We like to raise our pigs out in the barn yard. They can root around in the grass, splash about in the spring mud and tuck themselves out of the mid-day sun under the shelter we built just for them.
Raising Pigs on Pasture
When pigs are young, fencing isn’t much of a challenge – they stay where the food is! Even in an unfenced pasture as long as some conditions have been met first. Yes, that’s right, pigs can be raised on the pasture…as long as food and water is accessible to them, they are fully weaned, they have a litter mate or barnyard friends, they won’t wander.
A friend down the road lets her pigs run with the cows. Unbelievably these young pigs stay close to the herd and even take themselves back to the barn every night. Of course you wouldn’t want a couple of 300+ pound pigs running wild on your acreage, but when they’re young little can go wrong with letting your pigs live a natural life.
On the other side of the fence, are those who raise pigs strictly in the barn. Below you’ll find an article by Harvey Saul. Harvey has been raising pigs for a few decades and outlines his experience for us below.
Raising Pigs in a Barn
Some advantages are:
- You are able to collect more fertilizer.
- You can control what they eat. It is easier to keep them clean(er).
- There is little to no problem with disease.
- They don’t tear up your yard or smell as bad.
- It doesn’t take much space to raise pigs.
I have used this method of raising pigs for about 8 years. I find it to be a good method and would like to share it with you.
The pig barn I prefer is made of mostly concrete. A sloping concrete floor is essential for ease of cleaning. It needs to drain to one corner with a grated drainage pipe. This allows all liquids to drain away. Hosing out the barn the most efficient method of cleaning.
The construction should include a bed area and a feed area. The bed area should be at least 5 feet wide by 5 feet deep and separate from the feed area, with an access door.
The feed area should be 10 feet wide by 10 feet deep to accommodate 2 pigs. The feed area should have a feed trough, a good watering system and a hose connection. The bottom 4 feet of the walls should be constructed using heavy materials, such as concrete or 2" thick wood with no gaps. (Pigs will chew on wood and it may need to be repaired or replaced occasionally.)
Buying Pigs to Raise
It’s preferable to purchase wiener pigs from a breeder. However there are many places to purchase pigs – auctions, classified ads, etc. If you can find several breeders in your area.
Ensure the pigs you buy have been immunized and don’t be afraid to ask the breeder questions about the different breeds of pigs, disease. Take a look at the breeder’s facilities and their breeding stock. If the animals and the facilities just don’t look healthy avoid that breeder.
It’s a good idea to gain some knowledge of the different breeds and behaviors of pigs.
Make sure there is a vet in your area that is familiar with pigs.
Feeding Pigs
Although pigs are generally friendly and affectionate creatures, they can get rather aggressive when they are overly hungry. If your pigs aren’t hungry they won’t try to eat you.
I recommend feeding a natural grain that doesn’t have a lot of additives. When finding the right grain for your pigs ask your breeders what they feed and where to get it. Too high of protein can cause problems with a pig’s internal organs.
Feeding A Pig at A Trough You Can Make Yourself
To build a feed trough I prefer to use three 2" x 12" x 4′ boards. Cut one in half for the end pieces. Use screws to attach the other two together to make a ‘V’ then attach your end pieces at each end. Use two short pieces of 2" x 4" and attach them at the top to divide the trough into thirds. This will keep the pigs from rooting the food from one end of the trough to the other.
Cleaning the Pig Pen
Cleaning the pen should be done at feeding time and on a daily basis. Feeding them first will keep them occupied which makes cleaning easier.
Use straw for bedding and change it regularly.
Fresh water is important to the pig’s health in the heat of summer pigs like to be sprayed down with a hose. Spraying the pen down will help them keep cool as well.
Waste Removal
A bin outside the barn collects the solid waste. I prefer a concrete bin with three sides and a removable front. For this a piece of plywood or slats can be used.
The bin should be approximately 5′ wide by 5′ deep by 4′ tall. An awning over the top of the bin will help control moisture and prevent leeching of nutrients while composting.
