Pig Farming Business Ideas: How to Start a Piggery Business

Pig farming is a profitable business venture practiced by farmers around the world. They attract premium price and have several young during a breeding program.

The business is moderately challenging based on land and cost of stock. Pork is on high demand creating lots of opportunity for new entrepreneur. The capital needed to run the enterprise depends on the size of the farm.

The farmer faces lots of challenges such as pen maintenance, high feed cost and diseases.

Things Needed to Start the Enterprise

There are many considerations before starting a piggery business. The location of the pen is very important because you have to follow local government rules and regulations binding such enterprise.

Others consideration are veterinary services, feeding cost and maintenance. Although pigs are rugged they are prone to life threatening diseases.

Funding

The cost of landed property is high in every country and you need adequate space for your farm. The farm should have a number of pigpen, storage facility and administrative building.

You also have to register your business with the corporate affairs commission. Register your farm as a limited liability company.

Other things that require funding is buying the pigs and cost of feeding. To keep the pigs healthy they need comprehensive medical checks.

You can try target savings or borrow money from friends and family. If you have good credit and collateral approach a bank with your business plan.

Many countries encourage farming and have lots of aids and waivers. They also have agricultural banks that provide soft loans for farmers.

Location

The best location for your farm is far from urban dwelling and in designated area. The farm could be located in a farming environment. Find out government laws on the practice of pig farming in your area.

The land should be at least a few plots, fenced complete with piggery barn, and water source. Avoid lowland prone to perennial flooding especially during heavy rains.

Business Type

There are two types of pig farmers the ones that breed pigs for slaughter or run a breeding program. Some concentrate on only one sector while others merge them together.

Farmers that specifically grow pigs for slaughter have a weight benchmark before selling. Once your pigs attain a weight over 92 kg they have reached marketable size.

The average weight of piglets rage from 10kg-23kg and price depends on the country, specie and breeder.

Growth Rate and Reproduction

What makes pig farming highly profitable is the rate of reproduction and growth rate. Pigs grow very fast and attain marketable size within five months.

They are also fast breeders giving birth to an average of 8-10 piglets. Despite the pigs dirty reputation they are actually clean creatures.

The reason why they love mud is to protect their delicate skin. Keep your pen clean and sanitary to prevent infectious diseases.

Building a Pigpen

Your pig farm is either free range or restricted in a pen. Placing them in a controlled environment is better than an open plan free range system.

Pens are usually built with blocks and a corrugated roof. Whatever building material you choose they should conform to the certain provisions.

The pen should be odor free and easily cleaned to reduce health related problems. Make the pen cost effective, user friendly with easy access.

Make it environmentally and community friendly to avoid sanctions and litigations. The designs you choose should protect both livestock and humans.

Construct the feeding trough opposite the wallowing pond a distance of 12 inches from sty wall. The wallow pond should be about a meter wide spanning the length of the sty.

Managing the Pigpen

To manage your pig pen provide lots of clean drinking water for your pigs. Feed them twice daily and follow a strict feeding guide. Regularly change the wallow pond everyday and properly maintain the rice hull bedding.

Construction Guidelines

Make sure your piggery has adequate sunlight and wind penetration. The sty bedding should be at least 1.5 square meters per pig.

Avoid areas with low water level and work on the pigs bedding.  Use organic material and place a 3 feet deep millet rice hull for the bedding. You can use bamboo as upper fencing and hollow concrete blocks for lower fencing.

Stocking your Farm

The number of piglets depends on your finance and size of your farm. You need to consider feeding cost, maintenance and healthcare.

Breeders need a few female pigs (gilts) and one or two male boars. For example if you have 4 gilts and 1boar and all 4 have 10 piglets you have 40 piglets within one year.

This is a simple example of the profit potential in pig farming.

Feeding the Pig

Hungry Pigs are rambunctious and noisy so they need adequate feeding. Feed them twice daily for fast growth and healthy pigs.

Buy readily made pig feed or prepare a feed concentrate. The feed concentrate should have a balanced diet for faster growth. Ingredients in your concentrate could have palm kennel cake, wheat bran and maize.

A good source for pig feed can be found at breweries in your area. Processed cassava and regular food waste is another option.

Marketing

You need effective marketing to reach customers with your product. Luckily pork is in high demand and getting your stock sold is easy.

Sell to individuals, butchers, hotels, fast food establishments and restaurants. You can place a classified advertisement in a national newspaper when the pigs are ready for sale.

Don’t forget to join livestock associations and organizations in your area.