The total cost to raise one pig from weaner to market weight in the Philippines runs ₱9,600 to ₱14,900 for backyard operations and ₱12,800 to ₱19,200 for commercial setups. Feed alone accounts for 60-70% of that figure. Below is the full itemized breakdown so you can estimate costs for your specific situation.
For a quick projection with your own numbers, use the Profit Simulator.
Master Cost Table: Weaner to Market Weight (Per Head)
This table covers the full cycle from acquiring an 8-12 kg weaner piglet to selling a 90-100 kg market hog over approximately 4-5.5 months.
| Cost Item | Backyard Estimate | Commercial Estimate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weaner piglet (8-12 kg) | ₱2,500 - ₱4,000 | ₱3,500 - ₱5,000 | Commercial genetics cost more but grow faster. See best age to buy piglets |
| Feed — Pre-Starter/Starter (8-25 kg) | ₱1,200 - ₱1,800 | ₱1,500 - ₱2,000 | ~30-40 kg feed @ ₱32-44/kg |
| Feed — Grower (25-60 kg) | ₱2,500 - ₱3,500 | ₱3,000 - ₱4,000 | ~80-100 kg feed @ ₱26-32/kg |
| Feed — Finisher (60-100 kg) | ₱2,800 - ₱4,000 | ₱3,500 - ₱5,000 | ~120-160 kg feed @ ₱24-30/kg |
| Vaccines and medications | ₱200 - ₱500 | ₱300 - ₱600 | Hog cholera, deworming, vitamins |
| Housing (amortized per head) | ₱300 - ₱800 | ₱500 - ₱1,500 | Pen depreciation over 5-10 year life |
| Utilities (water, electricity) | ₱100 - ₱300 | ₱200 - ₱500 | Cooling, lighting, water system |
| Labor (amortized per head) | Family labor | ₱300 - ₱600 | Commercial: hired caretaker share |
| Total per head | ₱9,600 - ₱14,900 | ₱12,800 - ₱19,200 |
Backyard operations save on labor (family-run) and housing (simpler structures), but typically have worse FCR and higher mortality, which can offset those savings. Commercial setups spend more upfront but achieve better feed efficiency and uniformity. Honestly, most backyard farmers in the Visayas end up somewhere in the middle of these ranges.
Feed Cost Detail by Growth Phase
Feed is the largest cost component. Here is what to expect per phase using commercial pre-mixed feeds at early 2026 prices.
| Growth Phase | Weight Range | Feed Needed | Days | Price/50 kg Sack | Sacks Needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Starter | 8 - 15 kg | 8 - 12 kg | 12 - 18 | ₱1,800 - ₱2,200 | 0.2 - 0.3 | ₱360 - ₱550 |
| Starter | 15 - 25 kg | 20 - 28 kg | 18 - 25 | ₱1,500 - ₱1,850 | 0.4 - 0.6 | ₱600 - ₱1,050 |
| Grower | 25 - 60 kg | 80 - 100 kg | 40 - 55 | ₱1,300 - ₱1,600 | 1.6 - 2.0 | ₱2,080 - ₱3,200 |
| Finisher | 60 - 100 kg | 120 - 160 kg | 45 - 55 | ₱1,200 - ₱1,500 | 2.4 - 3.2 | ₱2,880 - ₱4,800 |
| Total | 228 - 300 kg | 115 - 153 | 4.6 - 6.1 | ₱5,920 - ₱9,600 |
Major commercial feed brands in the Philippines include B-MEG (San Miguel), Thunderbird, Vitarich, Pilmico (Aboitiz), and Cargill. Prices vary by 10-15% across regions. Feed in Mindanao (Davao, Bukidnon) tends to run ₱50-100/sack cheaper than in Metro Manila or Cebu because of proximity to corn and copra sources. Buying in bulk (by the pallet) typically saves ₱50-100 per sack on top of that.
If you are in a corn-producing area like Bukidnon or Isabela, mixing your own grower/finisher ration with local corn and copra meal can cut feed costs by 20-30%. See cheapest way to feed pigs and alternative feeding systems for formulas.
For a more detailed analysis of feed economics and locally mixed rations, see The Real Cost of Pig Feed in the Philippines.
Vaccines and Medication Checklist
A basic health program for grow-out pigs in Philippine conditions, following FAO swine health recommendations:
| Item | When | Cost per Head | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hog cholera vaccine | Day 1 and booster at 45 days | ₱40 - ₱80 | Required. Classical swine fever prevention |
| Iron dextran injection | Day 3 (if from own sow) | ₱15 - ₱25 | Prevents piglet anemia. Not needed if buying weaners already treated |
| Deworming (ivermectin/fenbendazole) | Day 30 and Day 75 | ₱30 - ₱60 | Two rounds minimum for grow-out |
| Vitamins (B-complex, ADE) | Monthly or as needed | ₱40 - ₱80 | Stress periods, post-vaccination |
| Antibiotic reserve | As needed | ₱50 - ₱200 | Respiratory or enteric disease. Consult vet |
| Wound spray / antiseptic | As needed | ₱20 - ₱40 | Tail biting, pen injuries |
| Total health program | ₱195 - ₱485 |
Vaccinate before or on the day of arrival. Stressed weaners that skip vaccination are the highest-risk group for hog cholera outbreaks. One outbreak in a 10-head batch can wipe your entire ₱120,000 investment in days.
See how to inject pigs for proper technique and pig vaccination schedule for the full program.