Spending Time with Your Pigs
Pigs are very smart and like a lot of attention. When feeding and cleaning the pen take the time to give them some attention. Be in control of them, but be gentle with your pigs.
Raising pigs is good for children as well. Pigs like children because children play and give lots of attention. It’s important to make sure children are supervised when in the pigpen, pigs are clumsy and can knock a child down and step on them.
It is best to introduce your whole family to your pigs at a young age. Like all animals they are uncomfortable with strangers.
Butchering Pigs
I like to butcher my pigs at about 220 lbs.
Here’s an efficient way of obtaining your pig’s weight. This is best done at feed time, however a pig’s head needs to be up to get the best measurement.
- Measure the pigs heart girth (HG) right behind the front legs.
- Measure between the ears to the base of the tail (L).
- Multiply the heart girth measurement (HG) times itself, then multiply that times the length measurement (L).
- Now, divide that sum by 400. This is your approximate live weight.
The weigh formula is HG X HG X L/ 400 = WEIGHT.
If the pig is under 150 lbs., add seven pounds. If the pig is over 400 lbs. subtract 10 lbs for every 25 lbs.
Measuring and weight calculation should be done periodically to best estimate butchering time.
You’ll probably need to schedule butchering in advance with your local butcher shop. As you schedule the removal of your pigs you might also contact your breeder for replacement pigs.
can u put water on the pigs back or spine i heard that diricly on the back could give them a stroke
Hi Brenda:
My first thought is “why would you want to do that?”
My second thought is “it all depends how hot the air and cold the water…”
If you turn a sprinkler on by a pig, and they want to cool down, they will go into the spray and wet grass of their own accord. If you turn a hose on they will do the same – in and out of the spray. But I’m not sure why you’d want to put water directly on their backs. And I can’t say for certain if water on their back might cause a stroke – I’m sure it’s shocking when the outside temps reach 100 degrees or more – same as it would be for you and I.
As a rule, pigs don’t like being in the rain for extended periods – they will hunt out some form of cover. They do love to roll in water though – water that is a similar temperature than the air around it.
Hope that helps.
Laura
I work on New Dawn pig farm in Thailand. Here we hose the pigs down before they are sold. Each day we hose the pigs to clean them and to keep them cool. We can accommodate up to 2800 pigs.
Number of stroke deaths = 0.
yes you can put water on pigs when hot
Hi there, I have a black piggy!
She is a character and a half, she loves bananas which is weird, sleeps next to my bed at night and gets a bath at least twice a week…
My question is, is a pig more dirty than a dog… my brother and i have a never ending debate about this…
How much food should i be giving my full grown pigs?
Lee Ann: That depends completely on how old they are, whether you are keeping them for breeding, if you’re finishing them off for the freezer soon, and how much they currently weigh. Also of consideration is whether you are keeping them on pasture or in a pen.
Cheers, Laura
For most normal-sized breeds (such as British Saddleback, Berkshire, Tamworth) the feed is worked out by age. One pound per day per month old – to a maximum of 6 lbs per day. This will be different for a breeding sow, but it’s a good general rule-of-thumb.
I work on New Dawn Pig Farm, near Bangkok, Thailand. Pigs will eat 2½ times their body weight gain. So if you give them 2.5 lb of feed they’ll gain 1 lb. Give them all the food they want with access to water. They will not overfeed.
you should give a full grown pig 4 to 7 in a half pounds of feed per day which depends on the pig if she to thin give her more or to thick give her less you dont want her to be to overweight especially if you are useing her to breeding.
What determines slaughter time, weight or age, or both. what would the age and/or weight be?
Slaughter them whenever you want. You could go for anything from a suckling pig (pre-weaned) to a fat old baconer. It depends what you want to use the meat for. Generally I slaughter my British Saddlebacks when they reach just over 60 kgs (which is around 5 months old).
