Pig farming is considered one of the most profitable businesses in Kenya. It can be done on both large-scale farms as well as small-scale farms. The cost of starting a pig farm in Kenya depends on the capital needed to come up with a pig pen and the feed the pig will consume.
For one to start a pig farm in Kenya, on average, the cost of two months’ piglets is Ksh. 2,000 each; housing costs are Ksh. 25,000; pig feeds are Ksh. 50,000; vaccines and other costs are Ksh. 10,000.
Pig farmers in Kenya must be capable and willing to raise pigs depending on capital and the piece of land they can acquire. Pig farmers in Kenya are mostly located in the villages since pig farming requires enough space.
Farmers Choice Pig Farming in Kenya
The Farmers Choice is the largest slaughterhouse in Kenya, located on the outskirts of Nairobi. They do the slaughtering and processing of pigs, supply pork products to hotels and are involved in exports. Most of the pigs are from their farm and the rest are supplied by contract to other farmers.
They slaughter about 400 pigs and process 350 pig carcasses per day into products like ham, sausage, bacon, and burgers.
They use the best pig breed for high-quality pork for consumers. The pig breeds include Landrace, Large White, The Hybrid Gilt, Duroc, and Maxgro.
Farmers Choice provides the following five services to pig production farmers in Kenya:
- They offer a free advice service to farmers by moving from one farm to another in areas where pig farming is done, advising on best practices to raise pigs.
- They transport farmers’ pigs to slaughterhouses for free and pay the farmers when they provide pigs for slaughter.
- They ensure good, superior genetic pig breeds are available to the farmers.
- Highly subsidized pig feed to farmers who supply pigs to the factory.
- They train farmers on new pig-rearing technology.
Conditions Required by Farmers Choice
1. Farmers Choice’s selected pigs for slaughter must be healthy and free from diseases and parasites.
2. Also, farmers delivering pigs should have relevant animal movement documents approved by the District Veterinary Officer in Kenya.
3. All pigs must be taken to the slaughterhouse before 6 pm following animal movement policy in Kenya, so Farmers Choice does not accept pigs after the set time.
4. They sell their products to tourist hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, and other retailers in various parts of Kenya and also in neighboring countries.
Other companies that do both pig farming and slaughter in Kenya include Farmers Choice Limited, Gaetti Happy Pigs Farm in Kiambu, and Ndumboni Farm Slaughterhouse in Kiambu.
Cost of Pig Farming in Kenya
1. House Construction
Pig farming requires adequate space and food if you want to start raising pigs. For a farmer to raise two sows, they require a spacious pig pen of about 30 by 45 meters, which requires an average of Ksh. 80,000, which covers timbers, iron sheets measuring three meters, nails, ballast, sand and six bags of cement. Also, sawdust helps give pigs warmth.
2. Cost of high-yielding Sows
After construction costs, a farmer wants to find high-yielding sows. For instance, one-month Large White costs an average of Ksh. 45,000 while Duroc and Hampshire cost Ksh. 40,000.
3. Feeding
Pigs require a lot of feed for them to grow. One pig can consume about 5 kg of feed per day. Two sows require 300 kg per month, and the cost of 100 kg of rice bran is about Ksh. 1000. Therefore, you need to spend Ksh. 3000 per month to feed two sows.
