1. GOLDEN RULES For beginner and small herd pig farmers
Seven important headings:
Marketing
Breeding
Housing
Feeding
Welfare
Health
Biosecurity

2. Marketing
Make sure there is someone who is going to buy your pigs and pay for them;
Decide which type of pig you are going to sell:
Weaners
Porkers, or
Baconers
3. Make sure you can finance all the expenses until your first pigs are ready to sell

3. Records are important
Tattoos are compusory Informal records are OK

4. Breeding Decide what type of pig will suit your farm best;
Don’t buy other people’s problems
Plan a program that is going to fit your resources –
Cash
Feed
housing

5. Breeds to think about
Large White SA Landrace
Duroc
Kolbrook c

6. Housing 1, Indoors or outdoors or both;
2. Basic protection against sun and cold does not have to be expensive;
3. Mothers and babies are special and need extra care

7. Welfare
Pigs must be protected against thirst, hunger, pain, fear, extreme heat and cold, diseases;
Pigs in pens are entirely dependent on their care givers for all their needs;
Certain procedures may be done by stockmen, such as: injecting, tattooing, wound treatment, tail-clipping

8. Health and disease Three common problems:-
1. Malnutrition – food is too little, too watery, rotten or toxic;
2. Scours (diarrhoea) in young pigs
3. Mange: itchy diseased skin – pigs of all ages

9. Biosecurity
1. Diseases are spread mainly by pigs, people, bad food, vehicles, workers;
2. Protect your pigs with: pig-proof fence, locked gate,
healthy replacement stock, no speculators on site; Never feed swill from restaurants or harbours or food that contains animal tissues ;
3. Use the help that is available from Veterinarians, nutritionists, animal scientists .

10. Disinfection must be well done Good fences pay Controlled access Transport vehicles must be clean