Buying piglets is the first decision that determines whether your pig farming batch will be profitable or not. Buy the wrong piglets — too young, sick, or from poor stock — and you are fighting uphill from day one.
"Pilia gyud ang baktin nga kusgan mokaon ug dili hilom-hilom." (Choose the piglet that eats vigorously and is not too quiet.)
The Ideal Age: 8–10 Weeks
Philippine smallholder farms wean piglets at a median age of 44 days (Lanada et al., 2005), with a range of 18–81 days. The best time to buy is 8–10 weeks — after full weaning, when the piglet is eating solid feed independently and has received its first vaccinations.
| Purchase Age | Risk Level | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Under 6 weeks | High risk | May not be fully weaned. Higher mortality from stress and scours. |
| 8–10 weeks | Best choice | Weaned, eating solid feed, vaccinated. Strong enough for transport. |
| 12+ weeks ("started") | Lower risk | Safer but more expensive. Less profit margin for fattening. |
What to Look For
Healthy signs — buy this piglet
- Active, alert, curious — approaches you, does not hide in the corner
- Bright, clear eyes — no discharge or redness
- Clean rear end — no diarrhea stains around the tail
- Smooth, clean skin — no crusty patches, scabs, or rough areas
- Good body shape — not bony, not pot-bellied
- Normal breathing — no coughing, sneezing, or wheezing
- Walks and runs normally — no limping or stiffness
- Weight: At least 8–12 kg at 8 weeks for improved breeds (native piglets may be smaller at 5–8 kg)
Red flags — do NOT buy this piglet
- Pot belly with thin body — heavy parasite (worm) load
- Rough, dull coat — chronic poor nutrition or disease
- Coughing or sneezing — respiratory infection that may spread to your herd
- Pale skin or droopy ears — anemia, likely from parasites
- Bloody or watery diarrhea — active disease
- Hernias (lumps at navel or scrotum) — genetic defect, will not perform well
- Runt of the litter — will never catch up to siblings. The cheapest piglet is rarely a good deal.
Where to Buy
- Direct from breeder farms — the best option. You can see the parent stock and ask about health records. Check BAI's accredited breeder list at bai.gov.ph.
- Fellow farmers in the barangay — word-of-mouth is still the most common method. You can see the sow and the conditions the piglets were raised in.
- Livestock auction markets (bagsakan) — available in major agricultural towns. Prices are competitive but health history is unknown.
- Online (Facebook groups) — growing trend. Search "[your province] piglets for sale" on Facebook Marketplace or groups like "Hog Raisers Philippines." Verify seller reputation before transacting.
- LGU dispersal programs — some municipalities distribute subsidized piglets through DA livelihood programs or 4H clubs. Ask your Municipal Agriculturist.
Questions to Ask the Seller
Before handing over money, ask:
- What vaccines has this piglet received? (At minimum: hog cholera vaccine)
- When was the last deworming? (Should be dewormed at least once)
- What feed is the piglet currently eating? (Important for gradual transition — sudden feed change causes scours)
- How old is the sow, and how many litters? (First-litter piglets tend to be smaller)
- Can I see the sow? (Healthy, well-maintained sow = better piglets)
After Purchase: The First Two Weeks
The first two weeks after buying are the highest-risk period. Transport stress, new environment, and feed changes all combine to make piglets vulnerable.
- Quarantine new pigs for 7–14 days before mixing with any existing animals. This prevents disease introduction.
- Transition feed gradually over 5–7 days. Mix the old feed with your feed, gradually increasing the new feed proportion.
- Provide clean water 24 hours a day. Stressed piglets dehydrate easily.
- Deworm on arrival if the seller cannot confirm recent deworming.
- Keep the pen warm, dry, and draft-free. Newly transported piglets are stressed and more susceptible to illness.
Timing Your Purchase for Profit
Piglet prices and pork selling prices follow seasonal patterns in the Philippines:
- Buy piglets in July–August → sell finished pigs in December–January (Christmas and fiesta season, when pork prices peak)
- Avoid buying in October–November — piglet prices are inflated because everyone wants to sell for Christmas
- Budget for first-week losses: 3–5% of purchased piglets may die from transport and adjustment stress. Factor this into your budget.
Bisaya / Cebuano
Para sa mga mag-uuma
Kanus-a ang pinakamaayo nga edad sa pagpalit og baktin?
Ang pinakamaayo: 8–10 ka semana — weaned na, mokaon na og kaugalingon, ug nabakuna na.
Unsay tan-awon sa palit:
- Kusgan mokaon, aktibo, dili hilom-hilom
- Limpyo ang panit — walay galis o hubag
- Walay kahak o kalibanga
- Dili bilbil ang tiyan (pot belly = ulod)
Ayaw palita: ang pinakagamay sa batch (runt), ang nagkahak, o ang naay hubag sa pusod.
Tip sa panahon: Palit og baktin sa Hulyo–Agosto para ibaligya sa Disyembre — pinakataas ang presyo sa baboy.
Learn More
- Best pig breeds for small farmers in the Philippines — which breed to choose
- Pig farming profit: can you earn from 10 pigs? — complete batch economics
- Cost to raise a pig in the Philippines — budget planning
- Profit Simulator — model your return
Sources: Lanada et al. 2005 (weaning practices in Philippine smallholder farms), Vega 2012 (Philippine commercial piggery farm performance), BAI accredited breeder farm guidelines, PSA quarterly livestock price surveys, DA-ATI swine production training modules.