Lori most people butcher hogs at 220 to 250 pounds. They consider this prime weight for a hog. Hope this helps. Leon
ya we got pig farm of 600 pigs just go off there weight you want them to be about 230-280 so they are tenter if you get them over that 300 they will not as good.
I have a Kune Kune, at present she is in the stable, due to farrow, but is normally on grass, i feed her scrap everything except meat, but fruit veg, boiled potatoes, however being as she is in and due to farrow anytime, how much feed in wieght should she have or how many cups of nuts she seems starving, but obviously greedy, regards Annette
You should give her twice a day of feed depending on her size once early in the morning like at 6 or 7in the morning. you should give her about 4 to 8 pounds of feed but if she is about to have the babys only give her 4pound not to much you dont want her to full while haveing birth.
Suprebly illuminating data here, thanks!
4 to 8 pounds is kind of much for a Kune Kune twice a day. An adult should only have about 3 to 4 pounds a day. Kunes are known for being more of a grazing pig than a rooting pig. So, give her plenty of grass and hay to eat on if you have it. The fall is the best time of year, my mini pigs and big meat pigs eat mostly nothing but acorns. They just love them. Kunes dont require as much protein, since they are mostly kept for pets.
she is about a 72 inch waist a big girl who looks more like a glouster old spot at the moment
nice blog…. can you estimate how much supplemental feed/grain it would take to raise a pig to slaughter? 200 to 300 or so, is that ballpark or too low? im just wondering how much the grain would cost per pig…thanks
Thinking of raising 2-3 piglets to hog wt on a combo of mini barn and pasture. What size of pasture would I need to keep them happy and well fed.
Goats and cattle = OK , Pigs and goat?,chickens? cow? or are they best with other pigs only?
What breed of big pig is perfect for raising to slaughter? Is there a difference between boar and pig?
Can you make the pen out of 1in. to 1 1/8in plywood? Or even smaller? Another thing is my land lord doesn’t want us to get pigs because he says they are distructive. What do I say to that?
They’re not destructive if they’re on concrete (though their urine will eventually eat through it, but it’ll take a few years!). If you put them on earth, they’ll dig it over with impressive speed, removing anything that’s growing there.
As for the timber – I’d go with the recommended thickness, pigs are really strong!
Patrick, I am not the smartest guy in the world but if pig urine will eat concrete I don’t think these commercial hog producers would build their facilities costing hundreds of thousands of dollars with concrete floors! But anyway pigs can be destructive if they can get where they are not supposed to be. There is a lot of questions here, 1- is this an indoor pen, 2- are you raising pets-butcher hogs-farrowing pigs, etc. 3-how much land do you own…and so on.
Pigs can be destructive just by their sheer force and power. Not necessarily trying to be, but they get BIG quickly. More importantly though, you really need to respect your landlord’s wishes. It is their property that they have purchased with their money. If you go against it, guess what happens when you try and rent next time…
ok im getting a couple pigs soon and i want to know what kind of pig should i get? and i want to sell it for money.and what kind of food should i give it i live on a beef cattle farm so will cattle feed work ? and big question do you think pig will get along with goats? plzz answer back id realy appreciate it thank you
OK – a few questions there, Ryan. This is my take:
1. Type of pig is entirely up to you, though the market for ‘rare breeds’ is good at the moment and they command a high price. Rare breeds include Tamworth, Oxford Sandy & Black, British Saddleback, Berkshire and the like.
2. Pigs thrive on pig food, and they don’t eat that much of it (1lb per day per month old up to 6lb per day max). Your cattle feed supplier should have pig feed, and it comes in at around £7.50 per 20Kg. Giving them cattle feed may present problems due to protein imbalances etc. – it certainly wouldn’t be as cost effective.
3. I keep goats and pigs and generally they get along marvellously. Pigs and horses, however, is different, and they tend to hate each other!
