Make Money Selling Piglets - Numbers REVEALED!
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- čas přidán 21. 07. 2024
- Make Money Selling Piglets - Numbers REVEALED!
Last fall we decided we would undertake the project of breeding our pastured pigs for the purpose of farrowing a larger group of piglets for sale. The idea was that it was more profitable to farrow and then sell piglets than to simply buy piglets for our farming operation.
Today we are revealing the numbers. Did we make a profit? How much did it cost to raise the piglets? How many piglets did we sell?
Stick around for the answer to these questions and more.
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The best way I learned to trap them from my father, was to put some real good food in the corner. When you know you got customers coming over and then put some make some wood panels about two or 3 feet high and trap them in the corner and then you just reach down and pick up the one you want.
Just subscribed thanks for your great info. Thirty years ago I bought 8 small pigs, raised them to Breeding age, purchased an older Boar from a neighbor for $100.00 . Bred all 8 does, got them to about ten days before their due date. I started thinking about how many pigs were getting ready to drop (Well over 100 I'm sure). So I panicked, called the guy I bought the original 8 pigs from figured up my feed, wire, post, feeder and original pig cost. That came up to a little over a thousand dollars. I told him if he came that evening he could have them for $1500.00, he was there in 30 minutes lol. What a sweet deal he got, but at the time, my brother had bailed on me and I had no help. Wooded pasture still in tact and every time I watch your videos, I'm tempted to give it another whirl, haha. Kind regards from S.C.
Great video, love the numbers! If you count the piglets you kept at $150 each, you made money! Building up the herd is always hard on the short term profits!
Exactly. That’s the original reason we started raising our own piglets, so we didn’t have to buy. It worked out in our favor. Now to grow it.
Judging by the effort and organisation on display in your Farmer’s Market video, I’ve no doubt that next year will be far productive and lucrative for you. Really appreciate the transparency.
Thanks. We try to do a good job at the markets. Saturdays are paydays for us.
I'm starting a pig journey. I'm loving your videos. :) Informative and I am sure I can do this!
love the info you share, thank you.
Nooice! 😎 STOC You've come so far! So proud of you Chuck! Hi Saundra!
You guys make an excellent videos, I am not even a farmer or close to it (I am an engineer) but watching and learning with you guys are so much fun. best of luck in the years to come.
Thanks for this video...y’all are doing good work & are such an inspiration to many...
Thanks! Great meeting you last Saturday.
Thanks for being so honest
I took a major beating this year. Feed cost and a few terrible losses in my herd. Back at it again this fall and litters due next spring. Great content!
Any time your animals pay for themselves, while your trying to expand, you've done well.
Very informative, thank you
Look at raising duckweed (an aquatic plant) for feed. They are high in protein and grow super fast. Look a farmer in Canada named Takota Coen. He has pig raising down to an art form.
No screaming piglets nice and easy method to chatch and sell. I sell piglets too for the same price. After trial and error, the best catch method I learned is... invest in enclosed dog carriers with a door. When you wean and separate them from mom, feed them in carriers. When the buyer picks them up, you will be able to choose which ones you want, pull out from the carrier the ones you don't want, and close the door on them. Keep them calm by feeding a little at a time until you pick up the carrier, carry them to the vehicle and switch them into the buyers car. No screaming, no stress, easy peasy. even when you are moving the carrier the piglets don't seem to notice. At 6 weeks old you can fit two piglets per carrier. At 8 weeks maybe one or two
Also you don't need that many carriers. I sell about 20 piglets per year and only use 2 carriers. Put cheap rubber mats on the floor if slippery
Thanks
What's was your numbers for last year's
Thanks for giving the math on your piglet operation. Things will improve, going forward.
Great video, and thank you for sharing your numbers! With the feed cost the way it is, I am not looking forward to running my numbers this year but, I will. Hopefully, we can make more than $50.00 LOL
Hey Chuck could you do a updated one for this year please. Cheers. Your videos are awesome ❤
Hate I didn’t get to bring one of those piglets back to Louisiana with me!!! Keep up the good work!!
