how to invest in pig farming in kenya

1. PIG FARMING IN KENYA
By Antony.w.wangeci

2. Introduction
Pig farming is important in many parts of the world as it produces cheap
tasty meat and other secondary products like pigskin, bristle, lard, bone
and blood meals, and manure over a shorter period. Pork is processed into
various forms such as ham, bacon and sausages. Pigs are hardy stock and
are profitable to rear as they are prolific breeders and turn out good meat
over a reasonable period. Pig production is a very good business venture
which brings ready cash anytime and it is also convenient to every
producer. It is good for every farmer to know the effective management of
pig farming and how to produce pigs.

3. Management Practices
 Breeding
 Foundation stock
 Care for the sow during pregnancy
 Farrowing
 Care of the baby pig (piglet)
 Housing
 Feeding
 Prevention and controlling diseases and pest

4. Breeding
After obtaining the breeding stock from outside,
the pig farmer selects gilts with desirable
characteristics from his own growers. The
breeding programme depends on the type of
pigs to be produced and at what age.

5. Foundation stock
To start a piggery (pig farm), the foundation stock should have the following qualities;
 A large number of pigs born per sow (should be about 8-10)
 Fewer dead or abnormal piglets born per litter
 Heavier pigs weaned per litter
 Piglets to grow into large and heavier pigs
 Better milk producer, if female

6. ……..cont
 Teats should be 12-14 well-shaped out and without blind nipples, in the case of gilts
 The boar should have two equally sized testicles which should be very pronounced
 The animal should be healthy; the skin soft and free from scales, and in the case of the boar, the
sheath should be free of infection.
 The pig should be of a quite disposition and easy to manage, particularly in the case of sows
when they fallow
 The pig should be of a good shape, well-muscled and should stand on sound feet especially
when the sow is pregnant.

7. Care for the sow during pregnancy
Gilt matures at 5-6 months old but should not be mated until
she is 7-8 months old. Breeding should start after third or fourth
week. Heat occurs at three intervals and last for 2-3 days when
services can take place. It is best to serve the sow twice within
12-24 hours to ensure successful pregnancy. The period of
pregnancy takes 112-115 days i.e. 3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days.

8. Fallowing
The pregnant sow should be dewormed two
weeks before farrow to get rid of worms. The
farrowing pen should be thoroughly, clean,
washed, and scrubbed with boiling water and
disinfectant.

9. Care for the baby (piglet)
 Give warmth to the young pig
 Let them suck the first milk i.e. colostrum to protect them against diseases
 Their milk teeth should be removed to prevent them from biting their mother’s teat.

10. Housing
 The proper design and construction of swine facilities is very important in preventing diseases.
Buildings should be placed on well drained sites. Drainage systems should be designed so that
water and runoff from one group of swine does not reach another. There are many examples of
disease problems where waste water or urine transmitted disease from one group to another.
 Building materials should be selected for durability and ease of cleaning. Durability is important
to prevent wear and damaged areas that harbor infectious agents. For example, a high quality
concrete mix should be used to avoid corrosion by acids in manure. It should also withstand the
gnawing habits of pigs.

11. …..cont
 Solids floors should be sloped for proper drainage and ease of cleaning. Floors that allow
standing water invite filth and sanitation problems. Slotted or wire floors generally work well and
offer a sanitary advantage by reducing manure accumulation. However, wood and concrete slats
are sometimes difficult to clean and disinfect. Walls should be constructed of durable materials
that are easy to clean. Solid partitions, particularly between farrowing crates, and individual hog
houses help prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
 Roofing material can be thatch, spilt bamboo, galvanized iron, asbestos sheets etc. each sty
should be provided with separate trough along one of the sides for feed and water.

12. Feeding
 Cereals and their by-products: maize, rice, millet, guinea corn and the bran from them as
residues from distilleries
 Roots, tubers and their vines, peels and leftovers: cassava, sweet potato, yam, cocoyam and their
peels and leftovers etc.
 Fruits: e.g. pawpaw (which is good as a dewormer), pumpkins, tomatoes, avocado pear

13. …cont
 Leaves and grasses: elephant grass, guinea grass Africa spinach (Amaranthus spp),
banana, centrosema, pueraria
 Oil cakes and meal: these are obtained from oil palm fruits and kernel, coconut, and groundnut
 Fish and animal products: fish meal, meat scraps

14. Prevention and controlling diseases and pest
The best method of preventing disease is not to create
favourable conditions for the germs to breed by adopting good
sanitation measures all the time. This is by keeping the sty and
pigs clean all the time. Provide fly-proof against insects like
tsetse fly all the time. Adhere strictly to routine indication and
vaccination at various stages of growth.

15. THE END