What are the Benefits of Pigs on a Homestead?

Pigs offer many benefits on a homestead including food waste disposal, foraging, fertilizing, fresh meat and more. These animals do not require a lot of space and are very resilient.

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Pigs Work Well in Small Spaces

Pigs do not require a lot of space, but they like to move around and need exercise to maintain their muscle. On average, one pig will need 6 square feet, with 4 of the square feet covered to protect them from the elements.

Since pigs do not need a lot of space, homesteaders may dedicate more space to other animals, or to gardening. In addition, backyard homesteaders may be able to keep a pet pig without any issue. A small corner of the yard dedicated to the animal, and then the pig may dispose of garden waste and produce compost on a small scale.

Food Waste and Disposal

One main benefits of pigs on a homestead is their ability to consume and irradicate food waste. Generally, pigs will eat about 3lbs of food per day. For instance, the most common foods are grass, grain, alfalfa, and a variety of fruits and vegetables. However, creating a “pig bucket” in your home will reduce food waste. For example, this bucket would get all the scraps from cooking, and anything left on plates, except for meat.

In addition to table scraps, pigs can consume overgrown garden fruits and vegetables. Large squash or okra, or even leftover pumpkins and watermelons are great additions to a pig’s diet.

Older farmers talk highly of the pig bucket and its ability to reduce waste in their homes. Some have so little trash that garbage pickup does not need to visit. Be aware that pigs can eat anything but will not eat everything. Like humans, pigs can be picky eaters. These animals will pick the foods they like to eat and trample the remainder into the soil. These food scraps will also be beneficial to the earth as forms of compost.

No matter how many pigs you have, you want to make sure they have food available all the time.

Natural Foragers

Pigs are natural foragers and use their snouts to dig in the ground for grubs, insects, roots, and small plants. If available, allow your pigs to forage for their food encouraging exercise, but also health of your land. Pigs will eat several varieties of weeds, grasses, mushrooms, roots, and bugs. They also may chew on charred wood for minerals.

By foraging on your property, pigs will benefit the ground by turning the topsoil with their hooves and snouts. Turning of the soil allows for good drainage and dispersal of nutrients. In addition, a benefit of pigs roaming allows their manure to fertilize the soil.

Top Quality Fertilizer

Another one of the benefits of pigs on a homestead is their manure acting as fertilizer. A mature pig can produce up to 11lbs of manure a day. Pigs will typically pick a spot to poop and urinate in, and they will not sleep or eat by their feces.

Pig poop is very high in nitrogen and works well as a fertilizer of sorts; however too much nitrogen can cause a very acidic environment. You can counteract the nitrogen with a carbon substance like wood chips or sawdust. Pig manure mixed with wood chips and other plant substance can be turned into rich compost.

Pigs are Resilient

Not Many Predators

Pigs do not have many predators other than coyotes, large dogs, wolves, and bears. These animals are strong and do not have many threats as they can protect themselves. However, if you are concerned with the wildlife in your area, build a strong fence to protect your animals.

Lack of Grooming

On a homestead, animals may require grooming, one of the benefits of pigs is their ability to be content with mud and dirt. Pigs in general do not need bathing, or grooming. However, if treating the pig more like a pet, you can bathe it similar to bathing a dog and brush them with a soft brush. Their eyes and ears may need to be cleaned as well to prevent infection if dirt collects there.

Taking care of pigs requires a strong relationship with the animal. Be sure to spend a lot of time with them as piglets to encourage them to be friendly and well mannered. Having a good relationship with them will also reduce stress to the animal if you are going to clean them.

Dead-end host for Parasites

To add to the resilience of pigs, they are called a dead-end host for parasites. This simply means their guts are able to breakdown and digest parasites from other animals. For instants, goats, sheep, and cattle are ruminant animals that collect parasites from the grass they eat on pasture. These parasites may include things like gut worms, which are then excreted in the animals’ feces. Pigs eat these feces and digest the parasites which do not return to the soil. Their ability to perform such a task allows for a safter environment for other animals on your homestead.

Fresh Meat

Of course, one of the main benefits of pigs is the fresh meat they provide on a homestead. Pigs may be slaughtered and used in a number of ways after they have reached the proper weight. These animals grow rapidly with proper nutrition.

Feed to Meat Ratio

Pigs are considered to have a high feed to meat ratio. This means that the animal is fed a portion of food that will cost less that the meat that will be sold from the animal. For instance, a pig is fed table scraps and grain for 5 months, costing roughly $150. The pig is then brought to slaughter and the meat sold for $3.00/lb. Since pigs hold on average 75% of hanging weight (useable meat and organs), and this pig weighed in at 280lbs of meat. We can retrieve $840 for the meat. There are other costs that may decrease the total profit, such as butchering costs, and price of the animal when first purchasing, but the return on investment is great.

How Many Ways Can You Use a Pig?

In general, pigs can be used for pork, lard, leather, glue, fertilizer, and medicines. On a small-scale homestead, pigs primarily are slaughtered for meat, but there are other uses for the inedible parts.

The hide or skin of the animal can be tanned and used as leather. The head, feet, and other organs can be used in broths and soups for flavoring. The pig fat, or lard, is used in cooking, soaps, moisturizers, and lotions. The bones can be used for bone broths, and even gelatin for food and non-food use. In addition, the medical industry uses products from pigs to use valves for human heart surgery, or even insulin for the regulation of diabetes.

Breeding

Pigs are very prolific breeders. Whether raising pigs for meat or for breeding, these animals will produce profit. Taking one sow and one boar can produce anywhere from 6 to 20 piglets. Health, breed, and maturity of the animals will cause the number to differ. Each of these piglets can be sold, or a couple can be kept for meat and the others sold. However, be aware that breeding pigs is considered a difficult operation.

Boars and sows may be picky with their mates. In addition, having only one boar and one sow mating regularly may cause deformities or even sterilization of the animals. For small scale homesteads, having a couple feeder pigs is more manageable then breeding them.

Docile and Fun

If raised correctly, pigs are docile and sweet natured animals. They will play and run around happily. These animals can become family members and will make you smile.

In addition to their cheery disposition, pigs are smart. Pigs will play games and like to be challenged with balls and other large toys. Some swine even do puzzles!

Low Time Commitment

Finally, one of the best benefits of pigs on a homestead is their low time commitment. Pigs are able to be left alone as long as food and water are available to them, and they are in a secured area. As many homesteaders know, time is limited, and vacation is not usually an option. However, pigs can be left alone for a weekend so you can get away! For longer vacations, all a pig will need is food and water. Asking a neighbor or friend to check in to make sure they have food is all they need.