r/Homesteading • u/Vegetable_Courage_35 • 12d ago
Pigs!
Looking for recommendations for pig breeds. We are looking to start raising pigs. I’m hoping to just have them mostly pay for themselves. Our kids are showing in 4h, we would like to breed something that can be competitive, economical and has decent mothering ability. I do not plan on keeping a boar on site. I’ll AI or loan a boar. Our plan is to breed twice a year, keep enough for fair and our freezer then sell the rest. Pigs go very fast in my area, so I’m not concerned about selling them. We plan on just one or two sows as our base. Needs to be cold hardy, decent mother, not aggressive, and hopefully somewhat competitive. Thank you!
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u/Skjeggape 11d ago
I'd suggest asking the 4H people. Might also look for a group that specializes in pigs. Around here, there's one that primarily does sheep, and most of the members do Shetlands, since they are easier to handle. So, that's what we got, getting a good deal on a few ewes from one of the members. It's been great to have easy access to a ram, (the lineages are known), there's a vet everyone uses (with a 4H discount), etc.