Can anyone tell me how to raise pigs?

Question

i'm starting with a three-month old female pig.

do you have a scale for how much a pig eats what when it gets to a certain weight?

like this:

5kl pig - 10 kilos of pebbles a month.

10kl pig - 30 kilos of pebbles a month.

20kl pig - 70 kilos of pebbles a month.

or the pig could be measured by month.

can anyone help me, please?

i would sure appreciate it, thanks!

Answer 1

Raising a few pigs at home can be a rewarding family or 4-H youth project. To begin, you will want to

purchase feeder pigs as weaned piglets at six to eight weeks old. They are raised to market weight, 200-

250 pounds, at about 6 months of age. Look for healthy pigs with a smooth hair coat, pink skin color and

alertness. Feeder pigs should weigh about 40 pounds at purchase. Buy either females or castrated males.

There are many breeds and crossbreeds of pigs. Each breed has its own characteristics. Historically pigs

were bred for either lard or bacon production. Modern breeds focus on a long lean carcass with a high

proportion of lean muscle to fat. When choosing your feeder pig, select one that is larger than its litter

mates. These larger pigs tend to do better than the smaller ‘runts.’

Housing

Before you bring a pig home, have a place prepared to house it. Pigs need protection from the elements.

In warm weather they need a place that is dry and protected from the sun. In cold weather pigs also need

a dry place that is protected from the cold and wind. Size the pen to accommodate the pig as it grows.

Pigs need enough space to move comfortably. Young pigs weighing 50 pounds need at least four to six

square feet per pig. When they have reached market weight of 200-250 pounds, they need 10-12 square

feet of space each. (For more information on swine housing, please refer to the UNH Cooperative

Extension fact sheet Housing and Space Guidelines for Livestock.)

You may keep pigs outside during warm weather. Fencing for pigs is an important consideration. You

may use a permanent, ‘hog-tight’ woven wire fence with a board around the bottom to discourage

digging, or you may use temporary moveable electric fencing systems if you train the pigs to it. A

moveable fencing system allows you to use the pigs to clear and work a piece of land; they will get some

of their feed from ‘pasture,’ it will keep the pig pen from becoming muddy and reduce odors. If you keep

pigs outside, be sure to provide protection from the sun. Pigs have sweat glands on their snouts only and

will sunburn and overheat quickly.

Whatever housing and fence system you use, make sure it is pig tight. Pigs are very intelligent animals,

if there is a weak point in the pen, they will find it and they will get out. Catching pigs is not an easy

task, especially right before you leave for work in the morning!

Water

A pig will drink two to four gallons of water a day. Make sure to keep clean, fresh water available at all

times. Although there are many types of mechanical and automatic waterers available, you can simply

provide a tub of water. Check and clean your watering system regularly, especially during warm weather.

If you provide a water tub, secure it firmly as pigs will root under it and spill the contents.

Pigs are very susceptible to the stress caused by changing location, being transported and leaving their

litter mates. Try to limit the stress by planning ahead. To reduce stress for your new pigs, try to give them

the feed they are used to from their previous home for a few weeks. Introduce new feeds by gradually

mixing them in with the customary feed until the pigs adjust.

A well cared-for pig should gain a pound to a pound-and-a-half per day. Young, growing pigs need a well

balanced diet that will supply the right amount of protein, energy, vitamins and minerals. The younger

the pig, the higher percentage protein is required. As the pig grows it requires less protein. Matching the

diet to needs is important for healthy efficient growth. Premixed feeds are available that provide for the

needs of pigs at various stages of growth. These include Starter, Grower and Finisher feeds. While you

can blend your own grains for pig feed, you may not find it profitable, since it requires detailed

knowledge of ration balancing.

Some people feed table scraps, garden waste and other food waste to pigs. While this can help defray

feed costs, you may still need to include premixed feeds to make sure you meet the nutritional needs of

your pig. If you choose to feed food waste to pigs, never feed them raw meat. Raw meat may carry

disease organisms that could affect you and your pig. Federal law requires any food wastes containing

meat scraps (even cooked meat) must be cooked following specific guidelines, before it can be fed to

pigs, or it will be illegal to sell the meat.

Health

Internal parasites, such as roundworms, must be controlled for the pig to grow and perform at its best.

Young pigs are usually de-wormed about one week after weaning and twice more at 30-day intervals. It

is important to read and follow the directions on the de-wormer label. Don’t de-worm too close to

market date because medication residues may remain in the meat. The package label will contain

specific instructions in this matter. If you have questions or concerns consult your veterinarian.

You can control external parasites such as mange mites and lice with applications of approved pesticides

and by maintaining a clean environment. Proper nutrition, sanitation, housing and management can

prevent diseases that affect pigs. Preventative vaccines are also available; consult your veterinarian to

establish a herd health program.

Management

Pigs will stay clean if you let them. They will designate an area for eating, sleeping and elimination of

waste. If they are housed inside, provide a raised-bed area for loafing and a space free of bedding to be

used for waste. In an outside pen, the pig will establish its own preferences.

Remove manure from the pen daily and keep the pen dry to reduce odors. Consider your neighbors when

planning the location of your housing and manure storage areas. Keeping the manure storage area dry

helps to reduce odors. Consider covering the manure to keep out rain. Composted pig manure makes an

excellent addition to garden soils.

Market

Pigs are ready for slaughter when they reach a weight of 200-250 pounds. Keeping pigs beyond this

weight decreases efficiency (as it takes more feed per pound of gain) and increases the fat-to lean ratio. It

takes five to seven months for a pig to reach market weight

Answer 2

It depends on what you're raising them for. If you're wanting to eventually butcher, then three pigs will usually eat about 150lb of food every three to five days, and it may increase, but you'll want to keep food constantly available so that they'll gain weight steadily. To keep them lean, you'll need to make sure they have some space to move around. Not too much, since you don't want the meat to get stringy.

If you're NOT planning to butcher, then you'll want to be sure you monitor their food intake. It may still be about 50lb a day per pig, but just make sure they're eating all of whatever you're giving them and that they're not just eating on it all day. Continue with having enough space for them to move around.

Answer 3

feed it food scapes also... i dont know about the scale thing sorry