Pig Farming for Beginners

Starting a small pig farm can be rewarding and profitable when done with planning and attention to animal welfare. This introductory guide covers the essentials a beginner needs: housing, nutrition, breeding basics, and sanitation practices to promote healthy growth. Read on for practical tips you can apply on a small-scale or hobby farm.

1. Housing: Comfort, Safety, and Space

Good housing keeps pigs healthy and productive. Consider these points when designing or modifying a pig shelter:

• Space: Provide at least 1.5 to 2.5 square meters per grower pig; sows and boars need more space, especially during pregnancy and lactation.
• Flooring: Use slatted or well-drained floors to keep bedding dry. For newborn piglets, a solid bed with straw or mats helps maintain warmth.
• Temperature: Piglets need warmth (30–32°C/86–90°F at birth) while growers and adults prefer cooler conditions (18–22°C/64–72°F). Provide heat lamps or pads for young piglets and good ventilation for older animals.
• Ventilation: Ensure steady air exchange without drafts at pig level. Good ventilation reduces respiratory disease and controls humidity.
• Fencing and pens: Secure fencing and strong pens prevent escapes and protect pigs from predators and theft.

2. Nutrition: Feed and Water Fundamentals

Nutrition is the cornerstone of growth and reproduction. Pigs require balanced diets formulated for their life stage.

• Water: Clean water must be available at all times. A pig’s water intake is roughly 2–5 liters per day for piglets and up to 20+ liters for lactating sows, depending on climate and feed.
• Feed stages: Starter feeds for piglets (high protein, energy, and digestibility), grower feeds for young pigs, and finisher feeds for market weight. Sows and boars need maintenance and gestation/lactation rations.
• Ingredients: Typical rations include corn, soybean meal, minerals, vitamins, and sometimes supplemental fats or byproducts. Protein and amino acid balance (lysine) is critical for growth.
• Feeding management: Feed twice daily or use controlled ad libitum systems. Avoid overfeeding pregnant sows early in gestation; increase feed during lactation.
• Supplementation: Provide a mineral block or premix to prevent deficiencies. Consult local feed guides or a livestock nutritionist to formulate balanced rations.

3. Breeding Basics: Selecting Stock and Managing Reproduction

Whether using natural mating or artificial insemination (AI), understanding reproduction improves herd genetics and productivity.

• Selecting breeders: Choose animals with sound conformation, good temperament, and disease-free status. Select sows for maternal traits and boars for growth and carcass traits.
• Estrus detection: Sows come into heat every 18–24 days. Signs include restlessness, swollen vulva, and standing reflex when mounted. Record cycles for timely breeding.
• Mating: Natural mating is straightforward for small farms. For AI, work with a technician or learn proper timing and semen handling to improve genetic choices.
• Gestation and farrowing: Gestation is ~114 days. Provide a quiet, clean farrowing crate or pen with warm bedding for piglets. Monitor sows closely at farrowing for complications.
• Weaning: Piglets are typically weaned between 3–6 weeks. Gradual weaning with good nutrition and sanitation reduces stress and illness.

4. Sanitation and Biosecurity Practices

Sanitation prevents disease and protects herd productivity. Implement simple routines and biosecurity measures:

• Cleaning schedule: Remove manure daily, clean feeders and drinkers routinely, and deep-clean pens between groups. Replace bedding as needed.
• Disinfection: After cleaning, use an effective disinfectant on floors, walls, and equipment. Allow proper contact time as per product instructions.
• Manure management: Compost or store manure away from pens and water sources. Properly managed manure reduces fly and parasite problems.
• Quarantine: Isolate new or returning animals for at least 2–4 weeks and monitor for signs of disease before mixing with the herd.
• Visitor control: Limit farm visitors, require clean footwear, and provide handwashing stations. Have designated tools and clothing for pig areas.
• Rodent and pest control: Secure feed storage, set traps, and maintain cleanliness to reduce disease vectors.

5. Health, Records, and Practical Tips

Maintain a basic herd health program: scheduled vaccinations and deworming based on local risks, regular inspections for lameness, cough, diarrhea, and appetite changes. Keep clear records of births, breeding dates, weight gains, treatments, and feed usage. This data helps you make management decisions and track profitability.

Start small, learn from local extension services or experienced producers, and build protocols that match your climate and market. With careful attention to housing, nutrition, breeding, and sanitation, beginners can raise healthy pigs and develop a successful operation.

Further resources: consult a local veterinarian for vaccination schedules and region-specific guidance, and review extension publications for local feed formulations and disease prevention.