How to Be a Pig Farmer

Becoming a pig farmer is an excellent way to provide additional income and meat for a family. While cattle can produce only one or two offspring per year, pigs can produce two litters, each containing up to 12 piglets. A new pig farmer will need the proper space to farm pigs and the financial means to get started. Ongoing overhead costs include: feed, supplements, vaccinations, lice and parasite sprays, veterinary fees and maintenance for building and fence repairs. Start with a few sows and a boar to experience being a pig farmer before going 'hog wild' and getting in over your head.

Things You'll Need

  • Pasture
  • Building with stalls
  • Starter sows and boars
  • Feed
  • Lice and parasite spray
  • Vaccination against erysipelas
  • Towels
  • Wire snips
  • Iodine
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Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase your first pigs. Research local pig farms to find one with a reputation for selling the most fertile boars and sows. Make sure to buy more sows than boars. Each boar can mate with 40 to 50 sows per year.

    • 2

      Give the boars access to the sows while in estrus. Sows are in heat for three days and show signs by displaying a swollen vulva or discharging blood-like mucus. For best results, mate the boar during the first day of heat and then 24 hours later. Boars can mate with as many as 40 pastured sows and 50 stalled sows.

    • 3

      Care for the sows during the 114 day gestation. Pregnant sows need special attention concerning their feeding schedule. Litter size can increase and the piglets' health can be improved by feeding the gestating sows different amounts at different times. Sows must be sprayed for lice and parasites two weeks before their scheduled birth. It is recommended to immunize against erysipelas. A few days before birthing, move the pregnant sows into a farrowing pen and wash their bodies with water and a towel.

    • 4

      Dry each newborn with a towel and distribute iodine over their belly buttons. Newborns often have an iron deficiency so make sure to supplement the piglets' nursing with iron and a high quality, high protein feed. Nip the tops off the piglets' sharp eight teeth with the wire snips. At around two weeks of age, castrate the male piglets not destined for breeding.

    • 5

      Decide what to do with each new litter. Pig farmers have many options once the piglets are born. Piglets can be sold, raised to be sold as adults, or raised for slaughtering. Mother sows can continue breeding new piglets or be replaced. Poor performing mothers with small and unhealthy litters may be butchered for meat.