This is a question we get all the time from people considering whether to raise their own pork. It is natural to think that raising pigs is hard, or that it takes a special building or constant care. The truth is that pigs are one of the easiest farm animals to raise; if you let them, they will almost take care of themselves. The best environment for pigs is a piece of pasture and woods large enough so they have an area to eat, drink and wallow, area to sleep and area to poop with good barriers to keep the pig in and predators out. Continue reading Can I raise a pig?

One of the problems that all pastured hog farmers face is the need for a constant water source for your herds. Hogs need water; a mature hog needs about a fifth of its body weight each day. Supplying that can be a real problem when they are out on pasture and far from the nearest water spigot.

There are solutions available to solve this problem and you choice will depend on how you set up your grazing paddocks and available water sources. I’ll explain a few of these so that you may find some ideas for your farm. Continue reading Providing Water to Pastured Hogs