How To Raise A Backyard Pig

So you want to raise your own pig. Congratulations!

To see where you can buy your own pig, click here. If you follow a few proven tips outlined in this brochure, you should be rewarded with an excellent product.

Good management will bring you a good pig.

Prepare

As with any animal or any project the preparation is very important. In this instance preparing a good location for your pig to live and grow in is very important, prior to his arrival at your farm. The intent of this page is to provide you with instructions for housing, feeding and caring for your pig.

Housing

You and your pig will both enjoy this experience if attention is given to a couple of important items. House your pig close enough so you can keep an eye on him occasionally, but not so close that he becomes a nuisance. Pigs are very interesting animals to watch. If he is to be housed outside, provide shelter for him in one part of his pen. If you are bringing him home in cold weather (under 40°F) provide him with a heat lamp to keep him warm. Temperature of 55°F or above are suitable for your young pig under 50 pounds.

Since water is a necessity for all creatures, (maybe even more so for pigs because they use it to keep cool as well as drinking it) house your pig where there is clean fresh water available to him or easy for you to get to. Water he doesn't drink, he'll play in, dump, or maybe even stand in.

He'll need fresh water available since a pig drinks between two and five gallons daily. The pen should be kept dry so when considering the water supply, keep in mind that your pig should have a dry area to live in.

Provide straw, shavings or hay for bedding in an area where there are no drafts. His bed needs to be warm and dry. His shelter needs to provide him with protection from the rain and wind and the sun. Pigs overheat very easily since they don't sweat.

Purchase

Now that his house has been located and water has been supplied, you are ready to purchase your pig. You may want to consider purchasing two pigs (one for you and one for a friend or neighbor) since pigs are very social animals and enjoy having company. They also grow better! You can purchase a pig at the annual New Hampshire Pork Producers Council Swine Information Day and Auction or directly from one off the New Hampshire Pork Producers Council Members. They are a group dedicated to providing healthy, sound piglets as feeder pigs as well as other types of pigs such as breeding stock, market hogs and roasters. All producers listed on the Where Can You Buy Your Pig page certify that their herd has been tested by the government and found to be disease free.

Feed

Ask your producer what you pig has been eating and provide your pig with the same type of food to start him off with when you bring him home. Have feed and water in place in his pen when he arrives home to prevent stress and help him to settle in. If you have to use a different brand or type of feed, introduce it gradually to the food he is accustomed to until he adjusts. Feed him a starter ration until he is about 50 pounds, then give him pig and sow pellets until he reaches desired market weight, generally about 225 to 250 pounds live weight.

Keep feed available to him 24 house a day if possible. This makes him grow fast and lean. Plan on about 160 to 180 days of feeding, from birth to slaughter. Garden surplus may be fed, but continue to feed the full ration of prepared feed also. Beware of alternate feeds. They usually end up costing you more in time and effort than prepared feeds and don't always give the best results. Free is not always better!

Clean Up

If you clean the pen EVERY day your burden will be much less. It's easier to clean up a little than a lot. Your pig will remain clean if you let him. He will designate an area for eating, another area for sleeping and a third area for manuring, all on his own. If he is being raised in a barn, provide him with an area with no bedding and he'll use that area for manuring. If he is being raised outside, he'll arrange an area to his liking. Make sure his outside pen has good drainage so he'll be dry when necessary. He'll enjoy a mud puddle in hot weather to roll in, but not to live in.

Health

Worm your pig when you get him home and settled in and again in about 60 days. It is very important to follow directions on the package. Dust with appropriate pig dusting powder for external pests (lice) as needed when you see excessive scratching. Follow the directions on the container. If your pig is off his feed or listless or you suspect something is wrong, it is probably time to call a veterinarian.

Weighing

Measure the pig's length from the center of his ears [A] to his tail socket [B] with his head flat (not bent down eating).

Now measure the heart girth just behind the front legs [C]. Multiply the length in inches times the girth in inches squared and divide by 400.

L x G2 / 400

If the total is less than 150 pounds, subtract 7 pounds. If it is more than 400 pounds, subtract 10 pounds for every 25 pounds over 400. This will give you live weight. You may also use a pre-calibrated weight tape which eliminates having to do the math. These are available at most feed stores.

Slaughtering

Slaughter houses get very busy in the fall, so plan ahead. Call when you get your pig find out how far in advance you need to make an appointment.

Historically, slaughtering was done in the fall. Today, because refrigeration makes it possible to slaughter in warm weather and have fresh pork year round you can grow a winter pig and slaughter in the spring when the slaughter houses are less busy.

For More Information

You can email any questions you still might have to Info@NHPork.org and one of our members will assist you.