6 Things You Need To Know About Raising Pigs
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Raising pigs isn’t often a vocation that most people think of when they’re in school, but it’s a wonderful move that could see your farmland being worked over in a way that machines just cannot do. Rescuing and raising healthy pigs may not be something that you’re used to, but it’s something that is going to keep the farm that you run going. Pigs, intelligent and charming creatures that they are, have the ability to prevent you from ever having any food waste. Being able to raise and sell pigs can keep your farm in business and keep the pigs well-fed.
Being prepared for your first group of pigs is important if you hope to raise them properly and if you have children, it’s a great way to teach them to raise livestock. People love to visit farms, so if you have pigs on the land you can allow them to visit and see new piglets, interact with your pigs and encourage them to use the farm shop, further expanding your farm income. Below we’ve got six things that you need to remember before you raise pigs on your farm so that you can have the best experience possible.
Fencing. Even free-range pigs need their boundaries, so investing in good fencing that is sturdy is important. Pigs are gentle animals, but they are strong, too! You’ll need to add in some electrical fencing while you’re at it, as pigs naturally go forward rather than backward and your fencing will have some wear otherwise. Teach the pigs you bring home very early not to go near the electric fencing; they’re intelligent and will learn quickly.
Shelter. Like any animal, pigs need somewhere to sleep and be away from the elements. Shelters don’t have to be massively expensive, it should face away from wind and you should fill it with straw for them to sleep in. Pigs will keep their shelter very clean, which may come as a surprise!
Food. When you purchase food, try to get more than one supplier quotation. That is, unless you choose to grow your own food for the pigs to eat. They need protein and a balanced amount of nutrients and vitamins to be healthy, so you need to keep in mind this list of things that pigs will eat.
Water. Pigs need to have fresh water troughs out all day and you have to be vigilant as pigs do enjoy tipping their troughs over! Think about how often you are able to change the water through the day – dirty snouts and fresh water don’t mix – and then explore your water options.
Space. Pigs aren’t animals that were born to be cooped up and kept in cages. They need space to roam, dig and root around for food. They’re brilliant at keeping land healthy as they naturally dig up the pasture and keep it healthy. It’ll save you a job!
Wallow. Pigs need an area to wallow and cool down so make sure that they have a large pool or puddle to splash about in. You can use children’s paddling pools if you don’t want to dig into the fields.
Raising pigs for sale is great for your bottom line. As you will be able to control what they eat and what drugs or chemicals go into them, you can sell healthy pigs and you can ensure that those that you rescue are well-kept for the rest of their lives.
