A pig is a common and well-liked addition to a farm or ranch. They’re simple to tend, multiply rapidly, and provide delicious food. Among the first questions newcomers have is typically how much do piglets cost.
The price of a piglet ranges from $50 to $200, depending on its size and location. You can get a piglet for $100 right now in my area, but it is a more expensive place. However, my mom, who lives in another state, pays $50 for Amish piglets. A great and inexpensive method to begin raising your own meat is by purchasing piglets. The pigs can be raised in whatever manner you see fit.
The benefit is that you get to experience the fulfillment of rearing piglets to processing size in the manner of your choosing. In most cases, this is less expensive than purchasing pigs of butchering weight. However, you’ll have to put in additional effort and schedule butchering appointments to get the pigs slaughtered and the pork processed.
the cost of pigs is determined by supply and demand. The total cost of purchasing a pig will decrease if more of them are available in the area. Expect to pay a higher price for uncommon breeds or hybrids. A nice feeder pig at a show will cost you a lot more money since they are more likely to win awards.
Setting up slaughtering appointments far in advance at the processor is an essential part of pig farming. There is a waiting list of almost a year for some processors. Before purchasing a feeder piglet and raising it to butcher weight, it is advisable to schedule an appointment with a butcher.
There are two types of people who are looking for hogs. Some people have the time and resources to raise piglets from birth to eat them later or keep them as breeding animals. There are many who are only interested in the finished pig or the pork. The two options are not without their drawbacks.
A few options are available to you if you’re interested in getting a pig, and your decision will likely be influenced by your available resources (time to raise the pig, money to buy one).
In this article, we’ve included numerous videos that break down the various expenses you’ll incur while deciding whether or not it’s worthwhile to raise your own pigs for meat.
The intensity of Pig Farming
The cost of raising a pig for human consumption will rise as a result of all the hustle and bustle. If an animal is confined, it will be less active and hence will burn fewer calories. Animals with more mobility to run around won’t put on weight any faster. In addition to allowing people to work out, we should actively encourage them to do so.
Our pigs have a fantastic lifestyle, allowing them to range around in an area of approximately half an acre, and the meat we get from them is superb. It’s just big enough to be useful for clearing and doing stuff but not so big that people will pay obscene amounts to keep it fed.
Piglet (Feeder Pigs) FAQs
Just what is a feeder pig?
Piglets bred specifically for consumption are known as feeder pigs. Let’s think about feeder piglets for a little while longer. Pigs used for food production can be any breed, including hybrids. Weaned piglets weighing 40-60 lbs. will be the ideal size to purchase as feeder pigs for rearing. They will reach butchering weight in about five to six months of rearing time.
How much money do young pigs (Feeder Pigs) cost to raise?
Pig farming expenses are sensitive to factors including farm type and feed prices. Without including things like fence, land, and time, the cost of raising a pig is $1200. The whole cost of keeping a pig can be broken down into three distinct categories: the acquisition price, the cost of feed, and the cost of slaughtering.
Depending on the breed and the surrounding climate, the cost of feeding pigs might be as high as that of producing the most expensive pigs. However, in contrast to their male counterparts, pigs can forage if there is enough clean water and proper sanitation conditions for them to thrive.
How can I determine the FCR (feed conversion ratio) while purchasing pig feed?
According to the farmers I talked to, pigs require roughly 5 pounds of pig feed per day. The feed conversion ratio (FTR) is the amount of feed required to produce one pound of pork. Feed prices range from a few dollars per pound to free (some farmers will pay you to take away unsellable items). A larger animal can produce the same amount of meat from less food; hence, this is a measure of efficiency.
While precision in FCR estimates is important in industrial settings, it is unnecessary on a farm. Fortunately, a straightforward calculation can tell you how “great” you are doing: FCR was a good estimate because most people probably aren’t prepared for it. You only need a decent plan, and you’ll see the results of cheapness immediately.
How many months do pigs need to mature before they can be slaughtered?
Pigs now need to weigh between 290 and 335 pounds to be considered marketable for slaughter. When selling them commercially, farmers often charge about $5 per ounce for entire or half pigs. Approximately $875 per serving at that price.
The tensile load exerted by a single slaughtered 250-pound pig is approximately 1,550 kg. If you sell your piglet, you can use the proceeds to acquire another one. One pig’s worth of food might cost as much as $650. And the cost per animal is around $700. You’ll need $875 worth of beef to break even.
