Pigs are entertaining animals. I’ve had regular meat pigs and pot bellied pigs in the past and both are fun to raise. I’ll have to admit, the pot bellied pigs were a lot easier to raise, since they didn’t have to be kept in a pen. The larger pigs were all sows that each gave birth to 10 to 13 babies. Whether you are looking to raise pigs as a food source or for pets, here are 7 tips on caring for pigs.
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Even pigs being raised for food have feelings. They enjoy being scratched behind the ears and petted. It does make butchering time a bit harder though. My family raised three little pigs for meat one year. Mom named them all (big mistake) and would spend a lot of time with them. She took them the kitchen scraps, made them warm oatmeal on cold winter mornings, and basically spoiled those things rotten. The meat was tenderer than any of the other pigs we raised. None of the latter batches of pigs got the physical attention that these little guys did, so I’m convinced that had something to do with it.
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Pigs are all for rooting around to see what they can find. They can easily root up the ground and loosen fence posts, causing the fence to fall down. We lived in an area with rocky soil, so the pigs could only root down so far before they’d come to a slab of rock. If you live in an area where the soil is free of rocks, then you might want to consider reinforcing the pen with cinder blocks or railroad ties along the outside of the fence. Both of these items are heavy enough that you should be able to keep your pigs from escaping. It’s still good to keep an eye on them and check the perimeter of the pen from time to time.
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Milk is a favorite of pigs. You can also give them yogurt and cottage cheese too. Most dairy products help them maintain a good level of internal parasites that will prevent them from being ill. This doesn’t mean that they won’t ever get sick. There really isn’t any way to guarantee this 100 percent. Pigs don’t have to be given dairy products every day, but at least 2 or 3 times a week is plenty.
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Corn, barley, and wheat are the most common grains included in pig feed. Pigs can get all the nutrients necessary for a healthy diet in their pig feed. It’s best to offer them a combination of grains, instead of feeding them just one type. Grains are an excellent source of carbohydrates and pigs need these to thrive. Any leftover veggie scraps you have will also be greatly enjoyed by the pigs. They really aren’t very picky at all!
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Wallowing in the mud is a common occurrence in the summertime. Pigs don’t have sweat glands, so they roll around in the mud to keep cool. This doesn’t mean they enjoy having their entire pen turned into a muddy pit. They are generally clean animals, but they will roll in the mud to cool down on a hot day. Have a designated part of the pen for the mud pit. This will allow them to use it when they need to cool off and the rest of their pen can be kept looking nice.
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A pig house needs to be made out of sturdy material. Steel is commonly used to make a pig shelter. This is a durable material and it can be bent into a rounded dwelling that pigs can easily get in and out of. If you try to build something out of thin particle board or some other flimsy material, chances are the pig will knock it down and mangle it. They don’t mean to tear up the place. Pigs will rub on their house and try to root under it, so make sure it is heavy enough to withstand a lot of pushing from a large pig.
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Having a clean face when eating isn’t always possible and pigs will inevitably get food scraps in their water too. The water may need to be cleaned out more than once a day, especially if the pigs are able to get their entire body into the water trough. It’s best to have the trough high enough that pigs can reach over the edge for a drink, but not climb into the trough itself.
These 7 tips on caring for pigs are basic techniques that can be used whether you are raising 1 or 20 pigs. I hope you get the chance to raise a little pig sometime or can at least help someone with taking care of a pig. They are a lot of fun! Are there any additional care tips you would like to add? Do you think raising pigs is something you might like to do for many years?
Top Photo Credit: Bigbird3