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.)
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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.
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.
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.
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?
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 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.