Raising pigs can be very rewarding either for profit or as for pets. But it is certainly not such an easy task. There are many things to consider. Just like any domestic animals, they have to be cared for the right way. And if it is for profit, it would certainly take time as well as an amount of money to be invested before you will be able to reap your reward. It would probably be best if you start on a small scale. But before purchasing the pigs, be sure to gather everything you need first.

First, you need to have a fence that it is well built. You need strong and durable materials. As for the height of the fence, it need not be high as the pigs, because they certainly cannot jump over them. What you need to do is to make the bottom part of the fence as strong as it can be. Make sure that they will not be able to dig under it also. Next, when you’re already raising pigs in a larger number, be sure to give each enough space when they’re not placed in confinement. Do not cram them in a small area.

Pigs also need to have lots of water available to them at all times. You need to make sure that the water is fresh and clean, free from bacteria and other harmful parasites. And when it comes to feeding them, they need a diet that consists of grain and protein. They need mostly grain such as barley, corn, and wheat. Here is a tip when it comes to feeding time, use a large hog feeder. This will help you save some time.

When it comes to raising pigs, you also need to make sure that they are provided with a shelter for safety from harsh weather. They also have sensitive skin and they need to be protected from the heat and the cold. And as for piglets and sows, you’ll need to add a farrowing house to make them more comfortable.

After getting ready all of the things mentioned above, carefully choose what breed of pigs you want to have. The reason why you will be raising pigs will definitely help in making that decision. Either way, you will be fairly rewarded with all your hard work when the pigs are ready to be sold out in the market. For additional supplements to keep them in good shape, consult your veterinarian. He or she can suggest the proper supplements needed.

A cyst in guinea pigs is a hard lump on the surface of the skin. What sets it out from other types of lumps such as tumors and abscesses is that it doesn’t cause pain to the pig by itself or when you touch it. In fact, many guinea pigs live with cysts for a long time of their lives without even knowing it’s there. Thankfully, cysts are much less harmful than most other conditions and can be treated easily.

Before you begin to treat it, though, you will need a make a trip to the vet to confirm if it really is a cyst. This is an area where even seasoned medical professionals easily misdiagnose the situation, so it’s not a good idea to think you’re sure it’s a cyst; play it safe and let a vet ascertain what it is.

A sebaceous cyst (the most common form) will usually pop on its own in due time, releasing the liquids contained within. But if the cyst continues to grow to an abnormal size without popping, it could damage the pig’s internal organs. So if you notice that it keeps getting bigger, you should get the pig to a vet and have the cyst lanced. The vet will also drain the fluids in the cyst and advise you on further treatment.

Once a cyst has popped or been properly drained, the cavity should be properly treated to prevent infection. Treatment includes cleaning the cavity with running water as and when necessary. After cleaning, it should be treated with a topical antiseptic cream.

Although most cysts go away after they pop, a cyst could return to the same spot on the skin later, requiring repeated treatment. This is why it’s a somewhat risky approach to let a cyst pop on its own or even to have it drained.

So the best thing to do about a cyst is to have it surgically removed. This isn’t absolutely necessary but it’s the most advisable course of action as it will completely rid your pig of the problem once and for all. Costs of surgery usually include an anesthetic, some stitches on the pig’s skin, and some medication for a week or so afterwards. It could be somewhat expensive but the price is well worth the relief if you can afford it.

Diarrhea is a very common condition in guinea pigs. But it isn’t usually serious and can be remedied quickly with the right kind of treatment.

Symptoms

Guinea pig diarrhea is liquid and sometimes runny, and always soft. It is very distinguishable from regular feces which are rounded and hard. Diarrhea is often accompanied by a number of other symptoms. You might notice that the cavy isn’t eating as much as usual, is showing signs of pain in the stomach area and is having trouble getting through daily activities.

