Whether you plan to raise pigs to sell their meat, or as pets, you must know how to raise and care for them. Pigs are valuable animals for their meat and fertilizer. The advent of the organic eating movement has made consumers more concerned about where the meat comes from, and many of them prefer to buy from small, local producers rather than buying from large agricultural companies. Scroll down to see step 1 and learn about the process of raising pigs.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Building a Cage for Your Pigs
Step 1. Build a pigsty
Pigs need a dry cage, a safe place to live that will protect them from the weather and give them enough wiggle room to move around. Some people claim that an adult pig takes up only 6 square meters of space. However, to make pigs truly healthy, you must give each pig 15 square meters of space. When planning to build a pigsty, remember that it is better if the pigpen is twice as long as it is wide.
- When planning, keep in mind that pigs tend to like being near their water sources. Because of this, you should plan to place the water source at the end of the cage, away from food and places for them to sleep.
- If you have an empty barn, you might consider raising your pigs in a barn. Just keep in mind that you have to transport the fertilizer they produce from the warehouse.
Step 2. Install a sturdy wire fence around the pigsty
Use a "strong" webbing fence with planks at the bottom to prevent hogs from digging. The best way to build your fence is to map out the area where you will be building your pighouse and then build a sturdy wooden fence around the area. When your fence is finished, attach 4x2 welded wire to the inside of the fence so that if a pig pushes against the fence, it will stay strong.
A movable electric fence is a great option for pigs that will be used for grazing on other parts of the farm or field, and the pigs will be herded in and out of the pen
Step 3. Provide a protective roof over some of the pigsty
Pigs can get sunburned if they don't get protection from direct sunlight in hot weather. In cold weather, pigs will seek shelter from cold air and wind. The best arrangement is three-sided, with a roof that can be placed inside the fence area. Many pig breeders recommend that you provide your pigs with an additional shelter of at least 4.5 – 6 square meters. The roof need not be higher than 1.2 meters.
- Remember to leave open space on the roof so that hot air can escape from the cage during the hottest month of the year.
- One way to protect your pigs from the heat is to put a cloth covering over the pen to block out the sun.
- When the weather is cold, you should put hay in the pig's shelter. That way, the smaller pigs can warm up there.
Step 4. Consider providing a mud puddle
That's right – pigs love mud. Pigs find it difficult to regulate their body temperature, and when they are exposed to high temperatures, mud puddles look like swimming pools to your pigs. To make a mud puddle, take a section of the pigsty. You can build a fence in the lower section or a trough to keep the mud in only one section. Work the soil where the mud puddle is and then add water to the area once or twice a day (maybe more if you live in an area with a hot climate).
- Apply a layer of sand at the bottom of the puddle the first time it is created.
- Apply new mud if needed.
- Pay attention, keep this puddle clean because it is often used as a place to defecate by pigs.
- Do not put pig feed in the puddle. Just fill it with water and to reduce the risk of nuisance by flies and animal disease, do not place feed there.
- Mud also helps reduce the pig's risk of fleas, allowing them to dig (digging down – something they really enjoy) and keeping their skin in good condition.
- Pigs can be stressed when exposed to heat and this can trigger a heart attack. If you don't provide a puddle for the pigs, try using a small pool so the pigs can cool off.
Step 5. Figure out what you are going to do with all the fertilizer you have
A 45-kilogram pig can produce 0.7 kilograms of fertilizer in a day. You can use this fertilizer to fertilize your plants. You might consider selling fertilizer to local farmers or gardeners who may not have a supply of fertilizer available yet.
Step 6. Control fly nuisance
A common problem faced in raising pigs is fly nuisance. After cleaning the pig, cover the urine container with a thin layer of garden lime. You can buy this chalk in bulk from a garden supply store and use a coffee can to spread it over the soiled area. The lime will remove the smell of pig urine as well as kill fly eggs. If you use pig manure for yard manure, apply this lime to the manure pile as well.
- Garden chalk is commonly used to mark lines on football fields so it is safe for humans and pets. In fact, this lime is the main ingredient in Sweet PDZ products used to deodorize horse stables.
