too fat can develop foot and leg problems and the possibility of poor breeding. 

3. Examine the pig’s general appearance

•  Is this back straight? 

• Does he have shiny clothes?

•  Is pig skin healthy and clean?

•  Does the pig have any swelling or red sores on the head, body or hands?

• Are their legs strong and straight?

• Are their leg strong and straight?

4. Be aware of these pig health symptoms

• Is the pig coughing?

•  Sneezing

• Itching – This can be seen if the pet scratches for a long time. 

• Diarrhea – You will know it if you see soft wet dung in the pigsty.

• Constipation – The pig suffers from constipation if you see small, dry, hard droppings. 

5. If you want to get into pig farming, check the following  

• The litter size of pigs. 

• Drainage Power and Services 

• Check the milk capacity of the pig 

• Note the characteristics of those pigs

Pig breeds that are best suited for commercial pig farming
 
There are different types of pigs suitable for pig farming and they are available

•   Large white pig

•  Duroc pig

• Landrace pig

•  Pietrain pig

•  Yorkshire pigs

•  Hampshire pig

•  Tamworth Pig

•  Meishan pig

• Berkshire pig

• Poland China pig

There are many other types of pork for commercial purposes.
 
However, the best pig breeds for commercial pigs are the large White, Yorkshire, Hampshire and Landrace. The large white pig is very active and can adapt to many climates and this type of pig has a long and productive life in the breeding pen.
 
The pig is a great forager and uses food efficiently. It also has good meat quality that allows it to produce good pork and pork meat.
 
The large white pig breed has also gained popularity due to its ability to cross and improve other pig breeds. 

Read also:DUROC PIG BREED ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW: INTRODUCTION AND CHARACTERISTICS

Feed management in commercial pig farming

• Feed represents about 70% of the cost of pigs, as in any other livestock production. 

• Pigs are omnivores, like humans. This means that pigs can eat both plants and animals.

• Like humans, pigs must eat a balanced diet that includes all six types of food. The better the quality of food you feed your pigs, the faster they gain weight. In general, high feed rates lead to rapid weight gain in commercial pigs.

• It is best to stick to the same diet for all animals in the pigsty.

• Make sure your feed is not contaminated in any way.

•  All feed should be accompanied by clean water. A typical pig consumes about three to five gallons per day.

•  Add antibiotics at the rate of 10 mg/kg to the pig feed/pork feed as directed by the veterinarian. This will strengthen the immune system and prevent disease from affecting them.

• If you have more space on your farm, you can grow some crops that you can buy for your pigs. Pig feed is very expensive in the market and this will make you earn more money. You can grow grains like corn, sorghum, wheat, corn and millet to feed your pigs. These feed costs will go directly into the profits of your pig farm.

•  Apart from regular feeding, complementary feeds such as fish meal, bread, mineral mixture and salt cubes can be added to pig feed. 

• In general, feed intake and commercial pig marketing depends on the age and weight of the pig.

Breeding management and pig trading business
 

•  Pigs have a short gestation period and can give birth at least twice a year. The gestation period (gestation period) for pigs is 3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days (114 days).

• Although pigs have a short gestation period, they produce large quantities of up to 12 to 15 piglets per birth. This is exactly what makes pig farming a very lucrative business.

•  You need to learn how to detect heat in breeding pigs. Ideally, childbirth takes place during the so-called “standing heat” in which the female will “lock up”, which means that she will show the natural tendency to stand still and accept the climb. high boar. You need to know how to induce heat in sows.

• It is very important to choose a good boar since it gives half of the quality of the herd. 

• A breeding boar come from the hand of a good mother. As a result, sows give birth to more than 10 piglets per litter or more. 

• You only need a few men to mate more female in your pigsty.

•  Pigs are ready to give birth between 8 and 10 months. 

• Reproductive males (boars) must be at least 8 months old. A 10-month-old boar can breed with 12 females. 

• If you want to serve more female, use older males to do the job. A boar that is at least one year old can mate up to 50 females in pigsties, or 40 in pastures. 

How to care for pigs during breeding

•  During the breeding season, make sure your pig is eating a well-balanced diet. Good nutrition replenishes lost energy and prevents the accumulation of fat that can reduce productivity. Good feed is important to revive them and prevent pigs from gaining weight, especially sow.

•  Take good care of the pregnant piglets until they give birth. 

• When the piglets are born, take good care of them. It is very important that every piglet suck its mother’s milk on the day it is born. If you have weak animals in the litter, help bring them to the breast of sow so that they can suck. First milk is very important for them to develop some immunity against disease.

• Remember to vaccinate young pigs and keep the vaccination schedule.

•  Remove the needle teeth as soon as they begin to develop before they harden.

•  Select the pigs you want to use for future breeding and place them in the next pigsty. Castrate those you want to fatten because they are still young when they can absorb pain and heal quickly.

The key is that you plan a study program that will fit your resources. Don’t exceed your budget so you don’t lose money in the end.

Why Your Pigs Can’t Get Pregnant

If your pig is not breeding well or is producing a lot of littered piglets, it could be because of this;
 
 Poor breeding management leads to poor fertility. If the sow has too much fat, it will lead to low conception in the pig.

 A pig that is just experiencing its first heat cyclemay have a low conception.

 If you use a young boar, he will release premature sperm that will create a poor conception in your pig farm.

 Using one boar to breed more than 5 times per week causes him to be overworked and unable to properly mate with other sows. If the boar exceeds the sow, the weight of the boar will on the young sow.
Management and vaccination of commercial pigs farming
 
 In any breed, care must be taken throughout their growth to avoid any unhealthy conditions and diseases. 

Newborn piglets should be vaccinated against swine fever at 60 days of age.
Deworm your pigs regularly to prevent them from contracting worm infections that can lead to excessive weight loss.

 

Skin diseases are common in pigs. For treatment, contact your local veterinary office.

In case of disease, the pen must be cleaned and washed.

 As your pig population continues to grow, you will need to invest more in your pig farm to help you with the entire pig management process. 

Some common pig diseases.

Here are some diseases that affect pigs.

• Tetanus.

•  Bacterial infections 

•  Diarrhea.

•  Seizures.

• Dry, flaky and itching skin.

•  Pneumonia. 

• Constipation.

•  Infectious arthritis.

• Salmonella infection

 
There are many other diseases that can affect pigs, but these are just the most common ones.
 
Invite a veterinarian to come to your farm to diagnose and make prescriptions for the pigs. 

How to sell your pigs quickly for profit
 
The first step to a profitable pork business is to know your market. This is part of what is in a pig business plan.

 You should ask yourself this very important question before you start pig farming:
 
“What is the level of demand for pork in my area?
 
Ask yourself this question before buying your first pig, as some people have religious and cultural beliefs against eating pork. The answer to that question will help you decide what kind of pork you want to sell and which group of buyers to target.
 
Once your pig reaches a marketable weight, you can sell it to abattoirs and pig dealers. 

If you have the resources, you can process pigs and sell them on the international market. There are companies looking for pigs for different products, you can become a supplier. The shopping opportunities are endless.
 
Commercial pig farming does not require too much marketing as pork has great demand worldwide. 

Conclusion

Pig farming is a lucrative business, but success requires proper guidance.
 
Be sure to seek advice from the nearest pig breeder to guide you in this endeavor.

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