Many farmers view pig farming as a very lucrative business, which is why the industry has been around for many years. The markets are in high demand for pork and in order to win in that competition, one must be able to raise pigs in the proper way. This means that he or she must know what to feed the pigs, how to choose healthy and impressive pigs with outstanding qualities, and also how to breed these pigs for more livestock in the future.
For this article, tips on raising pigs for readers who are interested in becoming a pig farmer will be listed and discussed.
1. The first thing a farmer must have when raising pigs is a large housing space for boxes or pigsties. These pens must be spacious enough for the pigs and their future litter and must be maintained and cleaned at all times. Another important thing to remember is fencing, which should be secure enough to prevent pigs from wandering around the house alone. You can build these posts out of hog wire and secure them with fencing.
2. Next, you should be able to find good pig farmers who can provide you with complete pigs to raise and sell. If you are raising pigs for meat, you should choose breeders who are well known for their healthy and impressive selections of slaughter pigs. Take some time to browse through the yellow pages or visit your favorite local hog stores for referrals.
3. An important tip when raising pigs is to know when the sows are ready to mate with the boars. You will know if it is time to mate when the sows’ vulvas are swollen. This is an important indicator of fertility, so if you have gilts that are ready to mate, you can already inseminate them on their first day of fertility. Once you have older sows, you may need to start breeding the next day for the best chance of pregnancy.
4. Feeding is a very important part of raising pigs. Ideally, you should feed pigs at least twice a day, but depending on the breed of pig and the purpose of raising them, you may need to increase the number of feeding times to speed growth and weight gain. Always have a good supply of pig feed to keep your pigs healthy and fat.