HULLO
I HAVE JUST STARTED THE BUSINESS OF REARING PIGS. AN SO FAR TWO OF THEM HAVE JUST GIVEN BIRTH. WHAT I WANT TO ASK IS THAT, HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO FEED THE NEWLY BORN BABIES AND DO MOTHERS EAT THE PIGGLETS WHEN THEY ARE JUST BORN. TELL ME ABOUT THE DISEASES WHICH ATTACK THE PIGS AND THEIR PREVENTION PLUS THE TREATMENT TO BE GIVEN TO THE PIGS. HOW OFTEN AM I SUPPOSED TO CLEAN THEIR HOUSE. CAN YOU SEND ME THE PICTURES OF HOW A PIG STRUCTURE SHOULD LOOK LIKE AND HOW CAN I MARKET MY BUSINESS. IF I WANT SUPPORT FROM WELL WISHERS, HOW DO I GET THEM. THANKS. I AWAIT YOUR RESPONSE. RITA FROM JINJA (UGANDA) EAST AFRICA.
How do you tell a feeder pig from a potbellied pig when they are small. went to auction and think I got stuck with 3 potbelly
I am a first year 4h attende and i was wondering what type of pig to get
Me and a friend have the run of two acres. We’d like to keep pigs for home and profit, i’d like to know how many to a pen, how many to a pig hut, what food should we feed them (i’ve been told pig nuts), but we also have plenty of waste veg from a veg supplier. Any other help would be greatly taken on board, thankyou Adrian and Jonathan
If the pigs are young gills you should only have about 15 to 18 in a pen and you should feed them corn feed with nutrients but if they are babys well they can eat anything with oates make sure it flaky not hard ,there is also a new hrydration drink for them .Its like Gatorade, but its a Gatorade for pigs of course.
why are pigs known to eat everything but cassava or its derivatives?
Pigs LOVE cassava. PUT raw it is high in cyanide so you should peel it (pigs wont eat the peel) and soak it in water for at least 15 minutes. Or Boil it PIGS LOVE BOILED CASSAVA and it adds weight fast. Plus cassava is cheap feed. I use it as a noon snack for my pigs.
I’d appreciate some feedback. ‘ve been using sawdust as bedding but it disappears quickly. Are the sods eating it? It can’t be good for them. The have a good shelter where I’ve made a ‘bin’ for the bedding. Is straw or old hay useable? Also they insist on pooping and urinating in their bed. They (4 pigs) have unrstricted access to an outside run about 60 ft by 30 feet. How can I get them to stop fouling their bed?
Others may answer your question Phil, but for me, I’d never use sawdust for any animal. We use straw or wood shavings. Old hay is probably fine although I’d check it first for mold. I’ve never known pigs to foul their bedding but maybe they don’t see it at bedding when it is just sawdust. I might ask as well…how old are the pigs? Also, do they spend time outside or is there a concern over safety (predators, painful situations, excessive heat, etc.)?
Thanks, Laura! I gave them some good hay. Straw here is quite expensive but we make our own hay at .60 a bale. They still eat some of it but have quit fouling it so that’s a marked improvement. They’re 5 months old and have been nose-to-nose with bears and no fear, and they choose to be out most of the day. Water, food, and the bed are the inside attractions. They can choose sun or shade and they have a wallow as well. I appreciate your response.
Let me know the quantity of food necessary for pigs to grow so fast like here in my country Uganda.
Let my address be given to some farmers whom can relate with me to share about piggery.
For fast reply call me on + 256 752 183262 as I live in a far village where I can’t access internet so soon before traveling to town.
Thank you.
K Nelson Jagendas
+256 752 183262
What size area do you need for 2 pigs?
Teresa, this is a common question that I’m glad you asked.
Give your pigs as much room as you can and you will raise happier, healthier animals. If at all possible pasture them. When you consider that their lives are so short, but they give us so much in return, ample space is the least we can do for them. These are intelligent and social animals – meet their needs and the resulting meat is sweeter. Stress them out by not providing enough food, water or space and you’ll be unhappy with the results.
