Expert guides on Philippine pig farming — feed economics, breed selection, biosecurity, and building profitable operations.
The ideal age to buy piglets for fattening is 8-10 weeks — fully weaned, eating solid feed, and past the most vulnerable period. Here is what to look for and what to avoid.
You do not need expensive commercial feeds to raise healthy pigs. A home-mixed ration using rice bran, copra meal, corn, and local greens costs 40-50% less and works well for backyard operations.
Internal parasites are the #1 cause of slow pig growth in backyard farms. Deworming every 3-4 months with ivermectin or albendazole costs very little and can improve weight gain by up to 40%.
The most reliable early sign: if your sow does not return to heat 21 days after mating, she is likely pregnant. Gestation is 114 days — 3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days.
Yes, you can raise 1-5 pigs in most Philippine backyards — but you need to check local ordinances, manage waste properly, and keep your neighbors informed.
If your pig is growing slower than expected, the cause is usually one of 5 things: parasites, poor feed quality, heat stress, disease, or overcrowding. Here is how to diagnose each one.
A pig that stops eating is telling you something is wrong. Here are the signs every backyard farmer should watch for, and what each symptom usually means.
In Philippine heat, pigs need 30-50% more water than temperate climate guidelines suggest. A lactating sow needs 25-35 liters per day. Most backyard farms underestimate this.
A commercial-cross pig reaches market weight (80-100 kg) in about 5-6 months from weaning. Native pigs take 6-8 months to reach 50-60 kg. Here is the complete timeline.