Negosyong Pinoy: Starting a Piggery Business in the Philippines

A piggery business is known to be one traditional business here in our country. Filipinos are known to be very good eaters. That being said, starting in the food business industry is a hit for most of us. Although food is a good idea, wouldn’t it be better to indulge in the production side as well? Pork is one of many Filipino favorites and it is, therefore, an ideal plan to start a business with pork. People who run businesses like this are mostly in provinces and secluded areas because of the stench.

Some families raise a few pigs in their backyards in provinces and eventually, it ends up being a full-blown piggery business. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), a typical Filipino consumes a total of 14.2kg of pork per year. The normal is 12kg; Filipinos consume about 2kg more.

Why do you think Filipinos eat pork a lot?

Besides the fact that we have a lot of delicacies with pork, it’s just overall good. It provides us with sufficient energy, it’s easy to cook, and it’s affordable. We Filipinos are known all over the world for our world-class adobo. 

Read: Negosyong Pinoy: The Peanut Butter Business

Although we should take precautionary measures in consuming pork, it’s actually healthy if eaten moderately and if done in the right cuts. As a matter of fact, a lot of farms are breeding and raising native pigs because they’re much healthier compared to a normal, commercially grown hogs. The cholesterol levels of these native pigs are lower than you can imagine.

Overview of the piggery business

Many people fail to think that the farming business is a lucrative business. They think that because they’ll somehow get their hands dirty, it’s not going to be worth it – a total misconception. As a matter of fact, succeeding in the piggery business could bring you hundreds of thousands of pesos each month. Here in our country, the livestock industry continues to grow by 3.25% each year; that is equivalent to 61 billion PHP. The piggery business contributes to that by a shy 3.76%.

In conclusion, starting a piggery business, if managed and done accordingly, will continue to grow and you’ll fall in love even more.

What things do I need to take note of if I start this business?

In starting this kind of business, you need to be prepared for a lot of risks not just in the business and the capital, but also with your health. It is a pig’s natural thing to have diseases – like us humans. Even if you take care of them properly, they might still get sick.

With that, it’s safe to say that taking extra precautionary measures is necessary. The risks involved in starting this business would be:

Cost of feeds

Feeding your pigs is not a joke; how do you think they grow their size if it weren’t for eating? To point out, the meal and eating habits of the pigs determine their size and future prize. So, it’s best to ensure that they’re eating within the schedule and they’re getting their right doses of food every single day.

Higher cost of feeds could gravely impact margin of profits, therefore, feeding your pigs properly and correctly is just as important as producing profit from them.

The location

Having a dozen pigs in terms of the odor is not a joke. You must have at least a certain distance from a crowd of people for them not to complain about the foul smell of your business. This is why a permit of location and sanitization is required before even putting up the business itself.

Weather

If you think that your pigs can endure extreme weather, think again. A few years back, the Typhoon Lando killed more than Php500, 000 worth of livestock in that event alone. Also, ensure that your pigs aren’t exposed to too much heat as they can be sick.

Ensuring that their shelter is well-organized is the start of ensuring that your business will not fail. As a matter of fact, think of it like having your own set of friends and family; you need to keep them somewhere where they’re comfortable and stress-free to avoid problems with their health.

Pig diseases

They’re not superheroes; they get sick too. Many reports about workers and owners of these livestock farms get ill because of the virus that their animals have. This is a risk not just in the business but also to personal health. The primary reasons for these types of conditions are:

• Unsanitary atmosphere of the pigs’ meals, water, and shelter
• Airborne viruses from other pigs
• Improper vaccination and unsanitary way of cleaning

In order for them to stay fat and healthy, you need to consider everything from their place of shelter to the required vaccine and medications. Also, it would be helpful if you have a spot for your pigs who gained diseases and viruses for them to be temporarily separated from your other hogs.

What requirements do I need if I plan to start this business?

Before starting in this industry, you need the following business requirements:

• Environmental Compliance Certificate
• Barangay Clearance
• Business Tax Identification Number
• Mayor’s Permit License
• Sanitary Permit
• Business Name Registration

Location requirements

1. Medium to large-scale piggeries is required to be at least 1, 000 meters away from:

• Residential Areas
• Commercial Areas
• Industrial Areas
• Institutional Areas

2. The location must be outside the proximity of urban areas;

3. Consider it at least within a 25-meter radius from the ground or surface drinking water;

4. A dry lot area should bear the following specifications:

• 86m – 2.79m per sow
• 74m – 1.12m per head of pig under 100 pounds
• 12m – 1.86m per head of fattening pig from 100 to 200 pounds
• 32m – 3.25m per boar

How do you want your piggery business to start?