If you find that the diarrhea is very frequent or that it smells really bad, you should rush your pet to a vet immediately. This might be a severe case and you should treat it urgently; in such a time, you might also find the pig feeling very weak or inactive.

Causes

Diarrhea is usually caused by indigestion due to eating the wrong food, and isn’t too hard to treat. However, it can also be caused by a host of other factors which, although not as common, pose a real threat. One of these causes is parasites: bacteria or fungus can sometimes be ingested with food and cause diarrhea.

Ironically, diarrhea can be also caused by medication. If your pig is currently being treated for any condition with drugs, those may very well be the cause as well. One other common cause is not eating enough hay. Hay is extremely important in maintaining the digestive health of your guinea pig and a shortage of it will almost certainly lead to diarrhea.

Treatment

The first thing to do is stop feeding your pig fruits and vegetables. Until the diarrhea is gone, the pig should mostly eat timothy hay (with maybe some food pellets) and drink lots of water. You should personally make sure that food and water are being ingested, or hand-feed if necessary. It is essential to keep the pig fed and well hydrated at this time.

If you haven’t already, you should be filling your cavy’s cage with an abundance of fresh hay; this is vital is containing the diarrhea. Some of the hay might have gotten spoilt and might have caused the problem in the first place, so if you can, you should replace all the hay with a fresh batch.

You should be able to see a drastic improvement within a day. If you don’t, take it as a serious condition and see the vet immediately.

In considering this business for investment, one must be conscious of religious sensitivities particularly as about 12% of Uganda’s 35m population is Muslim. This is about 4.3m people and thus fairly significant as it would almost be haraam (loosely translated means taboo or “forbidden” in Arabic) to start this business in a neighbourhood which has a sizeable Muslim population, like say Mbale – my home town.

Whilst on the religious subject, it is worth remembering that Matthew 7: 6 says; “do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.”

I have recently invested in a 50/50 joint venture with a family friend to start a piggery project in Mbale. I provided the start-up working capital and he provided the land and housing. I am still unsure whether I have thrown my pearls (i.e. money) away as it has been over 1 month and there are still no signs of the project’s progress by way of photos or a progress report. His phone is off and I have no other means of contacting him.

It reminds me of another farmer friend who I recently spoke to. Someone broke into her farm in Jinja and run off with 3 adult pigs, squealing and all I imagine. Her security guard told her that he was drunk at the time and thus didn’t hear anything. I however believe they(pigs) were stolen in connivance with the security guard because; first a grown pig weighs about 120 kg and secondly they can squeal so loud at say 130 dB. To put this into perspective, this is considered higher than the highest safe level for hearing (120 dB). Other sources compare a frightened pig’s squeal to the sound level of a jet taking off i.e. 113 dB. Either way, that’s pretty loud.

It is therefore hard to understand how these 3 grown pigs were stolen without the guard butting an eyelid, drunk or not.

The first ground rule in establishing this business in Uganda is to make sure that you have reliable business partners or employees or else you will lose your “pearls” to pigs (literally).

There are other considerations you need to look into prior to investing in this sector.

FIRST THE CONS

1.Feeding

Pigs eat enormous quantities. A fully mature pig especially one to rear for commercial purposes will eat about 3.4kg a day. A growing one eats on average 2.02 kg. If you are buying animal feed, which comprises mainly maize meal then the cost will be significant particularly given the steadily rising maize prices in Uganda (owing to droughts). You have two options to countering this high cost:

• Option 1: Grow your own food i.e. maize and vegetables to feed them and supplement this with protein(say fish or soy meal).
• Option 2: Ensure the farm is located near a major boarding school and/or a hotel/restaurant so that you can pay next to nothing for “Swill” i.e left overs like maize/corn meal (called “Posho” in local speak) and beans from the schools (corn meal and beans are a staple food in boarding schools in Uganda and so readily available).You can then supplement the maize and beans meal with leftover protein meal say chicken or beef from hotels/restaurants. Another alternative but cheap protein source is Dagaa/Omena fish (called “mukene” in local speak). Pigs are after all omnivorous and will literally eat anything(don’t however feed them rotting food).