I’m guessing that you’re looking for a number that represents square footage. And, like most first time farmers, will be penning your pigs indoors? The minimal space a pig needs changes as he grows. He needs one area for bedding, one for feces and ample space between to turn around. The 40 lb piglet needs a lot less space than the 180 lb ready-for-market.
When I first started raising pigs (and before I learned to pasture them) I kept 3 pigs in a 600 ft, dirt-floor barn, covered only on one side from rain and snow. The pigs were happy enough, could run around and keep their toilet area well away from their sleeping area. They also had a little wallowing hole for the hottest days (I just filled it up with the garden hose in the afternoon for them.)
Hoping this answers your question. Feel free to ask for clarification.
Laura
Hello
My family and I are thinking about raising a few pigs this summer. Do Pigs get along with Chickens?
Thanks, your website is helpful!
I think it depends on the pig since chickens have no say in the matter when they come face to face. I have a friend who had a large boar who snapped them up if he got the chance. My pigs got loose in the chichen pen and I came home to find them romping like dogs and playing with the birds, no harm done. I have also had a few chickens get into the pigpen and found them sleeping on the pigs. Nice and warm! Same with horses. I’ve read that they hate each other but our horses often hang out with the porkers. A pig got out and “latched” on to a horse. All I had to do was lead the horse to the pigpen and in went the pig…
how much should a 1 month old piglet weigh?
what are the sicknesses involved with the raising of pigs that i should be aware of especially in the southern africa
Some more free range ideas and methods for raising pigs?
Is it ok to feed pigs food scraps including meat?
Hi, last year we had two pigs, one male and one female. The male would started urinating in the puddle that would form after it rained….didn’t think too much about it. This year we got two male pigs, they are still very small, about 40 pounds I would guess. From the beginning, both would pee in the puddle…now they are peeing in their drinking water as well. Not only does it smell HORRIBLE, we seem be done with the rainy weather and have moved on to the 90degrees and humid weather and I don’t know that they should be drinking water that they have urinated in! They are still #2ing (haha) in the corner they chose where when we brought them home. Anything I can do to deter their behavior?
I think you could try raising their water drinkers a little higher from the ground. Normally they wont pee in their water conciously. This should be able to work.
I am thinkinig of making a perforated iron floor for my new pen, in order to drain water and sieve the feces. What do you think about that?
I recently changed over to automatic watering. How can I be sure they are getting enough water? Are there specific signs of dehydration I should be looking for?
Just make sure there is always water available. If they run out they won’t eat. If pigs won’t eat you know you know you have a problem and if they all won’t eat it’s probably lack of water.
Hello,
I want to start raising pigs. I have never done this before. how can you help me?
I am in Ghana, Africa and need a copy of your book. I do I go about it?
Regards,
Herbert.
I’m in Ghana since october 2010 to run a pig farm. I found already a lt of info. In Tema a lot is available.
Last year we raised two pigs from wiener to 300 pounds. I really enjoyed it. I’d heard a lot of stories but none of them were true! They are really sweet animals. I think I’d like to try raising them and breeding next. When do the females come into heat? I’d really appreciate any ideas and advice on starting anew.
Thanks Shiera
I will like to get more info on pig rearing
You really dealt with the issues raised by many which is actually helpful to me but the issue of drugs to be administered was not.
Gbuyi: The reason why I don’t raise or discuss the issue of giving pigs drugs is because I do not condone it – drug residue can remain in the muscle of the pig for many months and that’s the last thing I want to ingest.
With that said we only buy healthy pigs from reputable breeders and then do our utmost to keep them that way through their time on the farm through clean living conditions, good food and lots of fresh water.
I have a problem with the overuse and abuse of medications and vaccinations of animals – even when they are FDA approved with a promise of a flush in 4 weeks or less. I think there is still a lot we don’t know about the chemicals, hormones and medications in commercially raised meat.