In starting the business, you actually have two (2) ways. You can either breed the pigs or adopt a grow-out system. Both would yield profit but breeding would take a longer time.

Breeding the pigs

If you’re looking to start a piggery business and start from breeding the pigs, you have to purchase the sow (female feral hog). The cost of a sow is around Php12, 000 – Php14, 000.  Before it gives birth, you would have to wait four (4) to six (6) months. The advantage of this is that you get to take care of the piglets from birth so you can ensure that they’ll stay healthy all throughout their stay with you.

Grow-out system

This method, however, is when you purchase the pigs while they’re young. Usually, you would have to buy them when they’re 12kg – 20kg in weight. With consistent and proper feeding, you will be able to grow them up to 90kg before they get sent out to the market.

The advantage of the grow-out system is that you’re closer to the profit. Although the pig that you’re going to purchase is not 100% nurtured by you, it’s still a good call if you plan on starting this with a low or a limited budget. The disadvantage of breeding them is that you would have to wait for up to nine (9) months before you get your first profit.

Read: How to Start a Small Business in the Philippines

Another advantage of the grow-out system is fewer expenses in terms of labor for the care of the sow and its piglets. But of course, the risk of the pigs not being in good health 100% is still present. Taking note of the prices is actually key to succeeding in the business. Usually, ber months until February is when the price of the pigs hike. If you want to start the grow-out system, purchase your pigs on or before August.

Piggery business specifics

Feeding

Once you have piglets, it’s up to you on how you can manage to keep them healthy in three to four months. It’s your business so your rules and techniques. To share the basic strategy on feeding the pigs, refer to these:

• Ensure that the water you give your pigs are clean and free from harmful bacteria,
• Start by feeding the piglets with a high-quality pre-starter ration when they’re one-week old. You need to change the ration at different growth stages but, it should be done gradually for them to transition to their feeding habits. A five-day to a one-week transition would be enough.
• When the pigs are two months to nine weeks, a starter ration is given. Their weight could also be a good indication on when to begin the starter ratio (between 10kg and 25kg).
• The grower ration is for pigs that are at 30kg to 35kg and until they reach 15 to 20 weeks old
• Lastly, the grower ration is given when the pigs reach 60kg or around 20 weeks old.
• Ensure that the feeds include enough amounts of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.

Housing

Technically, the fences and the gates of the pig should be sturdy and well-sanitized. You can do a weekly clean up of the whole place to ensure that your pigs are at a healthy stature. Moreover, the flooring needs to be clean and not too hard. Concrete with a softer texture is usually the best option for it. However, the concrete needs to keep them upright for them not to slide and slip as foot injuries could lead to diseases and viruses.

Make sure that the drainage is great to avoid flooding and water contamination. Regularly change their water and make sure that the pipes are clean enough to store sufficient amounts of water. Their shelter needs to protect them from extreme exposure to sunlight, rain, and too much dust.

Read: Negosyong Pinoy: The Homemade Rellenong Bangus Business

Overall tips

Firstly, make sure that you establish your piggery business at a location where there is little-to-no pollution at all. This ensures that your pigs are at a great shape an that they’ll avoid getting sick.

Secondly, you can hire a veterinarian to check on your pigs regularly. Although this might be a bit of an addition to your costs, it’s better to keep them safe than to not get something if they get sick and die, right?

Lastly, ensure that both their shelter and their feeds are of high-quality. For you to juice out everything from your pigs, make sure that they’re properly taken care of and that they’re in a good condition every two (2) weeks.

• Proper feeding and timing
• Clean water (change their water every 6 to 8 hours if they don’t finish it all)
• Have them checked by a vet every three (3) to four (4) weeks
• Keep them where they’re comfortable, not exposed to too much sunlight and rain, and where they can breathe fresh air

Starting a piggery business might require you somewhere around a conservative amount of Php40, 000 to Php100, 000 depending on how you want to start. You can always start small and that’s by buying it one-by-one but you can go full blast and start with everything immediately.