So you need a pig bed ? I ’d say you ’ve select sagely . Once referred to as “ mortgage lifters” to shin husbandman for their potential profitability , pigs are some impressive livestock . Today ’s small farmer can heighten a squealer tomarket system of weights ( usually about 300 pound ) without a onerous investment of time or resources before carry a freezer with a season ’s Charles Frederick Worth of protein . But you ca n’t head to the local feed ‘ n’seed to find fault a piglet off the shelf , and have it off what to take care for in a hog requires some educated provision .
What Do You Want From Pigs?
You make love you want a pig , but you should also make love what you require in a pig . For starters , how do you stand for to raise your new hog ? This very large question can be roughly repress to two locations : inside or alfresco .
If you have limited space but an useable barn ( for five or few pigs , you could get by with as niggling as 100 square metrical foot per anima ) you should shy by from breeds known for their forage abilities , as they like to wander in the open Dominicus and are good at turn tail enclosures . A shelter is absolutely necessary for most bloodless pig ( Large Whites , Landraces and the cornerstone of the porc industry , Yorkshires ) , which are prone to sunburn and sunstroke , and they need to escape the sun . ( Pigmented breeds are for the most part resistant to sunburn . )
On my farm , we like to let our pigs out topasture , whether a grassy area or in the woods to silvopasture , so I cotton to heritage stock known for their power to make the most of Mother Nature . I ’ve raised Large Blacks and a Gloucestershire Old Spots , but the primary breed on my crime syndicate farm is Berkshire ; these grunter have a high feed transition proportion , similar to industry hog , but are genetically disposed toward chew on eatage and frolicking in the Dominicus .
I do allow for twice - everyday rations , too , so pigs reach market place weight unit in around six month . Some Fannie Merritt Farmer like the challenge of raising a pig strictly on pasture , which can take two years and Acre of ley . If this is you , view Large Black or Gloucestershire Old Spots , pig with a slow growth that ’s challenge for a grocery store program but well - suited to full pasturing .
dissimilar stock yield dissimilar percentage of cuts , too . If you ’re in it for the Viscount St. Albans , avoid lard pigs such as Mangalitsas or Guinea hogs in favor of a Tamworth . If you ’re looking for pork chop shot and hams ? Consider a Berkshire .
Once you ’ve choose your breed , it ’s time to dog down a cop . Some hogs are sell on Craigslist , and you may often find a litter listed on the board of a farm - supply entrepot or in the classified section of some magazine and local newspaper . you’re able to also claver a local feed manufactory and ask the salesclerk whether any customers are sell pigs . If you live in or around an agrarian area , you may pronto find a hog ; determine the correct pig is a footling more ambitious .
First , view what ’s being sell and mensurate that against the metre commitment you ’re willing to commit . Most go for weaners , piglet that have recently switched from mamilla to feed , because they convey the least up - front cost . Weaners are loosely less than 8 weeks onetime , so the granger must commit to providing food and , look on weather weather condition , shelter for a number of months ( most pigs are farrowed in bound for a evenfall slaughter ) to raise the fauna to an ideal free weight .
you’re able to opt to buy quondam pig , called growers , for more money with the sympathy that the monetary value reflect less provender necessary for the residual of the animal ’s life . Or if you just require the beast for a few weeks , you could purchase a closer pig bed ; these cost well more , but feed prerequisite are minimal .
Also consider the farm you ’re purchasing from : Are animate being resurrect the fashion you want to evoke them ? Do they seem well cared for ? If you want to raise beast outdoors , it ’s a good idea to buy from a seller who pastures pigs ; such fauna are ideally adjust to your hope situation . Even weaner pig can carry a genetic predisposition inherited from previous generation .
Size Them Up
So you ’ve got a spark advance on a breeder raising the pigs you desire , and you ’re lead to check out the litter . How will you be intimate whether the grunter you ’re considering is worth the investing ?
Be aware of certain thing when you look at a specific pig bed ; a corking eye will serve you avoid fuss down the road . you may demand the trafficker about vaccinations and even require proof the vaccinations have been carried out , but it ’s good to sleep with a few vulgar signs of ailment . Some evidence will be obvious , such as astounding or labored external respiration , but others can be a bit sneakier .
look into behind the bull ’s ears and on its flanks ; if there are abscess there or , in reformist case , small , dark lesion on the face and/or legs , the fauna might put up from oleaginous pig disease , a Staphylococcus hyicus infection that can lead to death .
If a pig looks “ runty,” is breathing weird , impart a pelage of hair or has looseness ( which could mean other thing , none of them good ) , the animal might have insect . If you see large bugs crawl on the skin , that ’s probably lice . And check to see that manlike piggy are spay ; a first - time pig owner is not equip for this task .
Bring Home the Bacon
When you forget to check out a copper , be optimistic so you do n’t have to make a second trip-up . uncontaminating and set up life region , fix feed and body of water , and lend a livestock trailer . Raising a sloven is a thought-provoking adventure , and it ’s good to commence things right .
Recommended Reading on Pigs
I recommend Kelly Klober ’s Storey ’s Guide to Raising Pigs for a comprehensive priming on porcine purchases to aid you find that first pig . The 4th variant come out in December . Here ’s Klober ’s advice on choose feeder pigs . ( excerpt from Storey’sGuide to Raising Pigs , 4th Edition  © by Kelly Klober . Used with license from Storey Publishing . )
Here are a few guidelines to help you with feeder - pig selection :
