A helpful guide of pig farming for beginners in Kenya is here. If you want to succeed in pig farming in Kenya be sure to read this article for the key tips you must know before you get started.
Pig farming is one of the popularly established business practices in Kenya. There are several different species of pigs reared by Kenyan farmers. However, local pigs have been proven to be more productive since they are already familiar with Kenya’s climatic conditions.
As a starter, you need pig farming for beginners simple ideas that can help you move faster towards your success in pig farming business. Small scale farming is recommended for a first time pig farmer which you can use to gauge if you can venture into large scale farming.
How To Start Pig Farming In Kenya For Beginners
Starting pig farming is not that technical as some people like complicating life. All you need is the correct mindset, determination, knowledge, and resources to successfully run you business.
Pig farming for beginners in Kenya needs you to have sound knowledge of the pig farming requirements as listed below:
1. Choosing Pig Breed To Rear
For one to start pig farming business Kenya, one has to carefully select the kind of breed to be considered for rearing.
Farmers should gather enough knowledge on the kind of breed selected for instance feeding mechanism, climatic adaptations, aggressiveness, Health conditions, production history among other key factors.
Popular Pig Breeds In Kenya
There are so many breeds of pigs in this country. Farmers should weigh their financial capacity to throughout the farming period for splendid outcome.
Depending on the kind of breed the farmer chooses different care is needed as some breeds are more sensitive than others. The most common practiced in Kenya are
- Landrace pigs,
- Large white pigs,
- Hampshire pigs
- Duroc pigs.
Other breeds of pigs in Kenya include:
- Landrace pigs
- Yorkshires pigs
- Duroc pigs
- Hampshire pigs
- Mini pig
- Large white pigs
- Tamworth pigs
- Large black pigs
- Berkshire pigs
- Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs
- Mangalica pigs among others
2. Number Of Pigs To Start Pig Farming
Beginner farmers can start with as less as 2 pigs having in mind that one female pig gives birth twice a year. Each birth has a reproduction of 10 to 12 piglets.
In a single year the farmer may have to cater for not less than 20 pigs. Besides, there is no standard number for a starter but starting small so you master the techniques is essential.
3. Availability Of Funds
Most farmers consider pig farming as a full-time job after the first trial. Beginner farmers should understand that putting up the farm and maintaining pigs is a costly business and demands money and time.
4. Farming Area
The farmer should consider a conducive environment to raise pigs. High temperatures affect the growth of pigs. The farm area should be near a water source, and accessible to roads for easier transport. The farms should be considered for future expansion of the business with time to large scale levels.
5. Caring For The Pigs
Lack of close attention for the pigs can lead to low production as pigs are very delicate animals to rare. A lot of attention is required when raising pigs since they are easily stressed from lack of food and enough water.
Beginner farmers should understand that failure to feed pigs promptly may lead them feeding on one another with the victims being the younger pigs. Apart from low production and delayed maturity, farmers count loses from cannibalism.
6. Feeds
Young pigs feed on 3-6 kg of per day while grown up pigs consume up to 10kg of feeds. Failure to observe the pigs feeding program leads to less production and delayed maturity. Pigs suffer stress mostly when inadequately fed.
7. Vaccination
The farmer should have a nearby trusted veterinary officer to tend the pigs in case of infections or other emergency medical issues affecting the pigs. Timely vaccinations are advisable to help protect the pigs against diseases and infections.
8. Housing
The pig houses should be constructed from concrete to protect them from adverse weather conditions. The Houses should have roofs that are rain proof and heat reflecting. The feeding area should be separate from the resting area and the bath area.
9. Enough Water
Farmers ensure the pigs have access to adequate clean water. Young pigs consume up to 10 liters of water while grown pigs consume up to 50 liters per day. The pigs easily suffer from stress if the water intake is insufficient.
10. Marketing Your Pigs For Sale
A strategic plan on advertisement of the pigs should be implemented to secure ready, market once the pigs attain maturity. The means the area of farming should have community customs supporting pig farming otherwise the business may fail.
Pig Farming Housing Plan Beginners Guide
Follow the following tips in constructing your pig house. Remember, the pig needs to stay safe, warm, in a clean place, and free from pests. Besides, be sure to be keen in the following areas as it will determine the success or failure of your business.
a. Pig House Location
The pigs house should be situated in residential areas to avoid urban noises and dust from things such as demolitions. The farm should also be away from residential houses with a distance of about 300M to 500M.
b. Construction Pig House
The material used to build the houses should be from concrete and wide enough to accommodate more pigs as time goes by. Pigs are very sensitive to extreme temperatures; therefore, the farmer should consider a heating, and cooling mechanism other than to regulate room temperature.
c. Pig House Ventilation
The houses should be well ventilated to avoid suffocation of pigs. Some of the gadgets used to improve ventilation for the pigs include; evaporative air cooler, evaporative cooling pad, fiber reinforcement plastic fun negative pressure fan among others.
Conclusion
How to start pig farming in Kenya highly depends on the farmer’s preparedness for the business. Pig farming for beginners can be very costly due to construction costs and purchasing of farm equipment. The good news is that proper management of the farm guarantees the farmer a good percentage of returns and expansion of the business within a short period.