Me too! They would have done great in your bedroom with the chicks. C🤣🤣
I raised hogs back in the 60’s. Farrowed around 100 pigs twice a year. If I lost 2% I was very disappointed. I don’t think I ever lost 2%.
I always figure and so do other hog farmers I help if a female weans 8 it’s a good average.
That’s the number we are shooting for. Would like to consistently get them to 8 per farrowing.
I was curious if you make more money selling piglets or growing them out and selling the meat? This is really good information and I appreciate it so much. It’s always tough in the beginning because you have to put so much money into it but it’s definitely worth it in the end.
Both are profitable. Selling the meat is more profitable but we are trying to diversify and create a new income stream
Chuck, how many of the sows that just farrowed are going to freezer camp?
Increased feed costs, along with a historic drought, has REALLY put a squeeze on us. Having to get creative with feed here. Really need some good sales this year!
Another thing to think about on your estimated boar costs/worth is how many doses you save from the AI costs you would have incurred had you not had the boar.
Hopefully future farrowings will lead to more live piglets for you. God bless 👍
A couple of them are going not due in the total number yet. Thanks for watching
I’m surprised that no one seemed to mention it but it seems like between the stillborn and after birth losses that is rather high. I’m not familiar with IV births so does that have anything to do with it? Grew up on small farm and while our numbers were less than yours our percent of losses were significantly. How many of the 20 something that died after birth may have been from the mother rolling on them?
You don't learn anything NEW by being right. Some days I've learned more than I could bear.
Exactly!!! Thanks for watching
Love ur calculations.🇯🇲
Hi Chuck I heard if you ferment feed your costs could drop i don't know honestly but its worth a try good luck man
Thanks for sharing the numbers. I've determined over time doing this that, as long as you have the infrastructure to handle the feeders, selling cuts, wholes and halves.....is substantially a more profitable enterprise with pigs. Take your 35 pigs and figure out your cuts/wholes/halves income, and I bet you come out way ahead.....even with feed costs. I'm guessing you get bulk feed delivered and have a gravity wagon somewhere on the farm?
We do have feed delivered in bulk. This is really an experiment in building another income stream. We have a great market for cuts of meat and sell a lot of it.
Nice Video! Yeah, usually 80-85% of piglets do surivive.
What do you do with the old boars? Sale barn?
thank you
Welcome!
Hi everyone! Can you all show me how and where to sell the pigs? Thank you so much.
Do you have new numbers with the boar and what your hurd size is now? We are getting our first boar this week.
You also need to consider the cost of the sow, and feed costs all year, not just during pregnancy and raising the piglets
You did good on your pigs.
Thanks
Great job being transparent with us . I think you need to some how get the mortuary rate down. Ween out the bad moms , I guess or see the shelter’s make a dif maybe 🤔. I don’t know . 22 out of 80 something seams high . I suspect it will take ya a couple of years to get it down to like 10 or less . Maybe trading with Jordan could be a possibility for a couple of his stock . Well anyways Great job & keep up the great work 👍Sandra ! 🤪
Just messing , Dave does a great work also 😝
Good points. I think the death rate is where the opportunity is. More piglets = more profit. We are always the most inefficient when we start something new. Thanks for watching.
I can’t keep her moving. 🤣🤣
Feed cost must be up more in your area. Great info!
Yes it is. Prices going up and it’s putting a squeeze on things. I think scaling up can help some but it’s going to be interesting to see what happens. Congrats on the new calf!!
It’s gone up some here. I fear when all of last years corn is gone it’s going to jump here. Thanks! We should have 5 more plus the bottle calf we picked up. Good spring so far.
Hey Chuck , where have you been getting your AI supply's from ?
Great video. I know you’re doing everything you can to control feed costs. There’s got to be ways to get the soil to grow more nutrients for less feed. Maybe landscaping. I heard a podcast on it. Get you the expert name. He has a book.
We are experimenting with some things to grow more forages. Good point. V
@@SheratonParkFarms I listened to so many podcasts I can’t find it. But it’s basically Permaculture. Our local Grass and forage association has excellent info and contacts so I’m sure yours does to. They were doing Alley cropping and drainage permaculture & silviculture with pasture cattle and hogs. Fascinating how trees help with everything.
