Pig Farming in Kenya.
Over time, pig farming in Kenya has developed into a successful industry. But what are the prerequisites for launching a successful firm, and how much funding is needed? We'll do our best to explain to you the necessary steps and how to become a pig farmer in Kenya. As a pig farmer, you must choose the particular path you want to take. For instance, you can raise pigs to sell as meat, sausage, bacon, or piglets.
Starting Pig Farming in Kenya - Pig Farming in Kenya.
The first expenditure is intended to cover shelter, breeding, and food. The cost of feeding makes up between 60 and 70 percent of the whole expense, thus spending will be considerable the first year.
A typical pig farming agribusiness plan should be created before investing, and it should include all necessary cash flow predictions for at least the first year. For the pig farmer, it will be essential to comprehend the supply and demand aspects in the local market.
It is advised to start out by purchasing a two-month-old piglet; these should be purchased from reputable farmers. Counting the teats on a sow, which is a sign of the amount of piglets it can produce, helps to ensure proper selection.
The way the pigs or piglets are transported is also crucial because stress might cause them to pass away. Pig rearing can be a stressful endeavor, therefore one should prepare beforehand and avoid taking shortcuts.
Selecting Suitable Farm Land - Pig Farming in Kenya.
Starting a pig farming in Kenya requires carefully choosing a suitable piece of land. A suitable piece of land with access to all necessary amenities will ensure proper development, good health, proper marketing, and maximum financial gain from the pig farming industry.
Based on the number of pigs in your farm, calculate the area and size of the farmland. Consider the following factors while choosing land in Kenya for pig farming.
• Attempt to choose a peaceful, quiet location away from residential areas.
• Ensure that the farm area has an adequate quantity of fresh water. A body of water, such as a lake, pond, river, etc., will work.
• The spot you choose will be fairly close to the market. so that you can conveniently sell your goods and purchase what you need from the market.
• Take into account whether veterinary services are available close to your farm.
• Reliable transportation network.
• Feeding components at low prices aid in food expense reduction. Take this into account when choosing land.
• Try to choose land near rural areas. Because you can readily obtain inexpensive labor, food, and lands in village areas.
Choose Appropriate Breeds - Pig Farming in Kenya.
Choose the appropriate pig breeds for your scale of production. For a pig farming in Kenya, you can choose from local and hybrid pigs.
It's fairly simple to breed pigs. Pig breeding models that are frequently used include pure breeding, cross breeding, out breeding, and in breeding. The majority of pig breeds have a shorter gestation period of up to 115 days. Every two years, a sow gives birth to roughly 10 piglets.
In general, the most lucrative pig breeds in Kenya include Large White, Landrace, Yorkshires, Duroc, and Hampshire, among others.
With this three-breed cross, hybrid vigor and heterosis are fully utilized, and there are excellent production outcomes, a high lean meat percentage, and high meat quality.
• The Landrace Pig - Pig Farming in Kenya.
The Landrace pig breed of pig is robust, with a long back, large nose, good legs, and good milking and mothering abilities. It has the typical droopy ears. The breed is renowned for producing high-quality meat.
To create Landrace/Yorkshire hybrids for commercial farms to produce slaughter baconers, crossbreeding operations use the landrace.
• The Yorkshire/Large White Pig - Pig Farming in Kenya.
The Yorkshire/Large White is a robust pig that has a high percentage of lean meat, decent daily weight gain, a low feed conversion ratio, good longevity, and good mothering ability. It has a strong build and the typical upright ears.
In addition to having excellent teats, a long life expectancy, and very high fertility, landrace/Yorkshire sows are also exceedingly sociable.
• The Duroc Pig - Pig Farming in Kenya.
In order to produce pigs solely for slaughter, the Duroc is crossed with landrace/Yorkshire crosses as a terminal sire. It is a robust pig with high levels of lean meat and good feed conversion rates.
Housing - Pig Farming in Kenya.
Pigs require substantial housing because they are tough animals. Shade and air movement are essential. Pigs are extremely temperature-sensitive.
Separate feeding and watering spaces, as well as drainage, should be considered in the dwelling unit. Consider designating pens (enclosures) for weaned piglets, pregnant sows on the verge of birth, sows who have delivered, sick pigs, and boars when planning your housing.
Piglets are typically negatively impacted by cold temperatures, while adults are typically quite sensitive to heat. Therefore, maintaining a consistent temperature can aid in maximizing growth and output.
It's a good idea to house the piglets and their mother apart. Separate the areas used for feeding and sleeping, and make every effort to maintain a tidy home at all times.
Feeding - Pig Farming in Kenya
Feeds account for up to 80% of the cost of raising pigs. Farmers are able to produce their own feeds and sell extra to other farmers. They must understand the ratios for combining the various materials.
High-quality pig feed is necessary to guarantee that the pigs reach the ideal market weight.
