Pork and other pig products represent 38% of all meat consumed globally. It gives Kenyans the opportunity to use this on-demand service and earn some money.
One of the challenges for pig producers is whether pig farming in Kenya is able.
Our reply is yes. Pork farming in Kenya is profitable if you are prepared to meet the obstacles of pig farming and raise your pigs at minimum cost to meet the market standards.
This post examines what has to be done to make pig farming in Kenya a worthwhile undertaking.
Pig farming benefits
The Chinese zodiac states that pigs signify happiness, wealth, and manhood. As much as you're not Chinese, pigs might also make you happy and fortunate. Many farmers have a solid income from pig farming, and I hope this essay may bring you closer to being one of them. Some advantages are;
Pigs have incredibly high efficiency in feed conversion. It is particularly critical if you don't have much fodder on your property. Pigs grow living weight from a specific feed weight more remarkable than the other animal.
Pigs may also ingest a wide range of local feed, including grains, drilling, and meat cooking waste, and transform it into proper nutritious meat.
Pigs are incredibly fertile, having a generation interval that is shorter than that of other animals. Two times a year, a sow can be farrowed. It is capable of farrowing up to 12 piglets each farrowing.
Pig farming is not a capital-intensive enterprise in terms of buildings and equipment. Using Locally-sourced materials saves money.
Pig dung is an excellent source of fertilizer for agricultural areas. Pig dung may be used to deter rats from attacking your crops. Additionally, pig excrement may be used as a free source of fish food.
Pig farming generates revenue more quickly than other animals such as cows. It is because it attains its marketable weight during a six- to the eight-month timeframe. Other cattle may take years to mature for the market.
Pork goods such as sausages, pork, and bacon are in high demand both domestically and internationally. You've probably seen the white smokie' vendors peddling pork items on nearly every estate. Pork products are also the primary ingredient in a large number of pet food items sold in stores.
Consider the following factors before beginning pig farming:
Before embarking on a successful pig farming endeavor, there are several factors to consider. Several of the issues I'll discuss here might make or break your investment. Ignoring some criteria may result in immeasurable time and financial losses. Several of these variables include the following:
Water Availability
Water availability is a primary consideration. Pigs consume between 10 and 50 liters of water each day. Any deficit will result in decreased output, sickness, and maybe death. You should ensure that your herd has an adequate water supply. I propose that the pigs have access to a three-day water reserve at all times. Water is also necessary for maintaining proper cleanliness and preventing the spread of disease.
Consumption
Because pigs are omnivores, you may combine their feeds with various foods to provide a balanced diet. The availability and price of such feed significantly impact the profit margins you plan to attain in your pig farming operation. If feasible, grow your fodder and practice feed mixing as much as possible, as ready-made pig mix feeds are reasonably expensive.
Accommodations
To house your pigs, you're going to need a sturdy built-in building. It would be best to separate the housing into pens of varying sizes to accommodate the pigs' developmental stages. Overcrowding in pig pens will result in losses owing to illnesses such as diarrhea that spread rapidly. Additionally, the sty should be easy to clean to ensure proper hygiene at all times.
Reproduction
Additionally, you can enter the pig business by establishing a breeding farm. However, if you are a rookie farmer, you should begin by raising little pigs to educate yourself about desired pig characteristics and the ins and outs of pig breeding. Additionally, you will require a significant amount of funds to begin your firm by purchasing very high-grade pigs and high-quality food.
Pig stalls
Housing is critical to your pigs' growth and development. Additionally, the placement of the sty is vital. The golden rule is that a happy pig is a healthy pig, which results in a happy farmer. Several variables to consider while choosing a site include the following:
Your pigsty should be at least 8-10 meters away from your house unless the sound of a bleating pig soothes your ears.
Elevation of the property is necessary to minimize flooding from rains.
Your chosen location should be nearby to an energy and water source, as well as conveniently accessible for manure collection.
Your sty may be made of wood or cement, depending on the available materials. While cement flooring may be simpler to maintain, it may be too chilly for more miniature piglets to stay. It may entail purchasing sawdust for the cubicles that will house the piglets. Additionally, it would be best if you considered the following:
Ventilation and enough shade are provided. It means that your pig's sty should be odorless and dry. Similarly, you would not want to live in an odiferous and moist environment.
The sty should be divided into different pens at each stage of the manufacturing process. It will assist you in reducing conflicts over food and water, resulting in happy pigs.
The sty should be oriented north-south to protect the pigs from adverse weather conditions such as intense sun and rain.
If you opt to construct with cement, ensure that the floor is not entirely smooth to prevent slipping. Additionally, it should be somewhat sloped to facilitate water cleansing.
check out for part 2 to learn and educate your self more on space requirements breeds and much more.