Wouldn't it be easier to get the piglets in the box again or a smaller area so the customers don't have such a hard time catching them? Or they can catch the one they actually want. Just wondering. I'm looking into getting pigs myself. I haven't done any of this.
Thanks for video. I've wondered about the meat of a mature boar. Have you had any problems? Thanks!
We don't slaughter mature boars. We always cut the males that are going to the butcher. I'll sell these as in-tact males.
Sorry, I misunderstood.
Hello just wanted to let you know if you feed your pigs cookies once in a while they'll come right to you when you want to load them on the trailer or Move them
Thanks!
Feed cost is kicking everyone’s butt
No kidding!
Check out Hidden Heights Farm automatic pig feeder may be option to reduce labor.
Also could set it up in capture pen si when need catch for working or sell ,loading with gate that could be close either remotely oe automatically once number pigs in pen remotely probably best combine with camera so you know when have good number in pen
I'll do that. Thanks
@@SheratonParkFarms - Today's video shows that hog feeder which is adjustable for growth. It holds 735# of feed & handle 9 or 10 pigs at a time I believe. They're great people too just like y'all.
Side note : I couldn't imagine getting all the "advice" you do with a channel lol 😂
Get a salmon fishing net scoop them on the way by works great.
How much and what do you feed your sows/gilts when they are pregnant
5lbs per sow per day
i dont know anything about keeping pigs so forgive the following question, but (Q) why do the pigglets have to be handled by picking them up by the legs? thanks, much love from the uk xxx
It always works better and it is easier to maintain control of the animal. They will squirm when you hold them by the legs, but if you hold tight, you won't drop them.
Hey Chuck want to see y’all moving hamlet again lol
🤣🤣🤣. You and me both. Going to try this weekend.
@@SheratonParkFarms make sure you record it and post it please
Boars are definitely worth keeping once they're basically full grown they take very Lil feed to keep.boars are more cost effective than A I .most people don't keep boars long enough to reach they're full potential boars peak at 3. To 5yrs of age
I know feed costs are on the rise however I have been grinding my own feed for pigs, chickens and ducks and coming in UNDER commercial feed costs even with mineral mix and supplements added in. No antibiotics. Maybe an avenue to look into.
Have you tried to ferment your mix?
@@sverre371 yes I have. Cuts down on some feed costs due to the extra weight in water in swelled up food. They digest more of it and I also started grinding a finer screen. Fermenting over 75 degrees outside I’m having an issue with white mold growing.
@@minnickfamilyfarm Is it covered by water at all times?
@@sverre371 usually. Sometimes I gauge it wrong and the feed swells up more than I thought.
I am growing feed grain for my animals.
Me too.
Nice.
Six pigs per litter is not a very good retention rate, especially considering that you put more than 10 pigs per litter on the ground. May I suggest that the next time you breed intending to save back some gilts from those litters that you cross pure bred Yorkshire into your maternal blood line? You look to be running a red blood line right now, Wattles? Durocs? Duroc are a great growing pig, but not the best mother breed to use. A York crossed on to them will give you a better chance of saving more pigs per litter.
We did small herd pig farming, never more than 21 sows at a time. At that number, it made sense to own our own boar. We were lucky to live next to Michigan State which did twice a year performance testing at the college. We were able to buy some top genetic material out of those auction sales. If you can get the information from your seed stock supplier, look to try to develop a maternal line that only has 10-11 pigs per litter. We found over the years that trying to select for this litter size gave us heavier piglets at birth that along with some crate protections, gave us a lose rate of piglets of about one pig per litter. Most years we weaned 200-210 from those 21 sows/gilt farrowing.
Your stated feed costs seem high to me. Are you able to buy your yearly feed needs at corn harvest time and catch a low spot in the price on corn? For us, our cost of corn (home grown) was equaled by the cost of the soybean meal we had to buy. One we could control (sort of) the other we were at the mercy of the feed mill.
