Start-up guide to pig rearing

Pigs are relatively small-sized animals with high reproductive potential and generation cycle.
They are omnivores and therefore can be fed on a large range of feeds. Pig rearing involves
about 6 different aspects: Housing and related infrastructure; feeds and methods of feeding, type
of breeds and breeding methods; healthcare and disease control measures; routine management
practices and marketing.

Housing: Before you construct a pig house, you need to have a careful study of your area to
make a good farm layout. Careful sitting of pigsties right from the start is important to avoid
future inconveniences from smell and drainage from pigsties. The house construction should take
care of adequate ventilation, space allowance per pig, heat reduction measures for adult pigs,
drainage and guard rails/crates in farrowing units.  The house should provide easily cleanable
floor, drinkers and feeders.
You should include physical disease control measures right from the time of house construction
such as water baths with disinfectants at the entrance of the pigsty, fence around the unit to
restrict unauthorized entrance into the pig units and limiting access of pigs to the drainage
channels. A waste management unit should be incorporated when constructing the house as pigs
excrete a lot of dung.

Feeding
Before introduction of pigs into the rearing system (pigsty), a farmer should mobilise large feed
reserves to ensure uninterrupted feeding of the animals so that the intended objective is achieved.
Feeding forms the largest cost of all inputs in raising pigs. Fortunately, they can survive on a
variety of feeds ranging from commercial feeds (very expensive option), root tubers to pastures
with quite good performance with optimum supplementation. While feeding, one should achieve
the basic nutrient requirements of the particular age group of the pig. Several feeds like maize
bran, broken maize, wheat bran, millet, rice bran, brewers waste, cassava meal, sweet potatoes,
vegetable culls, molasses, fruit culls, incubator waste, ruminants slaughter wastes, sugar cane
bagasse, bakery waste and forages are some of the feeds that can be found in Uganda. Other feed
sources include soybean meal, sunflower cakes, tree leaves and stems, palm kernel meal, meat
and bone scrapings, blood meal, fish meal, whey and mineral premixes.
However, be careful not to use feeds from contaminated sources where you may introduce a
disease like African Swine Fever into your herd. Also do not feed pigs with moldy feeds like
spoilt bakery wastes because they are toxic.

Breeds: Choose a breed that grows very fast and produces large litters (offspring) under
optimum management. You can get this information from local veterinarians or fellow farmers.
Popular breeds in Uganda include Landrace, Large white, Camborough, Berkshire and Durocs
all with their advantages and disadvantages. Keep a correct breeding ratio when practising
natural mating but artificial insemination is available in pigs though practised on small scale as
of now. Breeding males and females should be carefully selected and managed.

Healthcare and disease control:  Carry out regular deworming and parasite control on the skin.
Clean all drinkers and feeders regularly. Permanent concrete feeders without drainage on them
are quite difficult to clean when they become dirty. Consider options of movable wooden or
metallic feeders where necessary. Ensure that your pigsty is not readily accessible to any stranger
and scavenging pigs. Avoid feeds from restaurants that prepare pork/pork products for they may
contain pig infections. Common pig diseases around include African swine fever, Piglet
colibacillosis (cause of newborn diarrhea), Worms, Mange and some other suspected causes of
reproductive failures. Avoid African Swine fever by all means possible because it has no
effective treatment and no vaccine yet. Do not allow workers to bring pork products to your
farm, it’s the commonest recipe to African Swine Fever.

Routine management: Keep records on pig performance (numbers dead/living, various age

groups-starters, weaners, fatteners, pregnant sows, boars, lactating sows etc) of each pig/unit, all
expenditures and other relevant information. Daily care for pigs like feeding, hygiene and
handling should be followed strictly.