If you believe that your pigs are sick or in need of booster vaccinations I suggest a veterinary visit.
i have a question for how profitable are raising pigs and selling them. i know this has a big variable but i would like a example of breeding and selling cost versus the average income
I have two potbellied pigs that are grown up to about 150- 200 lbs. The one is a female and they bred. So in January I should have piglets. Let it be known, I chose these animals for eating. My thinking was that a smaller pig might be cheaper to feed, and safer to manage than a larger pig. Well I think I was wrong on the safety issue. The male pig gets REALLY uptight whenever I mess with the female, because she grunts and howls and gripes about everything. She’s just an old grouch. You can’t get her to move anywhere without a bunch of noise from her. So the male tries to bite whoever is in the pen messing with his woman. His behavior is getting worse. He is an excellent physical specimen, well rounded and not overfat and very healthy. I thought he would make a good sire for eating piglets. Now I am thinking if he tries to bite my leg or jump up on me and bite my chin again, I may butcher him myself and be done with it. Thoughts? Suggestions? I am afraid to get a full sized boar or sow because of this very same behavior.
Is there a way i can tell if my sow in in pig she is a big sow and supposed to giving birth now but no sign,, my daughter sugests I try a human pregnancy test on her urine do you think this will work many thanks, derek worc uk
Derek, Eric thinks the human pregnancy test may work in a pinch. Not knowing how human pregnancy tests work (is it hormonal or something else?) I couldn’t say for certain but it’s worth a try. Veterinarians can tell by a blood test, others have ultrasound machines used for goats – I suggest giving your local vet a call too.
I am confused about what to do with the waste. We have 3 pigs and my husband rakes it into a pile and then burries it in the ground. It is stinky! What is the least smelly and most efficient way to deal with waste removal?
Dear natali, what your husband is doing is right but you could even improve on it by constructing a relatively small concrete underground litter with a cover. You would then dispose the waste in it for a few days of farmentation before it is taken out and applied in a garden or plantation as organic manure. The advantage is that the smell would be covered off and the later-manure would be a cost-cutting resource in your garden. If you don’t have a garden you can add value to it and put on sale.
Would like to have more info on why the new born piglets lack of iron contain?
I am greatful for this website for it has got lots of valuable information regarding pig raring that I had all along sought. I am new in Pig raring but very determined to take it from scratch to a commercial level owing to the advantages. My most immediate challenge is the lack of immediate source of water which every farmer agrees is very useful on a farm and more so for pig raring. I would like to know how, with limited financial resource and storage facilities, I can provide my eight relatively-mature pigs with enough water.
I will soon be getting two baby pigs, and i dont know how much to feed them when they get here. Also, how often should i replace the straw in their sleeping area, aside from the daily cleaning of the pen?
This makes everything so completely painless.
About to start raisng a few pigs to sell for meat. I live in Venezuela, South America.
talking about pig feed with the locals here and I hear say that if you feed them chicken feed used to fatten broilers that pigs fatten quicker?
Also, by the more orthodox means, how long does it take to fatten a pig from birth to 220 lb (100 kg)?
thanks
Mais Fina es la mejor.
Fine ground Corn is good for fattening them.
(If you give them plenty of Kitchen Scraps, and Grass)
If you dont have Kitchen scraps, add Balanciado (Pellets) to the Corn, (Half and Half).
I dislike Pellets, because they often dont say whats in it.
To 100 KG it should take about 7-8 Months
depending on the Breed
Simon
(Raising 4 Pigs in Ecuador)
We are considering raising a pig for the freezer. Someone told us we need to get two piglets. Only one will not fatten up because it will be lonely. Sounds odd to me but i don’t know. No it wasn’t a breeder who told me this.