You didn't lose money so it's a win
Was it 50 dollars you made per piglet or all of them
It is hard to judge first time mama's over all regardless of what animals you are raising but I do feel the outcome of how many piglets grew up to sellable age is low and for next year you might have to do some serious reviewing of the mamas who are doing their 2nd time and see how good mamas there are. One of them for sure is a terrible mom and she should go regardless but you only really want to keep best of the best to breed so you retain as many piglets as possible.
But I'm sure you already know this.
Agree. We will need to cull aggressively for better numbers next round. Thanks for watching
Hey Chuck. Why is the cost of piglets so low? Here in Hawaii I bought my 3 potbelly piglets at $700 a piece.... In pet stores or feed lots they're in the range of $1,000 and up.... My opinion you should raise your piglet prices a few $100 to make your profit back. Just my opinion.. Thanks
Your prices may be a Hawaii thing. I do not know of anyone in North Alabama that raises potbelly pigs for meat. Our prices are comparable to Chucks.
So basically 14 net profit, whatever the purpose, and what that turns out to be in the wallet at the end?
Yeah. The 14 are ones that we didn't have to purchase to keep the walking stock on the farm.
Their scream is crazy! All 4 of my dogs came running when the piglets started on the video. Hahahahha.
🤣🤣. It is most definitely ear piercing. Thanks for watching
U would do better puuting breeding stock on concert cleaner and then u would not have to worry about pigs getting accidentally killed all u would have to put down on wood shaving
Got to charge 200
You didn't figure in cost utilities and cost of driving to get feed and supplies. Once you get feet planted you can start to brake even then see a profit. Keep going you will get there eventually tku
Must factor in property tax and clothing costs too. Right???
But you can buy a finnished meat hog for 200. With no feed cost.
If you think about it, your numbers aren’t that bad for the sows you had. Your biggest problem I suspect is your death rate. As you progress you should be able to improve that.
Wow. The average cost for pigs that size here is$60.
I need a truck load of them! That’s cheap. Thanks for watching
@@SheratonParkFarms we might be able to get you a truck load. I know someone who has some ready to go.
That's what the going price is around here also $60 to $80
Re: a boar- without a boar you have no resiliency. With boar you will always have pork.
So you can eat pork for free. Thats a pritty good deal.
Feed is way too much
im not sure i understand the point though as much as im a huge advocate for farm raised livestock and self reliant family's / homesteading , i just dont see farming as a resourceful livelihood anymore
as you said an entire year of work and feed and you profited 50$
all jokes aside you can go cut a lawn in a yuppy suburb and make more in 1 day than you made in an entire year as a pig farmer, no insult intended
you dang sure aint paying your bills with farming anymore, even if you had a large vegetable garden , pigs , chickens , goats, you still cannot sustain your own livelihood aside from guaranteeing you have food without electricity
i blame big corporatization and large farming operations for this because they have cornered the market and basically shutdown self made farmers, they own prices and can make moves that drive the prices so low, its not worth attempting
i too have live stock atm 20 chickens and 2 yorkshire piglets male and female im at the point now where i only see it as a love for my own food source and possibly a way to make them to produce enough to net zero on upkeep and feed
That’s to many stillborn and dead piglets its more than average. If you cut that death rate in half you would have made thousands of dollars. Then again if you didn’t hold back the 14 piglets you would have made a lot more money also but I think you know that already.
And you think you can teach me something??
you robbed those pepole here in kentucky we sell our pigs for 60 dollars a piece send us some business thanks
Supply and demand. There is a big demand and supply is low in this area. It’s the prices the market has settled at. “Robbed” it’s a strong accusation. Thanks for watching
No need to make them scream like this. And I’m no vegan!
They are not "making" them scream. Pick up a piglet and they scream like you are killing them. They were treating the piglets in a customary and humane manner.
Thanks 😊
Welcome 😊
Pig that you keep especially Boars the feed cost should be minimal as you just feed to maintain healthy weight and not concerned about puting weight on such as younger ones intended for market /retail
Sow about same until bred then still no concerned about weight gain other than to produce healthy piglets, only up feed requirment for nursing till weaned
Agree. We ration feed boars and sows.