Pig Farming in USA: How to Start

Pig farming is the practice of raising domestic pigs as livestock and is a branch of animal husbandry. Pigs are a popular form of livestock, with more than one billion pigs slaughtered worldwide each year, 100 million of them in the United States. The pig is referred to as the swine or domestic pig. Let’s check out pig farming in the USA.

Pork production in the United States is estimated at $23.4 billion annually, with approximately 2.2 million metric tons of pork and pork products being exported to other countries. Pigs eat billions of bushels of grain and oilseeds, and provide income to more than 60,000 pork producers, mainly in the Midwest and North Carolina. Three types of producers run pig farms, independent farmers raise pigs for themselves, contract growers raise pigs for someone else, and contractors use contract farmers to raise some or all of their pigs.

Are pigs profitable in the USA?

Yes, they sure are. U.S. Pigs can earn a profit of $300- $400 per head if sold for quality and breeding stock or meat. Meat is in great demand both in its natural form and when it is processed. Unprocessed meat can be sold for $2.50 to $3.50 per pound.

Types of US pig farms

Approximately, there are more than 60,000 pig farms in the United States. They include different sizes and types of farms, and they raise pork to meet a wide variety of consumer demands. There are different ways of raising pigs, including small-scale farms, large-scale farms, and those whose rearing methods operate in specific markets, such as consumers who want to raise pork with external access or heirloom breeds (such as Berkshire pork).

In addition to more consumer choice, more efficiency and increased productivity in US pig farms have resulted in more abundant, affordable pork supplies in the United States and abroad. No matter the size or type of pig farm, the basic principles of animal husbandry remain the same – good animal care, land management, safe, healthy food production, and care for employees and communities.

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Farrow-to-finish – Farms manage all stages of pig rearing and development, from breeding to finishing, with a market weight of approximately 285 pounds.
From farrow to nursery – Farms specialize in breeding sows and raising 40–50-pound feeder pigs, which are then sold to farms that specialize in feeding pigs until they reach market weight.
Farrow-to-wean – Farms monitor breeding herds and raise pigs until their weaning is about 10 to 15 pounds, at which time they are sold to wean-to-finish farms.
Wean-to-finish – Farms buy weaned pigs from farrow-to-wean farms and raise them until they reach market weight.
Finishing – Farms buy 40 to 50 pounds of feeder pigs from nursery farms and raise them until they reach market weight.

Problems faced by pig farmers in pig farming

African swine fever and sow health – Diseases such as the current outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) could have serious effects on swine production worldwide. Experts estimate that 10 million sows and 100 million pigs have died at the hands of ASF. The disease is spreading across East Asia, with reports now coming from Vietnam, Cambodia, North Korea, and Laos.

There is no effective vaccine for ASF and no effective treatment. Infected pigs should be euthanized. Kansas State University research is looking at the potential for the spread of the disease through infected feeds. Although large amounts of the virus are required for transmission, it can have an overall effect if fed over time.

Millions of kilograms of feed components are imported from countries where the ASF virus is currently circulating. Sow Prolapse Syndrome is a growing concern for U.S. pig breeders. Vaginal and uterine prolapses result in sow and pre-weaning mortality. The exact cause and treatment of the syndrome are unknown. The sow mortality due to prolapse increased by 2-5% in some operations in recent years.

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Factors that will affect the profitability of pig farming

Free-range for quality

Today, the ethical treatment of animals is an important factor for consumers. The general idea is that, if the living environment of the animal is better, then the resulting meat is ethically more palatable and of better quality.

Feed cost

The cost of feed for raising pigs may be the most expensive. The cost of feed will be about three-quarters of the total cost of raising pigs. Wheat, corn, soybeans, and whatever grass or vegetables are all good food for pigs. Most pigs are fed pellet food which contains all the essential elements to keep them healthy. It is possible to buy feed at about 20 to 30 cents per pound. A ton of pellet food will cost an average of $300. A pig will eat about 4% of its body weight daily and will gain weight every day.

Other costs

Like any other animal, the most important value besides feed is where they are kept. Under local legislation, keeping pigs in your backyard is realistic. Breeding pigs for profit will require a large herd and a large area of land. About 30 pigs can live comfortably on an acre of land, so not as much land as some other animals. However, more land will allow them to move and will help prevent land deterioration.

Selling price

In pig farming, the key to making a profit is how they are sold. Many markets can and should be entertained to be able to maximize income.

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Selling live pigs

This is a demand of young pigs or weaners. They can be sold when they are 8 to 10 months old, which is when they do not need to be fed by their mother. Pigs can fetch a selling price in the region of $4 per pound. A pig often has a whip of 15 piglets twice a year. This will take some time to mature. At that point, it would be better to sell them to some weaner. The birth of several pigs at different times can provide a regular income by selling a portion of young pigs.

Selling pigs for meat

One of the most popular ways to sell pigs for a profit is to butcher them for sale. Typically, pigs will be reared for about 6 to 8 months when they weigh about 250 pounds (113 kg).

Important pig farming companies in the USA

Seaboard Corporation, Merriam, Kansas, United States
Murphy-Brown LLCWarsaw, North Carolina
The Clemens Family Corporation, Hatfield, Pennsylvania
Seaboard Foods LLC, Shawnee Mission, Kansas
Seaboard Farms, Inc.Guymon, Oklahoma
United Animal Health, Inc.Sheridan, Indiana
Prestage Farms, Inc.Clinton, North Carolina
The Maschhoffs LLCCarlyle, Illinois
New Fashion Pork, LLPJackson, Minnesota
Pic Usa, Inc.Hendersonville, Tennessee
Linda Terra FarmsRiverdale, California
Suidae Veterinary Supply & Biologics, Inc.Algona, Iowa
Hastings Pork CorporationHastings, Nebraska
Red Willow Hutterian Brethren, Inc.Aberdeen, South Dakota

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Pig breeds in the USA

The important breeds are Hereford Pig, Mulefoot, Ossabaw Island, Poland China, Red Wattle, American Landrace Pig, Berkshire, Chester White, Duroc Pig, Hampshire Pig, and Spotted Swine Breed.

More farmers opt to contract pig feed

Most U.S. pork production involves contract feeding. Pig provides cash flow and grain fertilizer to growers as a natural fertilizer, which reduces the cost of chemical fertilizers. The first step for a potential producer is to get to know the company and make sure they are fit, says Kent Mowrer, senior field coordinator for the Coalition to Support Iowa Farmers. Producers need to make sure they meet the labor, land, biosecurity, and financial needs. Each company has a preference for building style and has its own payment system.

Start a pig farm in the USA

There are two common ways to enter the pig industry: raising a pig for another farmer or producer as an independent operator or as a contract farmer. A third player in the industry is a large corporation or contractor that employs other contractors and producers to raise some or all of their pigs.

These integrators and packers take care of their interests and contractors before turning to independent producers without a contract, so this should be kept in mind. Many large contractors use company or industry standards to describe the size, shape, design, and ventilation details. They should keep in mind that most construction loans last 10 to 15 years, the life of the barn should be 30 to 40 years.

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Swine company representatives discussed contract production, barn, and infrastructure costs and expectations at a Farming for the Future conference in Ames, Iowa. The long-term approach is most important because the barn must be well-built, providing adequate comfort and stress-free space for proper animal welfare. Each barn is different, but the cost of a 2500-head wean-to-tunnel barn is approximately $300 to $310/pig space, or about $730 to 800 thousand dollars. A good quality water supply is imperative.

Conclusion

If you live in the United States and plan for commercial pig farming, this article may help to a certain extent to set up and run your pig farming business.