Farmers can make up to Ug Shs600,000 net profit in seven months from one pig by following a simple commercial exclusive feeding routine and other management practices.
Exclusive use of feeds gives uniform growth and maturity of the pigs, therefore, making it possible to plan when to breed for delivery to the market.
Bannet Nyiringiye, a pig farmer, is making a net income of Shs15m by strictly observing a feeding routine, which enables him deliver pigs to the market ready for slaughter.
This, he says, has created trust in his business as a contracted farmer.
After the first 10 days, Nyiringiye introduces the piglets to a handful commercial feeds. They feed on the same for five days before he moves in with about 100 grams per day from the 16th day.
Weaners
Nyiringiye increases the feeds gradually by 100 grams for the next 42 days when the piglets are weaned.
Starting from the seventh to the 12th week, he goes on feeding them on the pigs’ starter meal of 600 grams at a gradual increment of 100 grams.
“Each piglet consumes about 37 kilograms of pig starter until the age of 12 weeks. This is about 0.5 kilogram per day on average. By the 12th week, the weaner feeds on one kilogram per day,” the farmer said.
Growers
Water must be provided in separate troughs and all feedings done in the morning, afternoon and in the evening. From the 13th week, the pigs are at the grower’s stage, which runs to the 20th week, when they feed on grower’s meal.
During the three-day transition, the grower’s meal must be mixed with the previous starter one to avoid stress.
Each of the pigs consumes 1.2 kilogram of feeds per day, with an increment of 100 grams to 200 grams each week.
Finishers
By the end of 20 weeks, one young pig consumes 1.8 kilogram per day, translating into between 98 and 100 kilograms.
Nyiringiye says from 21 to 28 weeks, the finishers are growing fast in readiness for bacon.
“Pig finishing meal is served at 2.2 kilogram per day from the 21 weeks. It is increased gradually by 100 grams and 200 grams per pig weekly. This helps in adding weight in readiness for the market,” Nyiringiye says.
A pig is ready for slaughter by the 28th week after consuming 145 kilogram finishing meal for the eight weeks.
Nyiringiye delivers a set of 25 pigs to the meat processor at the end of the seven months.
Costing the pigs
The meat processor takes care of transport of the animals. After taking care of every expense, he remains with a net income of Shs15m from the entire set.
In costing the feed, every pig consumes 37 kilograms of pig meal starter until the end of weaning, and 100 kilograms grower’s meal up to the age of 20 weeks.
From the 21 week to the 28 week of slaughtering, a pig consumes 145 kilograms at the rate of 2.6 kilogram per day. That means a pig feeds on 282 kilograms to meat maturity.
The cost of the feeds vary from Shs 72,000 and Shs 93,600 for every 70 kilograms sack.
Taking an average of Shs.93,600 for every sack of the meal, the farmer spends Shs335,000 to raise the pig, which will fetch a net income of Shs 600,000.
Although he does not reveal how much it costs in deworming and other management practices, the farmer insists an established clean sty gives best results, with minimum or no sickness incidences.
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