Stage of production or growth Feed Cost: Bulk100# bags @ feed mill Feed Cost: Brand Name50# bags @ farm store Sow while nursing $170.80 $307.44 Sow during gestation $106.40 $191.52 Creep feed for piglets $10.00 each$100 for litter $18.00 each$180.00 for litter Feed after weaning $12.00 each$120 for litter $21.60 each$216.00 for litter Total: 10…
Nothing beats homegrown pork for flavor and peace of mind! Once that freezer is full, can be sure your family is going to eat well this year. Not to mention the cost savings when you raise your own pigs! Here’s the big question-what breed of pig to get? The best breed of pig for meat…
You’ve started raising a few feeder pigs and are well on your way to having a freezer full of the highest quality, wonderfully flavorful pork! Now, the big question: How do you know when those pigs are ready to butcher? Most pigs in the U.S. would be butchered at 250-300 pounds live weight or between…
Thinking of getting into raising your own piglets, but not sure of where to start? Let me help you with the basics. Breeding age pigs are called boar (male), sow (female that has given birth) and gilt (female that has not given birth). Farrowing (birth) happens 114 days after breeding. Raising your own piglets is…
Giving your sow or gilt (a female pig that has not been a mom yet) a happy life before she has her babies will be better for all, her, the babies and you. Pigs are very capable animals, if given the opportunity they will get what they need. Before a sow has babies she needs…
Expecting piglets is so exciting! The little guys are so cute and amazingly capable in the first few hours of life. The first few days are a critical period in the life of the sow and her new piglets, they bond with their mom and get off to a running start, or not! A sow…
What to feed your pigs? I’m sure you’ve run across many opinions, varying widely, of course! Just because the pig will eat it doesn’t mean it should eat it. So, what are your choices for your pig’s food? While pigs are biologically designed to eat a variety of foods, they grow best when the majority…
Interested in getting and raising some feeder pigs? Maybe you’d like a bit more clarity on what you are getting into here? There are some things you can influence (and some things you can’t do anything about) that determine how quickly your pigs get to market weight. You’ll want to know about both. Pigs will…
Heritage pork and heritage pig breeds are hot topics! Everyone is talking about heritage pork, but everyone seems to have their own definitions. The information is confusing, at best! Now to the big question, what exactly is heritage breed pork? Heritage breed pork is pork from a traditional breed of pigs. Actually, that definition looks pretty straight forward to me. A heritage breed is a…
Ready to get your first feeder pigs yet not really sure what to do? You came to the right place! I can help you with some of the basics so you can be more confident your new enterprise will start well. Feeder pigs can be purchased from a local small farmer, online ads or an…