Thank You
I have never read supporting research to the theory of just having one pig resulting in a skinny adult pig but I do know the nature of the pig which makes me buy into that theory whole-heartedly. Pigs are very social and inquisitive beings. They have been tested and evaluated to have the intelligence of a four year old human child. Could you take all that social need plus intelligence – lock it into an enclosed space and expect it to thrive? I am sure some might, but I think most wouldn’t. Can a backyard farmer raise just one pig successfully? Probably, given the right pig and given that a lot of personal attention was given from the farmer – but when a farmer spends all that time with a pig the day of preparation for the freezer will be exceptionally difficult. (Trust me, it is difficult enough even when you don’t spend much time with them.)
The other day two of my young females, only at about 50-60 pounds, not yet mature, urined both at different times, they share a pen) and towards the end of the pee there was a whitish thick liquid/subsence that came out….It was not a parasite….and it was thicker in consistency than the urine but not a solid….any ideas?
both pigs are eating well, acting fine, showing no signs of being sick in any way.
I live in Venezuela, South America (tropics)
My family used to have a farm of pigs. We sold and butchered the pigs around the suggested times. We decided to discontinue our farm but kept one pig. Many years later the pig is now 7 years old and is well over 350lbs. What can we do with her?
Hi Yall, we just purchased 2 Chester White piglets (little cuties, they give us piggy kisses all the time lol) we named them Mork and Mindy, they are from different litters with different parents from different parts of the state (we are in AZ). We are raising them for breeders to help the local FFA and 4H as well as a couple for food. We have a couple questions, (we haven’t had pigs for about 14yrs now so we are relearning again lol) the gilt is 8wks old and the boar is 6wks old. OK back to the questions lol
, 1. On the back of Mindy’s ears and neck to on her back between the front legs are getting dry and cracking, we were wondering what we can put on her to help with this? 2. They havent been vacinated or dewormed, should I do this right away or wait till they are a bit older? And what should I use and should I vacinate (I know there are several opinions on this)? 3. We are feeding them pelleted hog feed, ground corn that we grind ourselves (by very very old hand mill) (we also soak it to make it more cost effective and to improve palability and digestibility) we also have a slop bucket in use and give them bermuda grass and alfalfa to chew on if they want via a horse style metal hay feeder, the question here is, is slop ok still to use for pigs along with the other foods we are giving? 4. The pin we have is 12′ x 20′ or so long, a 1/4 of the length is covered to get them out of the blistering heat and weather, its a dirt floor which makes cleaning pretty easy on us. The question here is the watering system, what do yall prefer to use? We atm have a metal crisper drawer we took out of one of the old non working refrigerators so they can reach the water atm, we were thinking a pig lick when they get older, would that be the best thing to use to keep water mess and freshness in check? Hope to hear from yall soon 
Sorry to be so long winded lol 
My little man is a brat. When are they to old to be cut?? He is still about 70 lbs.
Hello, we have new neighbors and they have pigs. The smell is horrible, there are flys all over my house and getting inside. We also have a well and am worried that their waste is going to get into the spring that we get our water from. What i was wondering is how far the pen should be from someone house and what I should do. Several other neighbors have said something to them but they won’t get rid of them or move them. I don’t want to be mean, but my kids can’t even play outside because it smells so bad. Please help with some info. Thanks.
Is it safe to feed pigs mixed beans ie. kidney,lima,pea etc. and/or linguines?
I have two pigs and they are always peeing and pooing in their water trough. We have to clean it constantly and it’s a total pain. Putting it up on blcoks wont’t solve anything because they can just drag it off. We can’t bolt it to the wall because of the way the building was built (long story and I’m not very god at explaining sorry). I have gone to farm supply stores and priced sturdier troughs that are higher, heavier and tip resistant but they are way out of our budget. Does anyone know of any way to discourage this behaviour? We’re just so sick of having to clean this all the time and it cna’t possibly be healthy for them to be drinking their own waste but we don’t know how to stop it…….so worried about them……
We can’t stop this type of behavior as I used to face this problem. Pigs like to play with the water trough but it doesn’t mean they like to drink every time, they drink at certain time they’re thirsty and Pigs drink more water after they eat, if I were you I would take out water trough out from the pen then put it away then put it back after they finish eating. We put the water trough in the pen whenever they wanted to drink the water or they will use the trough as the game.