Breakeven Calculation
Once you know your total cost per head, calculating breakeven is straightforward:
Breakeven ₱/kg = Total Cost / Target Market Weight
| Scenario | Total Cost | Target Weight | Breakeven ₱/kg | Market Price ₱/kg | Profit/Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backyard (low cost) | ₱9,600 | 95 kg | ₱101 | ₱185 | ₱7,975 |
| Backyard (average) | ₱12,000 | 100 kg | ₱120 | ₱185 | ₱6,500 |
| Commercial (average) | ₱15,000 | 100 kg | ₱150 | ₱195 | ₱4,500 |
| Commercial (high cost) | ₱19,200 | 100 kg | ₱192 | ₱195 | ₱300 |
At current market conditions (2025-2026), backyard operations with good management can achieve ₱4,500-₱8,000 profit per head. Commercial operations run tighter margins but compensate with volume and consistency. The key variable is feed cost. A ₱2/kg increase in feed price adds roughly ₱500-₱600 to total cost per head.
Farmgate prices vary by region. PSA Q3 2025 data shows the national average at ₱191.51/kg liveweight, but NCR and Cebu typically run ₱10-20/kg higher than Mindanao. That ₱20/kg difference on a 100 kg pig is ₱2,000 more revenue — enough to shift a breakeven operation into profit. Check current crossbreed pig prices by region for your area.
For more on breakeven analysis, see Pig Farming Breakeven Calculator.
10-Head Batch Example
Here is what a small backyard operator raising 10 pigs per batch might expect:
| Item | Per Head | 10-Head Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Weaners | ₱3,500 | ₱35,000 |
| Feed (all phases) | ₱7,500 | ₱75,000 |
| Vaccines/meds | ₱350 | ₱3,500 |
| Housing (amortized) | ₱500 | ₱5,000 |
| Utilities | ₱200 | ₱2,000 |
| Total investment | ₱12,050 | ₱120,500 |
| Revenue (100 kg @ ₱185/kg) | ₱18,500 | ₱185,000 |
| Gross profit | ₱6,450 | ₱64,500 |
| Mortality adjustment (5%) | -₱9,250 (0.5 head lost) | |
| Net profit (after mortality) | ₱55,250 |
That is roughly ₱55,000 profit on ₱120,000 invested over 4-5 months, a 46% return on capital. Not bad at all.
The catch: you need the full ₱120,000 upfront, and revenue arrives only at the end. That's 4-5 months of spending before you see a single peso back. One disease outbreak can wipe the batch. If you cannot afford to lose the entire investment, start with 3-5 heads first.
Most first-time farmers we talk to underestimate this cash flow gap.
Run Your Own Numbers
Every operation is different. Feed prices, weaner source, mortality rate, and local market price determine actual profit. These tools allow modeling for specific conditions:
- Profit Simulator — input costs and see projected profit per head and per batch
- Feed Calculator — estimate feed consumption and cost by growth phase
Sources: PSA Farmgate Price Survey for Hog (quarterly), DA-BAI Good Animal Husbandry Practices (GAHP) Guidelines for Swine, DA Regional Field Office production cost estimates, PIDS Discussion Paper on Small-Scale Hog Farming Economics.
Bisaya / Cebuano
Pila gyud ang gasto sa pagpadako og usa ka baboy?
Kung commercial cross (LW x Landrace), 100% commercial feed:
| Gasto | Kantidad |
|---|---|
| Weaner (10-12 kg) | ₱3,000-₱4,000 |
| Feeds (starter + grower + finisher) | ₱7,500-₱9,000 |
| Bakuna + dewormer | ₱300-₱500 |
| Tubig, kuryente, quicklime | ₱200-₱400 |
| Tangkal (amortized) | ₱300-₱500 |
| Total | ₱11,300-₱14,400 |
Kung mixed feeding (commercial concentrate + darak + copra meal): Mahimo ka makatipig og ₱2,000-₱3,000 matag ulo sa feeds. Ang total mogamay ngadto sa ₱9,000-₱11,500. Pero kinahanglan ka mahibalo sa tamang ratio, dili basta-basta lang isagol.
Pila ang ganansya? Kung ibaligya sa 95 kg ug ang farmgate ₱180/kg, ang revenue ₱17,100. Kung ang gasto ₱12,000, ang ganansya ₱5,100 matag ulo. Sa 10 ka baboy, mga ₱51,000 sa usa ka batch (4-5 ka bulan).
Ang pinaka-common nga sayop: dili pag-track sa tinuod nga gasto. Daghan og mag-uuma moingon "mga ₱12,000 siguro ang gasto" pero wala sila kabalo kung ₱11,000 ba o ₱14,000. Ang kalainan niini ₱3,000 matag ulo, o ₱30,000 sa 10 ka baboy. Mao na ang kalainan sa profitable ug break-even.
Buhata kini: Pagkahuman sa imong sunod batch, ilista ang TANAN nga gasto. Matag sako sa feeds, matag bakuna, matag bayad sa kuryente. Pagkahuman, i-divide sa gidaghanon sa baboy nga nabaligya. Mao na ang imong tinuod nga cost per head. Gamita ang Profit Simulator aron makita ang posible nga kita sa imong sunod nga batch.
Related reading:
- Pig Feed Consumption Chart by Weight — daily intake and total feed per phase
- The Real Cost of Pig Feed — detailed feed economics with brand comparison
- Cheapest Way to Feed Pigs — budget feeding strategies
- Best Age to Buy Piglets for Fattening — weaner selection guide
- Production Cycle Framework — production cycle management
- Crossbreed Pig Price Philippines — current farmgate prices by breed and region
Sources: PSA Farmgate Price of Hogs Q3 2025, DA-BAI Good Animal Husbandry Practices (GAHP) for Swine, ThePigSite feed cost analysis, FAO swine health recommendations, DA INSPIRE program, feed pricing from B-MEG, Pilmico, Vitarich distributors (Q1 2026). Figures represent typical ranges and vary by location and management level.