The most crucial aspect of the pig farming industry is feeding. Considering that healthy eating always ensures good production. Pigs can eat and drink both grains and meat.
Pigs can be fed nearly anything, including roughage, kitchen trash, agricultural waste, beverage company stalk, etc. Additionally, you can give your pigs prepared food scraps, vegetables, etc.
Pigs eat primarily maize. But, having a diet containing protein from soybeans or cooked meat will be effective for pigs. Vitamins and other dietary supplements can also hasten growth.
NOTE: Having enough fresh water directly affects the profitability of the pig farming industry by keeping the pigs healthy.
The dietary requirements of a pig change depending on its age, weight, and stage of development. There are three different feed types with varying protein contents. A pig typically consumes two to three kg per day. The feeds should satisfy the pig's nutritional needs in full. Maize bran, cassava, fish meal, cotton seed cake, vitamins, and water should all be included in the diet.
The digestibility of feeds is something that a farmer needs to be aware of. In order to make it digestible, a farmer should either cook it or chop it up. It is preferable to sundry for a day to remove toxins from items like grass, leaves like potato vines and peels, and other leafy foods before feeding them to the pigs.
Piglets - Pig Farming in Kenya.
Piglets require more protein-rich food than adult pigs do. Always provide them with a enough supply of healthy food and clean, fresh water to meet their daily needs.
Because their mothers' milk provides them with all of their nutritional needs, young piglets do not consume a lot of solid feed. Farmers should provide the sows with a sufficient and balanced diet to ensure that they produce enough milk for the piglets, as this will ensure that the piglets receive enough milk from suckling throughout the early stages of growth.
Weeks two - five; Piglet - Pig Farming in Kenya.
The farmer should castrate all male piglets three weeks after farrowing (birth) and begin to socialize them to solid foods. To avoid hurting their mother while nursing, suckling piglets should also have their sharp teeth cut three days after farrowing.
If a farmer has 10 piglets to feed, he or she can isolate a creep area (a place where the young ones live away from their mother) and add 50g of feed each piglet per day. Keep an eye on the feeding every day, and if you notice that the feed is getting low, add an extra 50g for each animal to make it 1kg.
Piglet; week five - Pig Farming in Kenya.
Add additional 50g each piglet at 5 weeks (35 to 42 days), bringing the total to 150g. The mother should constantly be available to the piglets in case they need to nurse. Additionally, they should always have access to fresh water.
Weaners; Week 6 - Pig Farming in Kenya.
Each piglet should be receiving 200g of feed each week at the age of 6 weeks. Continue to provide an additional 50g of feed per piglet daily if they finish the meal. Weekly pig weights should be taken by the farmer while they are being fed (a healthy pig at this stage should add at least 900g per day). The piglets are growing properly if their weight is increasing at this rate. Dry food should always be offered to weaners to avoid scouring or diarrhea. Provide constant access to clean water.
14th week; Porkers - Pig Farming in Kenya.
The pigs will need more food when they are 14 weeks old; the farmer can provide 1.4kg of grain per pig per day. The farmer should also continue to administer the 50g of feed as before. Divide the pig feed into three equal portions: a morning wet ration (feed mixed with water) at 7 am; a midday dry ration (feed without water); and a fourth afternoon wet ration (feed mixed with water). An adequately fed porker pig should gain 300g of weight per day (weigh them regularly and record their weight to monitor their growth).
Week 22, Baconers - Pig Farming in Kenya.
The pigs (now referred to as baconers) need a larger feed ration at 22 weeks because they are about to reach the market liveweight of 80–90kg. At this point, the farmer should feed each pig 2.5 to 2.75 kilogram per day.
The meal should be increased to 3 kg starting at 23 weeks (1kg of wet feed in the morning, 1kg of dry feed at noon and 1kg of wet feed at 4pm). Pigs at this stage can grow to be up to 100kg in 5 months if they are properly managed. If they are properly cared for, pigs at this time can grow to be up to 100kg in 5 months.
Sows - Pig Farming in Kenya.
Sows require particular care when being fed. A sow can produce up to 16–17 liters of milk each day. A sow needs to be well-fed in order to produce this amount of milk, both for body maintenance and milk production. A suckling sow needs 6 kilograms of feed per day, or 25% of her total weight, to support her growing litter of piglets.
Three rations should be used for the feeding (2kg of wet feed in the morning, 2kg of dry feed at noon and 2kg of wet feed at 4pm). Sows should always have access to enough clean water, just like other pigs do.
Gilts - Pig Farming in Kenya.
Gilts, or female pigs who have not yet been served, require a minimum of 3 kg of feed each day. To maintain them in good condition with regard to health and reproduction, the farmer may add any additional feed that is readily accessible to this ration.
Boars - Pig Farming in Kenya.