2. Cash flow/Working capital

Like most agriculture related activities, particularly in Uganda you need to have cash on hand and particularly for at least 11 months(growth and gestation period for pigs) before you start earning from the sale of the pigs. This is especially a key consideration as there are no advanced credit card facilities and agriculture loans particularly without security are hard to come by in Uganda.

3. Diseases

Pigs are susceptible to several diseases and it is not uncommon for the government to quarantine whole districts following disease outbreaks like the deadly African Swine Fever. It is therefore critical that as part of the start up you enter into an arrangement with a veterinary officer who will be available for scheduled immunisation, routine checks as well as emergencies. The Government programme under the NAADS scheme may help in providing free/subsidised veterinary services, I however recommend a private arrangement to ensure regularity as sometimes civil servants in Uganda are not reliable.

4. Water source.

Pigs have no sweat glands and so to cool off, they need water (or a “mud bath”). Likewise you need water to clean out their pens and feeding areas especially as their population increases- and it does rapidly! It is therefore critical to have loads of water. I therefore advocate that you set up the farm near an easy water source such as say a swamp or that you install a water tank to harvest rain water. These are the cheapest and most effective options in Uganda compared to piped water supply from the water supply company, NWSC.

AND NOW THE PROS

1. Less intensive management.

As long as you invest in good housing that for example properly separates lactating sows from the rest, has separate feeding and sleeping areas and the like then with a little land you can easily manage pig farming with few staff.

2. Profitability owing to demand.

A lot of sources believe this sector is one of the most profitable ventures in animal farming particularly as they require less intensive management compared say to poultry or dairy-farming. The profitability in Uganda is driven by the huge demand for pork.

As per a Uganda Bureau of Statistics Livestock census in 2008 there were just over 3.1 million pigs. Assuming growth rates since then on the basis of the economy growth (real GDP) which was about 7.2% in 2009, 5.20% in 2010 and 6.4% in 2011, then the pig population is estimated at 4.3 million at 2012. This is still a very small number especially when compared say to chicken which per the same census were over 37 million in 2008 and therefore estimated (on the same basis of GDP growth) to be 44 million in 2012.

I can expect that there will be a continued demand for pork and over time other related industries will develop for pork products such as sausages, bacon, gammon and the like particularly as the population’s income levels increase(driven by economic growth).

On the basis of a model analysis I have developed, I summarise the profitability for this sector as below:

Return on Capital

• Start-up Capital(including working capital for 11 months) (A): Shs. 7,738,248
• Profit per year (B): Shs. 2,681,086
• Return on Investment/Capital (years to get capital back) (A/(B): 2.886 years.

*The profit is calculated over a 14 month period consisting of season 1 and season 2.

It should be noted that the original investment/start up capital will continue to be recovered in seasons 3 onwards as the piglets from season 1 and season 2 mature.

Final word

In light of the fairly quick return on investment, this is definitely a sector worth looking into.

“Dr. Smart Pig was a famous inventor, but he didn’t have any friends…”

This is a Halloween book that can be enjoyed all year long. Most kids are fascinated with The Three Little Pigs and The Big Bad Wolf. So if you’ve read The Three Little Pigs a million times and need a bit of a change, then this is the book for you. You’ll be happy to have a little variety in your life, and your young reader will be happy to still be hearing about the Big Bad Wolf.