Marketing: You can procure piglets from various farms but ensure that you buy from a farm of
quality breeds. Some of the places where you can get good pig breeds is MUVA Farm. The farm
also sells pork and pigs for pork. One of the advantages of pigs is that their waste can be
converted into biogas for lighting, cooking and brooding chicks on the farm. You can start
selling the piglets at between 2-3 months. Pigs for pork are ready for slaughter at between 6-8
months of age. It’s of no much economic value to keep them longer than nine months when they
are intended for slaughter. Beyond this age, there is marginal return on investment. There is
marginal weight gain compared to the amount of feeds you give to the pigs. This is the right time
to sell the pigs. Global demand for pork is growing, which means piggery will be a lucrative
business in the coming years.

Pig Farming
Pigs can be raised in controlled or free environment, as a small- or large-scale business. But in
whatever size, a prospective farmer would need inputs as to how to raise pigs efficiently and in a
more productive manner.
Raising pigs can be pursued as a small-scale operation as source of family meat and supplement
income or it can be made into a large-scale operation.

Pigs may be raised in highly controlled environments (hog lots) indoor, in open spaces or barns
as breeding sows or grown and sold for slaughter to butcher shops. Here are the aspects of pig
raising that a grower must carefully consider: Choosing Piglets to Raise Pig feeders can be
obtained from stock breeders, and producers, in auctions and classified ads. Pigs are of different
breeds some of them are well suited for specific environments, indoor or outdoor. Crossbred pigs
tend to grow faster, consume feed more efficiently and are vigorous. When buying a feeder,
choose the large and healthy looking ones, at least 25 lbs. If you are choosing a male, which is
observed to grow slightly faster than females, get one that is already castrated. Male or female,
they are preferably immunized. Ask the breeder for health information and stock of the breeder.
Proper Nutrition for Pigs Pigs feed on both grains and meat. They can also be fed with cooked
table scraps and vegetables.

Corn is their most common food, but they could benefit from having a diet with protein from
soybeans or cooked meat. Further, they grow faster with vitamins and other supplements. Piglets
have higher protein requirements than mature ones. Feeds can be bought packaged and in bulk.
Pigs must also have adequate supply of drinking water daily, about two to four gallons. Provide
water either through a tub or automatic nipple waterer. Ideal Housing for Pigs Pigs need housing
to keep them warm during cold temperatures and to shelter them from excessive heat. Pigs are
sensitive to heat and could die from heat stress. When housed indoors, temperature conditions
must be well regulated. Controlled temperature conditions can help maximize growth. Cooling
mechanisms for pigs can come in the form of drip water system or a wallow (for a hog pen). Pigs
can be housed indoors in individual stalls, pens (in groups or batch) or in barns. Even if the pigs
are raised outdoors they would need a shelter during cold and hot weathers. The housing should
have a space for feeding and bedding. Pig Farm Sanitation Sanitation is important to keep the
pigs disease-free. A mechanism for easy cleaning and removal of waste is necessary for any type
of pig housing. Some use slotted pen floors to make waste collection easy. Hosing a barn and
removal of manure daily are recommended. So is keeping the floor dry to reduce odour. After
five to seven months, pigs are likely to reach ideal market weight of more than 200 lbs. They
could be sold at livestock auctions or slaughtered for meat.

FAQ
Q. Different breeds of pig for meat?

A. Berkshire, Duroc, Hampshire, Landrace and Pietrain are few of the breeds available in market
for farming.

Q. When to sell a pig, what is the best weight?

A. 175 to 260 pounds is the best weight of a pig to sell in the market.

Q. Best breed of pig for meat purpose?

A. Duroc is the best pig breed for meat.

Q. Feed requirements?

A. You can feed them vegetables, high protein grain diet and ground corn. You can feed the pigs
once or twice a day for maximum weight gain. Remember water is most important for pig as one
third of the pig body is made up of water.

Q. Which is the best breed pig for producing more piglets?

A. More likely Duroc is the best breed pig which produces more piglets.
9 reasons Pig Farming could be good
Business for you in Uganda
So why would you zero down on piggery and leave other domestic animals aside...?

