How to Raise Multiple Pigs in a Farm

If you have a large garden, it probably has a lot of organic matter left over that you don't know what to do with. One solution is to raise pigs and let them eat the leftover materials as a supplement to their corn. It's not a complicated process to raise fat hogs. Once the pigs reach 200 to 220 pounds or more, take them to a butcher shop. Then you can enjoy the meat you produced on your farm. A fattened hog produces around 24 pounds of ham, 35 pounds of shoulder cuts and a variety of other cuts of meat.

Things You'll Need

  • Small shed
  • Water mister
  • Fencing material
  • Feed
  • Food trough
  • Water
  • Water trough
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Instructions

    • 1

      Prepare a covered area, such as a shed, for the pigs to sleep in. All they need during winter months is something that protects them from the wind. In the summer, they need at least 15 to 20 square feet of shade per animal because they don't have an effective way of cooling off. When it gets hot and humid, provide a water mister to help keep the animals cool. Another option is to dampen the ground for them.

    • 2

      Build fences to keep the pigs in a contained area. Keep at least one board or wire close to the ground. Pigs dig, so consider installing barbed wire along the bottom of the fence to help keep the pigs inside their pen.

    • 3

      Purchase young pigs, or feeder pigs, from a local farmer or at a sale barn. Select long, lean pigs, since these tend to produce the most tenderloins, pork chops and bacon. Avoid buying the smallest pigs in the litter, or runts, because they never seem to do well. Pick neutered males, or barrows, as they tend to grow slightly faster than females, or gilts. Pick gilts if you want to start your own herd. Combine sexes if you prefer. Have the pigs delivered to their new home.

    • 4

      Set out feed for the feeder pigs daily. Use a trough to avoid waste. Give the pigs the amount of pig food recommended by the manufacturer. Their feed typically consists of ground corn, protein and minerals that help them grow at an optimum rate. Supplement their food with leftover soft food scraps from the house and garden, but do not feed them any bones.

    • 5

      Give each pig 3 gallons of water daily. In hot weather, they will need more. Water them in smaller amounts at different times of the day if they splash and waste too much water.

    • 6

      Clean the manure from the pig's pen regularly to help keep the pigs healthy and to keep the odor down. Put the manure in a location where it can decompose. When it's like fine dirt in a couple years, recycle it as fertilizer.

    • 7

      Keep the pigs current on immunizations. Schedule a visit from a veterinarian, or give the shots yourself. If the pigs quit eating, call the vet.