The story begins with Dr. Pig who feels alone ever since the Big Bad Wolf ate his two brothers. Then he realizes, he’s a famous inventor, so he can invent a friend. He sprints to his lab where he mixes up concoction after concoction. Kids will love the illustrations of his results–a pig fish, a pig bat. He just can’t quite seem to get it right until finally, he thinks he’s picked all the ingredients and out comes the biggest pig you’ve ever seen. And he’s hungry. News of the giant pig spreads fast (I loved the illustration of the paparazzi snapping photos outside their house window) and the Big Bad Wolf catches a glimpse of the pig on TV. Thinking the pig would be a tasty meal, he heads off to Dr. Pig’s house for a feast. In classic Big Bad Wolf style, he disguises himself in a Halloween costume and rings the bell to trick or treat. The giant pig answers the door and after they size each other up, it’s the Big Bad Wolf who gets swallowed up by the pig. Nothing like a little payback!

This is a mad-scientist story that stresses the importance of friendship– sure to bring laughs.

Additional Information:

Author: Kathryn Lasky

Illustrator: David Jarvis

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Hardcover: 40 pages

Publisher: Blue Sky Press (September 1, 2002)

ISBN-10: 059062380X

ISBN-13: 978-0590623803

Managing a pig breeding farm is not a child’s play. This project requires plenty of time and effort. For example, you must take care of the animals on a daily basis. One essential aspect of taking care of these animals is to ensure they are protected. For this purpose, most people use farrowing crates. If you have started this project for the first time and you have no idea how to purchase farrowing crates, you are on the right article. In this article, we are going to share with you a couple of tips to help you make this choice. Read on to find out more.

1. Consider the Environment

First of all, you may want to consider the environment to find out if it is suitable for pig breeding. Make sure that the environment is neither too hot nor too cold or you may have to suffer a lot of loss. Baby pigs cannot survive in harsh environments.

2. Look for Strong Units

Since you are going to use crates to protect your animals, make sure that they are strong enough to keep them in. Similarly, you must know about your state rules and regulations so that you don’t get in trouble.

3. Count your Pigs

If you are just getting started, you may not have a lot of animals on your pig farm. Therefore, you can manage your animals using a small unit. Similarly, you should estimate how many of the female pigs will deliver babies. This approach will help you decide on the best size to cover your needs.

4. Consider the Hygiene Aspect

Since you will need to clean your form on a daily basis, make sure that the crates are not difficult to maintain. This should not make it difficult for you to access different areas of your pig breeding farm. This aspect is important if you want to ensure that your animals will stay away from diseases.

5. Go for the Best Type

The good news is that you can choose from different types of farrowing crates. For instance, there are farrowing cages and gestation boxes. Don’t forget to set your budget before putting your hard-earned money into a crate.

If you are just starting out, there is no need to invest in a large, high-end crate. After all, you don’t want to spend all your money on this purchase.

6. Consider the Mounting System

Make sure that the farrowing crate can be fixed in the ground using a strong mounting system. If the mounting system is not working properly, the unit may not be able to protect your animals. As a matter of fact, the adult pigs may end up stepping on the babies due to weak crates. Therefore, we suggest that you consider the quality of the ground fixing system.

Long story short, we suggest that you consider the simple tips the next time you need to purchase a farrowing crate for your big farming.

Consumers are becoming aware of the health benefits of organic vegetables and organic meat. Now you can go to the market and select between commercial and organic products. But why buy if you can produce? Due to the growing popularity of organic farming, farm owners and hog raisers are switching to organic pig farming and organic feeds. Cooperatives are constantly giving seminars and programs on how to raise pigs using organic methods.

One of the traditional ways on how to raise pigs is as simple as letting them graze in pastures and open range farms. In here, pigs are allowed to grazed grass, plants, and even herbs as its food. The idea is to utilize the natural ventilation and the sun to provide better environment for the pigs. These also serve as an exercise for the pigs to keep them healthy and leaner.

The open range farms also make sure that clean and beneficial plants are scattered around the pasture. Plants like lemongrass and guava leaves are good for the pigs digestive system while turmeric produce tender and juicy meat. Pigs are also introduce to organic diets which include organic corn, flax seed, buckwheat, barley, roasted soybeans, and vitamins and minerals designed for organic production. Corn shots are also given several days before butchering to integrate a sweeter taste to the meat.