Male pigs (boars) should not be fed a lot of feed. They gain more weight when given more food, which limits their fertility. 3 to 4 kg of feed should be given to a pig each day. Some farmers starve them to death in an effort to reduce fattening. Never stop providing them with fresh water.
Breeding - Pig Farming in Kenya.
Choose the appropriate pig breeds for your scale of production. You can choose between a native and a hybrid pig. In general, the most lucrative pig breeds in Kenya include Large White, Landrace, Yorkshires, Duroc, and Hampshire, among others. Consider the following characteristics of the pigs while selecting the right breeds for your operation.
It's fairly simple to breed pigs. Pig breeding models that are frequently used include pure breeding, cross breeding, out breeding, and in breeding.
The majority of pig breeds have a shorter gestation period of up to 115 days. Every two years, a sow gives birth to roughly 10 piglets.
• A pair of bright eyes.
• Glossy coat.
• Alert and responsive to it’s surrounding environment.
• Good temperament.
• Good appeal to food.
• Easy and normal movement.
• Free from lameness or any other unnatural signs.
• Avoid purchasing aggressive pig.
Common Diseases - Pig Farming in Kenya.
African Swine Fever (ASF) One of the most hazardous diseases is ASF. This is because ASF can destroy an entire stock, has no vaccination or treatment. Both domestic and wild pigs are susceptible to the acute infectious viral illness known as ASF. The virus is transmitted through diseased animals' blood, excrement, saliva, urine, and vomit, which can then contaminate food, farm machinery, automobiles, and other items in the environment. Pigs who consume contaminated food may also contract the virus.
African Swine Fever (ASF) is the most dangerous diseases because there is no vaccine or treatment for the disease, which can wipe out a whole stock. Acute infectious viral infection known as ASF can affect both domestic and wild pigs. The virus is spread through the blood, faeces, saliva, urine, and vomit of infected animals, which can then contaminate food, farm equipment, cars, and other environmental materials. Pigs who eat infected food may catch the illness as well.
The virus is found in all bodily parts of infected pigs, with the blood having the highest concentration. This includes the flesh, bones, skin, and blood.
Meat and other body parts can therefore spread the sickness. Because of this, farmers should refrain from dumping sick pigs' bodies carelessly after killing them.
Marketing - Pig Farming in Kenya.
A piglet that is purchased at two months old will be ready for sale in six months. Between Ksh 20,000 and Ksh 30,000 will be made from each grown pig. Farmers should get together and sell in bulk if they want to boost their chances of making more money.
Farmers have a lot of negotiating power when they cultivate in groups. In contrast to one farmer selling three pigs to a customer who wants 150 pigs, 50 farmers with three pigs each to sell will have a total of 150 animals, giving them more negotiating leverage.
By purchasing pigs from a central yet local location, large companies like Farmers Choice assist farmers with transportation costs by reducing those and other expenses. Farmers can also achieve a lot by forming savings and loan programs, which allow them to readily obtain capital and repay it with interest.
We can break down the 100,000 as follows;
2 months piglet at Ksh 2000 each
Housing at Ksh 25,000
Pig Feeds at Ksh 50,000
Vaccines and other costs at Ksh 10,000
15 Benefits of Pig Farming in Kenya - Pig Farming in Kenya.
According to the condition of Kenya, pig farming has many advantages. The main benefits of pig farming business in Kenya are listed below.
1. Pig farming can be started for very little money. You may quickly transition your farm to a commercial stage since pigs grow so quickly.
2. Piglets are born to sows twice a year, and each time, there are roughly 10 of them. Additionally, the gestational period is short (not more than 115 days).
3. The return on investment (ROI) ratio for pig farming in Kenya is favorable.
4. Kenya's climate and geographic setting are ideal for launching a pig raising enterprise.
5. In Kenya's market, pig meat is in high demand.
6. Pigs reproduce more quickly and grow faster than other farm animals.
7. By converting more nutrients and energy into protein, they develop more quickly.
8. To cut costs, you can feed your pigs nearly anything, including roughage, kitchen refuse, agricultural waste, and more.
9. You can establish a small-scale pig farm in Kenya to meet your family's daily nutritional needs.
10. Pig farming can be started for very little money. You may quickly transition your farm to a commercial stage since pigs grow so quickly.
11. Piglets are born to sows twice a year, and each time, there are roughly 10 of them. Additionally, the gestational period is short (not more than 115 days).
12. The return on investment (ROI) ratio for pig farming in Kenya is favorable.
13. Kenya's climate and geographic setting are ideal for launching a pig raising enterprise.
14. In Kenya's market, pig meat is in high demand.
15. Excellent source of work for those without jobs. In Kenya, even educated unemployed individuals can start a commercial pig farming operation.
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1 Comments
No matter where you go, Pig Farming in Kenya is the coolest, most happening thing around! I couldn't have asked for more than this. We've seen amazing results already.
ReplyDeleteThank you Xaxa Farms