For a variety of reasons, many homesteaders prefer not to raise pigs on their homestead. Whether it is a spacing issue, smell issue, or just the additional hassle, pigs do bring some additional responsibilities that some folks just may not be willing to take on. There are some good benefits that we will go deeper into later, but for now let’s just talk about the easy way to raise pigs on your homestead.
One of the great things about raising pigs for survival purposes is that you can have up to 25 or more pigs per acre, so even on small plots of land, you can keep about 10 pigs on property at a time. That’s a lot of meat if you are looking for consumption.
With pigs, you’ll have a supply of lard for cooking, soap and candle making, pork for eating, and you can even use the hide for leather if you’re in a pinch. They are also fast growers so you don’t have to wait a long time to get a return. Pigs are ready for slaughter at just 5-6 months, and they’ll be a whopping 200-300 pounds of pork.
They’re super easy to raise for beginner farmers and you don’t need rich land with lots of vegetation to keep them happy. Each pig will birth approximately 10 piglets in each litter, so you won’t have to worry about running out.
All you need is a study pig pen to keep them in, with a shed for a way to keep warm during cold, winter months or rainy weather. They need nesting materials like straw and a watering and feed trough, where you can feed them tons of scraps from your kitchen.
As with chickens and goats, you want to choose a breed that will provide good meat and lard, because some only offer one or the other. Tamworth and Saddleback pigs are good for survival preppers.
You’ll need to watch out for problems when raising pigs, ranging from sunburns to a variety of parasitic infections, mange and more. Keep their pen clean and if you notice a problem with one pig, quarantine them from the rest.
Like any livestock you may have on your homestead, pigs do require some effort. They aren’t the cleanest animals, but obviously the can provide a benefit – especially in difficult times.