Quantifying the Expenses of Raising Pigs
The best-tasting organic pork in the area can be purchased for around $33 per pound. The high price of organic bacon (up to $20/lb) increases the financial viability of pig farming. Raise benefits financially when the price of organic pork rises above that of bacon.
When compared to growing pigs, does purchasing a whole pig work out to be more economical?
It costs an average $875 for a full hog slaughter. If the price is right, it should be comparable to raising the animal oneself, as it will include everything from feeding to killing to cutting to packaging. You may rest assured that the $125 you make won’t be eaten up by the animal slaughter price.
And of course, if you eat meat from a slaughterhouse, you’ll never have the pleasure of running with a pregnant female or playing a game (albeit a very brief one). However, you won’t be concerned that the small lady may float into the field when you’re not around.
Is it more cost-effective to breed pigs than to buy them? Just what is it that
In an effort to cut costs, some self-sufficient farmers try to find replacements for pigs. About one kilogram of food each day can be obtained from restaurant scraps. Half of a litter of ten piglets from a single sow could be sold to consumers in an effort to lower food costs and introduce novel breeds.
The boar taint affects the flavor and aroma of pork from male pigs. You’ll have to offset this gain by sending your troops off to their deaths. If you don’t get slaughtered soon, you can end up with pig taint and undesired cross-breeding.
Pig Market Weight
Market weight standards have been decreased from 30 to 45 pounds. When a pig’s weight hits between 250 and 280 kilograms, its ability to consume food efficiently slows dramatically. If the score is high, then it has a greater impact on your FCR as a whole. Still, I went through with it because the resulting fat cap and marbling were just right. Even if we lose some productivity here, it’s well worth it because we can acquire so much of the delicious pork that we’ve come to crave.
How much does it cost to raise a pig for meat?
The price of producing one pound of pork is affected by its growth rate, its meat conversion, and a number of other variables. This ties in with questions such as how much space they need to raise their pigs to slaughter size, and so on. All those factors are inexhaustible. The costs associated with raising a pig for food are beyond my ability to provide an accurate estimate.
But I can explain how various growth factors play a role in my pigs’ development and how much it costs me to raise them. It’s important to make sure that this list doesn’t contain every possible factor that could influence growth, FCR, etc. The effects of lysine on development are far-reaching, and I just did not have the space to describe them all.
Choosing the breed
It’s impossible to give every pig on the planet the same caliber of companions. I’ll explain the difference between “lard pigs” and “bacon pigs” while discussing the process of lard rendering. The meat, fatty cap, and tasty slices produced by these heritage pig breeds are second to none.
For the benefit of the individual, these Heritage crossed items are nurtured to maturity. Only commercial breeds aren’t complete. Like many others of the “pink pig” variety, the Yorkshire breed is known for its rapid growth, larger-than-average flesh, and high feces conversion ratios. Whether you can raise a commercial breed while raising a purebred heritage cross depends on your specific situation and locality.
Each cull sow (to be used for sausage) is valued at $200.
There is a lot of meat on a cull sow so you can make whole hog sausage with them. Availability in some regions may be limited. They offer just minor discounts. There is currently an auction price of roughly $300. If sold privately, it would be more expensive.
Few people consider getting a cull sow, which is baffling. If you want to make sure that all of the sausages you eat comes from your own pig, a cull sow is a great choice.
Any sow that has put on some extra weight should raise suspicion. Obviously, this is so for a purpose. Thin sows don’t have enough fat to grind up with the sausage. Thus, they shouldn’t be used. How can you guarantee there will be sufficient fat for the grinder? To be safe, invest in a 500-pounder or larger.
With a meat yield of over 200 pounds, the market price of a cull sow might range from $100 to $200. This pork pricing is among the lowest you’ll find when measured in terms of cost per pound.
You’ll have to pay for the butchering yourself and schedule an appointment in advance if you want to get anything processed. Cull sows have a short window of availability, and their processing alternatives are limited. Switching to whole hog sausage is the smarter option.
Whole hogs, custom cut for your order, cost $800
Pork from whole pigs is the most cost-effective option because it can be raised to your specifications on a small farm. All of the pork for your freezer needs to be purchased at once. Approximately $800 is required for each pig. Using a standard weight of 200 pounds, the price per pound of pork is $5. The pig’s butchering time has already been scheduled, which is a plus.
Recently, a new fashion trend has emerged. It’s becoming increasingly common for people to buy entire or half pigs from farmers and resell them privately. Early in the season is the best time to buy directly from a small farmer, as they will have sold all of their produce by then.
