Hello I'm a college medical student in California, always had a Passion for animals looking into pig production what I really want to know is how to start and who can I talk to about making my own piggery, I want to start breeding but don't know exactly where to start. I want to raise the pigs from farrow until market size... Are there companies or business that help you out? Or how can I contact them I own about 12 acres of land in California to get started. Any responses with information is very much appreciated, thanks
If you are interested in breeding pigs, you might want to find out what the market is for supplying weaned piglets to farms or companies which specialise in raising weaners to market size. You will need to find out the availability and cost of good quality breeding stock, usually buying in F1 damline gilts, and terminal line boars, to give the best results both in fertility/mothering in the damline and growth/feed conversion/lean meat from the terminal line, this requiers purchasing new replacement stock, as opposed to breeding and raising your own. Another possibility would be to contract breed (or multiply) F1 breeding stock for an existing genetics company, see what is available in both options.
Good article about pig farming in california. Thanks for your help
I have started a second piggery and you might like to write to me for this reason. I do believe you need to make sure you have a market available to begin to market your pigs. You might have to get permission from your local county to set one up? You might have to put in plans etc. Learn a little about pig husbandry Learn a little about pig themselves and their likes and dislikes. You may want to show them also this enhances your sales. How to set up pens, outside or inside? How to make huts or sheds or get some one to build you one. Crates or no crates? Bedding? What to feed …..weaners, creep, growers, finishers, sows, lactating sows.? Whether to learn how to make up feed or buy it in complete? Who carts your pigs to market? and how far away? Growing pigs here or there, is the same the world over, so is farrowing, and growing, just there are a few differences…..
I understand most of what you have explained noni,thanks for the guiding...I have 25 sows in breeding right now I've been raising show hogs, for 4-H and FFA use I'm a small operation but I want to get into market. Who can I contact? Or where are markets around my area? Is there a website to locate markets in my area?...I need more info on the market...is there loans in such business so I can expand a lot sooner then expected?.... More information would be useful , thanks