Free range Pig Farming - Piglets are separated from Sows at river

Pig Farming - What you need to know before you start

 

 Strategic

1. Make sure you can finance all the expenses until your first pigs are ready to sell.
2. There are regional advantages to some farmers e.g. in Gauteng maize is plentiful and there is easy market access.
3. Do not farm with pigs in the swine fever area – this has market limitations and one could lose all your stock.
4. Ensure that you know which permits you need to have in your area.
5. New Farmers should fist visit two or three successful commercial farmers to obtain advice and join a study group in their area.

Marketing

1. Make sure there is someone who is going to buy your pigs and pay for them.
2. Decide which type of pig you are going to sell: (1) Weaners, (2) Porkers, or (3) Baconers
3. Consider starting farming by first buying weaners and growing them out to baconers (phase 1). If this is successful, move on to breeding. (In Europe, many farmers are specialist “growers”. They do no breeding).
4. Records are important.
5. Tattoos are compulsory.

Breeding

1. Decide what type of pig will suit your farm best.
2. Don’t buy other people’s problems.
3. Plan a programme that is going to fit your resources. This will include (1) Cash (2) Feed (3) Housing
4. Breeds to think about: Large White, SA Landrace, Duroc, Kolbrook

Housing

1. Pigs must be kept warm in winter and cool in summer. Basic protection against sun and cold does not have to be expensive.
2. You will need to choose: indoors or outdoors or both.
3. Well-insulated buildings should be erected; concrete floors are a must, for health and hygiene.
4. Effluent disposal must be planned, good drainage is needed. Contamination of streams or rivers is not allowed.
5. Remember: mothers and babies are special and need extra care

Welfare

1. Pigs in pens are entirely dependent on their care givers for all their needs.
2. Pigs must be protected against thirst, hunger, pain, fear, extreme heat and cold, and diseases.

Health and disease

Three common problems:

1. Malnutrition – food is too little, too watery, rotten or toxic
2. Scours (diarrhoea) in young pigs
3. Mange: itchy diseased skin – pigs of all ages

Biosecurity

1. Diseases are spread mainly by pigs, people, bad food, vehicles, workers. Control access to the pigs.
2. Protect your pigs with:

• pig-proof fence (good fences pay!)
• locked gate
• healthy replacement stock
• no speculators on site

3. Disinfection must be well done.
4. Transport vehicles must be clean.
5. Never feed swill from restaurants or harbours or food that contains animal tissues.
6. Use the help that is available from veterinarians, nutritionists, animal scientists.

Overview - Pigs

Many people think pigs like to be in dirty pens with only mud to stand in. Pigs roll in mud to protect themselves against the sun and extreme temperatures and against parasites such as flies. 

It is not necessary for pigs to have mud if they have shelter and their pens are kept clean to limit the number of flies and other parasites. 

This wrong idea may result in the pigs becoming sick because they are kept in unhealthy conditions. Pigs must always have clean, fresh water to drink. One pig needs at least 5 to 10 litres of water every day. 

When they are feeding young, sows need to drink more water because they have to produce milk. Pigs are single-stomach animals and require two or three meals a day. Divide the food into two portions; feed the pigs half in the morning and the rest in the evening. 

Do not feed your pigs only once a day because once they had their fill they will only play with the rest of the food, stand in it and soil it. This food is going to waste and the pigs will be left hungry. Do not only feed one vegetable (such as cabbage), because pigs need a varied diet to stay healthy. Even cutting grass (especially green grass) and feeding this in small quantities will help supplement the pigs’ diet. 

 It is important that small or weak pigs should be fed separately from the bigger ones, because these stronger pigs will eat all the food. If you have more than four adult pigs, then food should be divided into two containers, so that every animal can have a share. Many pigs are pink and when kept in the sun their skins turn red and get sunburn. 

Pigs do not have much hair on their bodies to protect them from the cold or insulate them against heat. Pigs suffer if they get too cold or too hot and should not be kept in too cold or hot conditions. Many pigs die from pneumonia if left in the cold, wind or rain. Pigs can also die from heatstroke after being left in the sun with no shelter or water. Even if the pigs do not die, they will not be as healthy and strong as they should be.

 Pigs must have a warm, dry sleeping area. Pigs must be able to lie in the shade out of the sun. Part of the pen must have a roof to provide enough shade for all the pigs. (Some experts advise that the whole pen be covered). If the roof is made of metal, it must be covered with grass or branches to keep it cool. 

It is important that the floor of the pen should slope so that excess water can run off allowing the pen to stay dry. 

If water does collect in the pen, it is important to dig a drainage furrow or ditch, leading out of the pen. Pigs always dung in the same place. Make sure that this mess is cleaned out at least twice a week, to lessen the risk of disease. Food and water containers must be cleaned thoroughly at least twice a week.