Well, consider the points below so you can Know that you've made the right decision to start
planning a Pig Farming Business:

 The pig has a high feed conversion efficiency and as such produces more live weight gain
from a given weight of feed than any other class of meat producing animal, the big comes
second only to the Broiler Chicken
 The Pig is able to utilize a wide variety of food stuffs like Grains, forages, and converts
them into valuable nutritious meat. Feeding your pig on damaged grains and other leftovers
reduces the stress of buying food stuffs and concequently you will spend less or no money on
food, depending on the system you adopt.
 Pigs are comparatively very fertile having a short generation interval; a female pig/sow
reaches maturity as early as 8-9 months when she can start breeding. In one year your pig can
produce/farrow twice, producing 8-12 piglets each time.
 You will invest relatiely small on Buildings and farm equipment when starting your pig
Production Business.
 You will comparatively yeild more meat from a pig than other animals in terms of
dressing percentage; you could easily get 65-80 percent meat from a pig and yet with other
livestock your dressing yeild would not exceed 65 percent.
 Pork itself is a very nutritious meat with high fat and low water content, and has got
better energy value than that of other meats. The meat is rich in vitamins like thiamin, Niacin
and reboflavin. Your pig production business can thus be used to fight malnutrion a well.
 You can use the pig manure from your farm as a fertilizer for plants and fish ponds
 Pigs store fat rapidly for which there is an increasing demand from poultry feeds, soap,
paints and ther chemical industries.
 Your pig farming business could provide quick returns since you can achive the
Marketable weight of fattening pigs within a period of 6-8 months.
 As I mentioned earlier, there is currently good demand for Pig Farming products from
both the domestic and export markets.
Identify the good Pig breeds for your
commercial farm
Use this section to identify the breeds you will take to your commercial piggery unit.

Large white: You will identify this breed by its distinguished erect ears and slightly dished face.
The body is long with excellent hams and fine hair. This breed is very prolifc with good
mothering ability and can be used for pork and bacon production.

Landrace: You will identify this pig breed by its white colour, dropping ears and a straight
snout. Sows produce and rear litters of piglets with very good daily gain and high lean meat
content ideal for pork and bacon.

Duroc: You will identify this pig breed by its golden brown to black colour with a thick aubum
coat and hard skin. Ears are relatively small and slighly dropping. Traditionally the Durocs hae
been used as terminal sires, characterized by quick growth, deep body, broad ham, and shoulder.
The Duroc is good at looking after its young and as such is a good breed for outdoor piggery.
This pig breed is very suitable for anything from light pock to heavy pig production.

Hampshire: Developed in the USA and now one of the world's most important pig breeds.
Extensively used as the sire of cross bred pigs for pork and bacon production. A very prolific pig
breed. Produces lean meat in abundance and comparatively produces more meat than Large
White and Landrace breeds.

Combrough: Commonly imported from South Africa, grow fast , have considerably less fat and
the females are great mothers who don't lose their babies. They feed babies well and have
enough milk. Give birth to an average of 14 piglets , 3 times a year. Can be resistant to disease
when managed well.

And now you know which breed to ask for next time you go to buy pigglets for your farm!
So which Pig Farming System should you
deploy?
Depending on the amount of capital you can afford to invest on your pig farm; you will have to
choose one of these three (3) Pig farming systems.

Free range/scavenging pig keeping : a less extensive system that would provide your
household with an emergency fund to fall back to while supplying some little meat from time to
time. This is the system you will deploy with little investment of time and money.

Semi Intensive pig keeping: you will use this system when you want to keep your pigs in a
house and pay good attention to health and feeding. Production is higher and the pigs are also
marketed. This system is commonly used by medium scale pig farmers in Uganda.

Intensive pig keeping: you will deploy this system when you want to produce meat efficiently
for the market and for profit, usually in large numbers. You will have to invest significant time
and money and carefully calculate your costs and resulting benefits. Be ready to invest in modern
housing and on pig requirements for health and feeding.

Further to the above pig farming systems, you have to decide on a Pig Production System
strategy.

