Swine
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Getting Started
- Articles
Raising Small Groups of Pigs
Beginners in personal meat production and homesteading may be interested in raising swine. - Articles
Swine Production
While the trend in the swine industry continues towards larger farms, opportunities remain to make money by raising hogs in a part-time enterprise.
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Across the United States, there are more than 60,000 pork producers. Pigs have been playing a vital role in our food chain for hundreds of years, however, for managers of modern piggery farming enterprises there comes a unique set of challenges. There are a wide variety of ways to raise pigs, from free-roaming hogs farms to intensive commercial pig industry units. Whatever method you choose, the aim should be to do it in a safe, humane, environmentally sustainable, and profitable way.
Swine Industry Insights and Resources
The swine industry in America is huge and very competitive. More than 60,000 pork producers contribute in a substantial way to the economy of every state, including Pennsylvania. Annually, more than 115 million hogs are raised ready for market, and the income produced from modern piggery farming contributes $39 billion to the country’s GDP.
As well as managers and owners of pig farms, the industry supports an additional 550,000 people and provides jobs ranging from processors and producers, through to transport, and retail businesses.
The pork produced by the industry isn’t just for the US market. The exports of pork and pork-related products amount to more than 2.2 million metric tons every year. That’s more than one-quarter of US production.
In Pennsylvania, there are more than 2,700 independent pork producers. The vast majority of pig farms have less than 25 animals, but overall, the total number of sows and pigs is more than 320,000.
Whether you’re new to the industry or an experienced pig farming manager, there’s always something new to learn. Penn State Extension can help you learn more about best practices relating to swine production and management, provide advice on raising pigs, and managing pig farms. Armed with the best information, you’ll be able to run your farm in an environmentally sustainable, safe, humane, and profitable way.
Types of Pig Farms
So, you want to raise hogs? One of the first decisions you have to make is the type of pig farm you want to manage. There is a range of options including:
- Farrow-to-Finish
- Farrow-to-Nursery
- Farrow-to-Wean
- Wean-to-Finish
- Finishing
Swine production is mostly undertaken on larger farms, but there are still plenty of small producers, and countless opportunities to make money raising hogs on a part-time basis. There are lots of things to consider for any would-be pig farmer, including nutrition and feeding, pig health and care, reproduction and genetics, and how you can ensure the best quality of the end product. Make use of Penn State Extension resources to guide you in all the important decisions.