If you prefer the flavor of home-grown pork but do not want to raise any of your own, and you have enough freezer space and cash upfront to purchase the entire animal, a whole hog is your best option.
It will cost you $250 for a 230-250 pound pig
It is ideal if you have butchering equipment but do not wish to grow the pig, as you will obtain lots of fat for marbling and flavor, as well as smaller cuts and ham. Smaller portions and less total meat per pig are drawbacks. The present prices in different markets are different. Usually, you should expect to pay around $2000 on average. To buy this pig at a private sale may increase the price.
Some customers favor the 230-250 pound pigs that are more commonly found in supermarkets. Is your family relatively small, and you find that you don’t need to buy a lot of meat to feed everyone? Because these pigs produce leaner, more manageable pieces of meat, they represent an excellent value. The current bidding rate is $1 per pound. There are two ways to acquire an order: by actively participating in the auction and purchasing or by asking a third party to do so on your behalf. If you want to sell something, you should contact the auction house and have them find a buyer for you.
You’ll need more than $250 if you want to buy such a pig privately. You can save money in the long run by picking up your pig directly from the farmer who raised it instead of from a middleman, and then you can have a conversation with the farmer before deciding whether or not to raise the pig or put the piglet in the freezer.
The butcher should be contacted immediately so that this pig can be processed. So, you’ll have to schedule an appointment ahead of time if you want to buy the item. Farmers are selling pigs at the market by making appointments in advance with buyers. If you buy a pig like this, you won’t have to worry about scheduling a butchering session.
A fat hog of 300+ pounds pigs sells $2500
A pig that weighs 300 pounds or more will have plenty of marbling and flavorful fat. You can avoid the hassle of growing the pig if you have access to slaughtering equipment. The downside is having to pay someone else for the pig and for the slaughtering tools. However, it may be higher in some marketplaces, especially for pigs for private sale.
In some markets, +300 pounders sell more than 230-250 pounders.
Direct public auctions allow you to acquire a 300+ pounder. One other option is to use a third-party order buyer to participate in the public auction on your behalf. Such a scenario necessitates planning ahead for the involvement of a buyer. If you want to skip the middle man and go straight to having your pig slaughtered and processed, you’ll need to schedule a butchering appointment in advance (or buy a pig weighing more than 300 pounds from a vendor who already has one).
For +300 pounders, the going rate at auction is between $1.20 and $2.00 per pound. The asking price of the private sale is higher.
Breeding stock pigs cost between $500-2,000 each
Generally speaking, breeding stock pigs fetch the highest prices at the market. Price ranges from $ 500 to $ 2000 for the piglets. There’s a chance the piglets will be cheaper. Depending on the genetics, fashion, and age of the pigs, you’ll have several options to pick from. As such, it’s an excellent foundation on which to build a pig breeding program. Cons include steep costs and continuous exertion throughout the year. You can’t trust piglets to be the appropriate breed, so you should get adults instead.
Pigs used for breeding are the most expensive variety and can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 or more. Therefore, making a rational decision requires substantial mental effort.
There is a large age range of breeding stock pigs available for purchase at markets. They could be pigs destined for the slaughterhouse, pigs who have yet to be bred, pigs that are ready to be used as boars, or everything in between. However, the most common age and breed of breeding stock pigs purchased is the breeding age feeder pig.
If you’re going for younger breeding stock, proceed with caution. While they are more affordable, it is difficult to predict how the pig will look and develop when it is old enough to breed. You can improve your ability to make educated guesses as time passes, but you are playing with fire.
When starting off, the correct breed of pigs is essential for minimizing risk and maximizing the likelihood of success. Adults, rather than juveniles, should be used for breeding.
Before the pig has a litter of its own, you can only speculate as to the animal’s potential. You can acquire what you want better if you put your money into the adult stock.
Not all pigs will turn out to be of the best quality, which is necessary for selling them as breeding stock on the market, so keep that in mind.
Adult breeding pigs can fetch anything from $500 to $2000 on the open market. Feeder pigs can be used later as breeding stock and can be acquired for roughly $200 each.
Becoming a skilled breeder requires time and practice. To gradually adjust the genetics in your pigs to the range you need, you will need to cull heavily (the term cull means sell for meat) in the beginning as you learn the ropes of raising breeding stock.
Pigs with superior genetics fetch a premium price on the breeding stock market, making culling an unavoidable but costly process.
