Procedures for Raising Pigs

Pig farming serves as a means for producing meat to feed your family and sell for additional income. You need to follow breeding and feeding procedures from birth to butcher shop to raise healthy animals and meat suitable for consumption. Following proper procedures also reduces deaths and the spread of diseases on your pig farm. Healthy pigs grow faster, meaning they are ready for the family table or the market in a short time.

  1. Know Pig Breeds

    • Pigs are divided into two basic categories -- maternal and carcass breeds. Maternal breeds include pigs that are good reproducers, have healthy litters and produce a high quantity of milk to feed their litters. "Guide to Raising Healthy Pigs," published by the University of Wisconsin -- Extension, says Yorkshire, Landrace, Chester White and Tamworth pigs make good maternal breeders. Carcass breeds consist of pigs that produce quality meat for sale and consumption. Look for breeds that are tender, durable and have lean muscle, such as Hampshire, Duroc, Berkshire, Poland China and spotted pigs.

    Build a Shelter

    • Pigs need a clean shelter that is big enough to accommodate the estimated size of your farm. Free-range pigs that graze on grass, roots and plants need a strong enclosure, either made of wire or electrical fencing. "How to Raise Healthy Pigs," published in Mother Earth News magazine, says two-stranded electrical fences should have a 6- to 8-inch bottom cable and a second line 8 inches above it. A wooden wall also keeps your pigs in the yard. Digging a trench and filling it with rocks, logs or concrete prevents pigs from digging out. Pigs also need an indoor waterproof shelter with soft bedding and a concrete flooring.

    Feeding and Sanitation

    • Pigs that eat plant-based diets and exercise outdoors are less fatty and more muscled than pigs that eat a high-carbohydrate diet of corn and grain, says "Countryside &Small Stock Journal." Vegetarian diets, though, do not give pigs a well-balanced diet, so consider creating bulky meals containing fruit and vegetable, milk, meat scraps, rotten eggs and plants. Pigs have strong digestive systems, so pour it all in a clean trough at the same time. Health pigs need at least three gallons of water a day. To keep pigs healthy, clean the water and food troughs to prevent rodent and insect infestations.

    Disease Prevention

    • Pigs, especially the young, are disease prone and need regular medical attention to thrive. They become infected with roundworms, so check their waste regularly for the parasites that cause diarrhea and affect their internal organs, including the heart, lungs and intestines. "Raising Healthy Pigs," published by the Iowa State University Iowa Pork Industry Center, says you should deworm pigs at least once a month, by adding medicine to either their food or water. Take pigs to the veterinarian regularly and ask for information about disease prevention. Veterinarians also help when there is an outbreak. Isolate sick pigs from healthy ones to prevent contamination.