Sam
I started to raise pigs in 2009. First I bought 16 fats then kept one as a sow gilter. Now I am raising both, the sows and fleshy fats. I am now raising 6 sows and plan to have more in the future. I feed my pigs 2 times a day. Below is pig’s food program:
1. The Gilter: Between 1-3 % of feed of her total weight. Ex. if she weighs 125kg, I give between 1.25kg 0r 2.5kg or 3.75kg of feed perday=62.5g/pertime or 1.25kg/pertime or 1.875kg/pertime depending on how fat or thin she is,
2. The sow : 2-3% of feed of its total weight perday depending on how fat and thin she is.
3. The market fats: between 4-5% of feed of their total weight then the healthy pigs will grow at least 0.5kg perday.
Good drinking water is very important for the pigs.
Cheers,
Sam
We are considering raising pigs. How do I know when they are ready to take to the butcher? How do I know where to take them to the butcher or to sell them? Where can I find this information?
What is the going price when I take them to sell them?
we have black pigs,and my husband would like to feed them on acorns we have tried to buy them but cant find a supplier? any ideas thank you
I am located in Southamerica subtropical area (Santa Cruz, Bolivia)
Now that feeds based on grains are so expensive, commercially, is it possible to raise pigs just on pasture ? If so, what is the expected weight gain on a typical breed ? What are the alternatives to grains (corn, etc.) ? Which pasture is the most recommended ?
Are 350lbs Breeding Boars worth Buying to Butcher?
Hi, we have pet pigs, they are normal pigs, but they are pets, one had piglets (managed to get to the boar) and we now have a problem with the 2 little male piglets, they are trying their luck with every sow in sight, we want to seperate them and keep them on their own but are scared they are going to fight if not castrated, of I give them away they will end up on the table, I don’t want more pigs and I don’t want the drama of boars fighting, we have enough problems with the father trying to get to his sisters. (The original 7 were orphans which we raised by hand, 1 boar, 6 sows). We also have a rescue pot belly pig, we think he may have been castrated as he has no testicles at all (definitely males though), he has a very potent musky smell.
My questions are, can we put the two uncastrated males together without them fighting? They are about 3-4 months old now.
Does a castrated male still have the potent musky smell?
Thanks tons
Dayle – South Africa
hi how can i get the book Raising pigs made easy?
I mite get a couple of pigs in march 2012. have the land just need shed for them. what should i do?
I’m looking to buy a pig, first time owner, could you guys tell me the advantages and disadvantages of a female pig, and vice versa
one person will tell you pigs are the best for commercial livestock and another day some one else says its the worst so which is which
So I have a pig thats not that big yet. I built his pig pen and he has straw, and some mud, but all of his straw has like water all over it.. Alot of water, He even shivered since the weather hasnt warmed yet, Is this ok?
My sow gave birth to 16 piglets on Sunday but as of today she still has not got on her feet. She is a first time mum and I am not sure if there is something wrong with her or not!
How long does a pig need to be casterated before butchering? I have a 75 pound hog given to me. It hasn’t been casterated yet.
Was give some uncooked bagel dough, can I feed it to my feeder pig? I have heard that you shouldn’t feed tomatoes to pigs, is that true?
How long does a grownup pig have? Is it a year or month? Reply by email is prefered.
I’m not sure what your question is about.
can i join my boar with his own off spring
^^ YES JAMES YOU CAN.
It’s not an ideal situation, and doing so can pull genetic variations on the breed of the offspring.
I have three 4 month old male mixed breed farm pigs. Happy in their large 60 ft by 50 foot pen. My neighbor wants me to raise one for her. Plenty of room but I’m not sure how the old ones will be towards it?. Can I do this?