Organic farming eliminates the consumption of antibiotics, hormones, and animal products, which can cause certain diseases both to the pigs and the consumers.

De-worming of pigs can also be natural. Garlic is a good alternative for antibiotics and commercial dewormers. Mince the garlic and mix directly to the feeds. Ongoing treatment is recommended to eliminate the worms and prevent them from coming back.

Wondering how to raise pigs at home? If you do not have a grazing land but live near an organic farm then your problem is solved. Purchasing directly from organic farms and farmer’s market assures you of fresh produce. Sometimes organic farms also allow fellow farmers to use their land, as the pigs’ manure can be instant compost for their plants. You can also purchase fruits in the market as a treat for the pigs.

One of the drawbacks of organic farming is the cost. Organic feeds cost more than conventional feeds. If you stay within the pasture area, it may cost a little lower but this will not ensure a proper diet for the pigs. The high cost of organic pig farming will also affect the selling price when it gets in the market. Diseases that require antibiotics may be substituted by natural remedies but sometimes cannot be prevented to cure the sick pigs.

Organic farming is a natural way on how to raise pigs. Pigs produce from organic farms are leaner and healthier. You are assured that it is fresh and is not touched by toxic antibiotics or genetically modified food. Although it may cost more to produce, the benefits and assurance that you get from organic farming cannot be upended by non-organic and commercially produced products.

I used to sweat all the time. It didn’t matter what I was doing. Whether I was hot or cold, exercising or just sitting still. My face would get flushed and my hair would be a soaking wet mop. I didn’t know how to stop sweating. It was so bad I used to have to change clothes in the middle of the day.

It was extremely embarrassing! Finally I had enough and I decided to find out exactly what was causing me to sweat like a pig and how to cure it. I learned that there are a few incredibly easy things a person can do to stop sweating excessively and start living a normal life.

First I learned that diet plays a major role in how much our bodies sweat. Avoiding spicy foods, which make the body feel “hotter” than it really is, can help a lot. I also found that excessive sweating can be caused by an overactive thyroid. The thyroid produces hormones by taking up iodine and so reducing iodine in the diet can sometimes help.

So I tried avoiding iodine-rich foods, like broccoli and liver and iodized salt. That seemed to help quite a bit.

My condition had improved somewhat, but I still was a sweaty mess most of the time. I finally bit the bullet and went to the doctor. He prescribed me a medication called Robinul. I was skeptical immediately, since I don’t like taking pills, but I gave it a shot. It did work pretty well. After a few days I was drier than I had been in a while, but the side effects were terrible. I had constant headaches and was dizzy all the time and it seemed I had traded one lousy condition for the other. Your mileage may vary with medications like this however, I decided they weren’t for me.

That’s when I decided to find out how to stop sweating naturally. I came across a lot of natural methods which people reported great success with. One method that worked really well for me was drinking sage tea. Sage tea works because it has a high amount of tannins. Tannins are natural compounds which act as a natural astringent in the body. Basically they dry you out! I drank a concoction of sage tea every day and my sweating problem was probably reduced 75%. My quality of life improved dramatically.

If you had the same problem as me, where you don’t know how to stop sweating, the one thing I can say is, don’t give up. I searched and searched until I found a combination of natural techniques that cured me completely. You don’t have to live with this miserable condition the rest of your life.

Is the guinea pig a good pet for a young child? When a young child expresses the interest to have his or her own pet the guinea pig, along with other rodents, is often thought to be the ideal first pet. But are guinea pigs really the best pet for young children to have?

Guinea pigs, also called ‘cavies’, originally come from South America and live in grassland in small herds. For this reason if you do buy a piggy you ought to get a pair as they prefer to live with others of their kind. They are often recommended for children’s pets due to their gentle temperament and them being very social animals.