- If you can't find chalk, you can use gypsum. Only, the smell will not be the same.
Part 2 of 2: Raising Pigs
Step 1. Consider when to buy a pig
Pigs grow very well in size when the weather is warm (ideal temperature 15 – 21 celsius). If possible, start raising your pigs at the beginning of the dry season or the end of the rainy season – this way, when your piglets grow, they will be in their best condition. As surprising as it may sound, piglets weighing 22.5 kilograms, if given food and water consistently, they can grow to a weight of 113 kilograms (market weight) in about 100 days. This topic talks about accelerated growth.
Step 2. Buy a pig
Whether you plan to raise pigs to sell their meat, or as pets, you should choose healthy pigs from good breeders. Unless you have extra cash, you should focus on finding a pig farm in your area that sells piglets. When looking for baby babies, avoid buying piglets that appear to be scratching or coughing. If you notice 20% or more of the pigs on the farm and they look sick, you should consider buying pigs elsewhere.
Keep in mind if you go to a pig show where many breeders sell their pigs, the pigs are likely to be stressed. They will be more susceptible to disease
Step 3. Provide enough water for the pigs
Pigs drink a lot of water. On average, they consume 7.5 to 15 liters of water a day. Drive the tub into the ground to hold it firmly and fill the tub with clean water throughout the day. If you just put the tub on the ground, it's more likely that the pigs will drop the tub and play with the tub.
Buckets are good enough to use, but need to be filled constantly in the dry season, as well as tubs. On the other hand, there are several choices of tubs that are quite inexpensive and have a drain to the water source and use a floating system to regulate the water
Step 4. Choose good feed for pigs
As you might have guessed, pigs eat a lot of food. In general, you should plan to use mixed foods to ensure your pig has a balanced diet. A piglet weighing 22.5 kilograms should be fed a diet with a composition of 16% protein, while a pig weighing 57 kilograms requires a protein mixture with a composition of 14%. However, there are some breeders who prefer to provide protein with a composition of 16%. The weight of the pig should increase by 0.5 kilograms a day.
Step 5. Feed the leftover food to the pig
Pigs are often referred to as living trash bins – which is quite an accurate statement. However, still provide feed as their main food and provide leftovers as complementary food. You can give the pigs fruit, vegetables, leftover meat, leftover grass from the garden, and even rotten eggs. Make sure you don't feed your pigs just leftovers.
- Keep in mind that things that are toxic to humans (such as rhubarb leaves or some berries) are also toxic to pigs. You should avoid feeding raw potatoes and meat, as these two foods are toxic and contain bacteria that are not good for pigs.
- Some professional hog breeders think the best way to feed your pigs is to boil the 'human' food you want to feed your pigs. Doing this will protect your pigs from any bad bacteria that might be in the food.
Step 6. Help the pig fight internal parasites
Pigs have a tendency to acquire internal parasites because they like to be in mud and dirt all day long. Ask the vet in your area to prescribe a deworming medication for your pig that will kill the worms in the pig. It is recommended to deworm your pig every four to six weeks.
Step 7. Sell pigs to earn money
If you plan to sell pigs, you should do so when your pigs are fully grown and weigh 90 to 115 pounds. When the pig is ready for sale, the pig will be rewarded according to its size and health condition. Take pigs to farm animal auctions or to individual buyers and shops in your area. Make an appointment with a slaughterhouse in your area.
Step 8. Remember, pigs can be dangerous too
A 50 kg pig can hit you hard. The bite is also not to be taken lightly. Set up a wide board to guide the pigs back into the pen and protect themselves in case of problems.
- This board is usually rectangular with a size of 75 x 120 cm with handles on the top and sides. They are usually inexpensive and available at feed stores and online stores.
- You can also make these boards yourself from sheets of wood of the same size and attach the handles.
Tips
- Do not buy a pig that is too young, the pig must remain with the sow for 6 weeks.
- An approved pesticide can be used in pigs to control fleas and mites.
- Remember to always check the safety of the pig fence periodically. Pigs are smart animals and they will dig naturally. They will notice a weakness in the fence and will flee from the cage if the opportunity arises.