Farrow to Wean: here you keep a parent stock of pigs and which give birth to piglets. Once the
piglets are born, you rare them up to weaning and sell to growers and fatteners. You sell piglets
only.

Farrow to Finish: here you raise piglets , wean them, grow them and fatten them in one unit.
You sell pork, and live pigs to slaughter houses. Adopt this strategy if you have no market for
piglets in your locality.

Fattening: Here you do not keep any parents on your farm. You continuously buy piglets and
grow them for pork.
How to work around the business numbers
for your Piggery Unit
Just like any other business, you have to plan before you seek to start up your pig farm business.
Whereas today we have increasing markets and prices for pig and pig products, we're
increasingly facing high costs of production that could eat into your profits if we do not carefully
plan for these costs.

No matter what system of production you choose to adopt, commercial pig production is highly
profitable if proper husbandry is followed.

The following assumptions will help you project your business profitability as an average
farmer:

 a Piglet at 2 months, average weight 12Kg

 Pig Average Weight Gain (ADG) per day is 0.607Kg
 Breeding pigs are capable of producing 2 litters per year
 Based on a service/gestation/farrowing/weaning/recovery cycle of 183 Days, each female
pig could produce 20 piglets per year.
Factors that will affect your Pig Farm Profitability

Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR): or Feed Coversion Efficiency (FCE): is the measure of a pig's
efficiency in converting feed mass into increased body mass. Specifically, FCR is the mass of the
food eaten divided by the body mass gain, all over a specified period. Animal breeds with a low
FCR are considered efficient users of feed.

Average Daily Gain (ADG): is a significant factor in assesssing growth rates in most food
animal species. Your aim is that you keep a pig that grows faster so that you can achieve market
weights in shortest period of time using the least amount of input/cost so that you recieve the
highest profit. In pig production, the most cost-efficient feed conversion and the highest average
daily gain are the primary factors determing efficieny of production.

Health: poor health will up the feed conversion ratio and reduce the average daily gain. Diseases
like African Swine Fever (ASF) can wipe away all your pigs and cause a massive loss.

Genetics: The current market demands leaner carcases , so you should strive to produce leaner
pigs, animals with high growth rate, larger litter size, high heritability and low conversion ratio.
All these are directly influenced by genetics.
Reproduction: poor selection of the breeding stock and choice of a boar or artifical insaminate
will directly affect your pig farming business profits.

Market and price: the market for pigs and pork is wide but has no importance before you
identify your own market and the price it offers.

For the case of Uganda, pig production has become increasingly important; evidenced by the
change in pig population from 0.19 to 3.2 million. In 2011, Uganda had the highest per capita
consumption of pork in sub-saharan africa at 3.4kg/person/year.

We have many butchers, restaurants, hotels and supermarkets establishing today with pork on
their menu both in Urban and rural areas. Pork is a delicacy to many Ugandans and largely
considered a social meat that cannot miss on several parties organized by non- Muslim
communities. Pork joints have also become meeting places for groups of people who want to eat
meat. Unlike other meats, many pork consumers in Uganda prefer eating close to a kilogram of
pork each time they meat at a pork joint!

Costs: Items you will have to spend money on, when establishing your Pig Farming Business

Fixed Costs: you will incurr these before you start any production. They remain the same
irrespective of any production increases or decreases and include: Building costs,
Purchase/construction of feed troughs, Purchases or replacement of breeding stock, and Purchase
of land.

Variable Costs: costs that will change in proportion to your production levels including
Veterinary costs, stationary , transport , Maintenace of facilities, Marketing costs, wages and
salaries , and losses due to mortalities.

Income: The sources from which your business expects money to come from will also affect
your profits. Your Pig Farming Business could expect to make money from the sale of Weaners,
Porkers and baconers, cull boars and sows, breeding boars and sows ,as well as sale of Manure.

Profits: This is the difference between your costs and income. The costs should include labor
and any possible risk in your business. The most expensive input in pig production is feeds
because it consumes between 60 to 80% of the total production costs. You have to implement
strategies that will reduce the input costs in your business.