Guinea pigs are also fairly easy to look after; this being an advantage for a child’s first pet. Of course children shouldn’t be solely responsible for a guinea pig by themselves and an adult should also check the piggy is being looked after correctly, for the sake of the pig’s welfare.

To keep a guinea piggie you will need a cage or hutch. It is worth browsing through guinea pig hutches and cages to find one that is sturdy and well made and that will last at least four years. You should also check you have a suitable place to situate the pig’s home before you buy it or the pig. Cavies can be kept outdoors or indoors provided the conditions are OK for your furry friend.

Cavies will, like any other animal, need daily care. This involves feeding and grooming, checking their health and letting the pig out in a run for exercise. At least once a week the pig’s hutch or cage will need cleaning out.

In their diet piggies will need to have dried food, hay grass and a range of vegetables. There should always be an unlimited supply of hay or grass, due to cavies in the wild being grazing animals. Fresh, clean water should also always be available.

Before you decide to get any pet for your child make sure that you will be able to financially look after it. Also make sure that you are prepared to physically look after it or find it a new home if your child looses interest in it.

With many children you will need to keep reminding them to feed their pet and look after it; remember they’ve probably never been responsible for their own pet before so it may take a while for them to get used to the idea of themselves as an owner.

So what makes a cavy a better pet for young children than other animals such as rabbits?

There are several things that can make guinea piggies better pets for young children than rabbits. For a start there are far less health problems associated with piggies than with the majority of rabbits, and guinea pigs need to have far less injections and vaccinations, if any at all, than most rabbits do.

Guinea pigs are great animals to cuddle as they will sit quite happily on your lap for ages, mostly without getting bored.

There are different guinea pig breeds that are recommended for different children. In general, a short haired, smooth coated cavy would make a better pet for a young child than a long haired pig, as the latter will need a lot of daily attention to their fur to keep them in pristine condition.

At some point, many children are likely to show an interest in wanting to keep a hamster in their room. Cavies make much better pets in my opinion due to them being diurnal, like us, and won’t keep you awake at night like a nocturnal hamster is likely to. And piggies can even be kept in a child’s bedroom provided the conditions are correct.

So, the answer to the question is yes; guinea pigs can make good children’s pets.

Many farmers see rearing pigs as a very lucrative business, which is why the industry has been going on for many years. Markets are high in demand for pork and to be able to win in such competition, one must be able to rear pigs the proper way. This means he or she must know what to provide for the pigs, how to pick healthy and impressive pigs with outstanding qualities, and also how to breed these pigs for more stock in the future.

For this article, tips on rearing pigs will be enumerated and discussed for readers who are interested in becoming pig farmers.

1. The first thing that a farmer must have when rearing pigs is a large housing space for the stalls or pig pens. These pens must be roomy enough for the pigs and their future litter and should be maintained and cleaned at all times. Another important thing to remember is fencing, which should be secure enough to keep the pigs from roaming around the house on their own. You can build these stalls with hog wire and secure them with fences.

2. Next, you need to be able to seek out good pig breeders who can provide you with well-rounded pigs for breeding and selling. If you’re rearing pigs for their meat, you have to pick out breeders who are well-known for their healthy and impressive selections of pigs for slaughter. Take some time to browse through the yellow pages or visit your favorite local pig stores for referrals.

3. An important tip when rearing pigs is to know when the sows are ready to mate with the boars. You will know if it is time to mate when the vulvas of the pigs are swelling. This is a major indicator of fertility, so if you have young sows that are ready to mate, you can breed them on their first day of fertility already. Once you have sows that are older in age, you may have to start breeding the next day for a higher chance of pregnancy.

4. Feeding is a very vital part in raising pigs. Ideally, you have to feed pigs at least twice a day, but depending on the breed of the pig and the purpose of breeding them, you may have to increase the number of feeding times to speed up growth and weight gain. Always have a good supply of pig feed so that your pigs will remain healthy and plump.