Pig farming in Nigeria is becoming very popular over time. It is a fantastic and very profitable business idea. You can get a return on your total investment in no time. Pig farming in Nigeria is very easy and pork is very popular worldwide. This is the main reason for increasing this business in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s economy is primarily dependent on agriculture. And various types of agri-food activities related to the agricultural sector are contributing a lot to the national income and the total economy of Nigeria.
Along with traditional business ideas, pig farming in Nigeria can play an important role in eliminating unemployment, poverty, lack of nutrition, and much more. By raising pigs commercially, you can meet your family’s nutritional needs and earn some extra money.
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Benefits of pig farming in Nigeria
The benefits of pig farming in Nigeria are many. Here I am describing the main advantages of the commercial pig farming business in Nigeria.
• The reproduction period and the pig’s system is faster than that of any other cattle, such as cattle or goats.
• Pigs can convert more energy / nutrients into protein and consequently grow faster than cattle, goats or other farm animals.
• Pigs can survive and produce more by consuming a small amount of poor quality feed. You can feed them forages, kitchen garbage, agricultural waste, etc. To reduce energy costs.
• A large amount of daily protein needed comes from plants and a small number from animals. Animal proteins are very essential to the human body due to their high biological value and contain the building blocks for good health and proper growth. By raising pigs, we can easily meet this demand.
• A sow generally calves twice a year. Each time 10 piglets give birth (sometimes more). And the gestation period does not exceed 115 days. Therefore, you can start large-scale commercial production in no time if you start with just a few pigs.
• The climatic conditions and geographical location of Nigeria are very suitable for pig farming.
• Highly profitable business idea with an excellent ROI (Return of Investment) ratio.
• Requires less investment. However, the investment depends on the size of your farm.
• Many Nigerians are experiencing malnutrition problems due to a lack of sufficient protein in their normal foods. By raising pigs, we can meet this demand.
Starting Pig farming in Nigeria
Pig farming in Nigeria can be a great source of employment and income. You can start raising pigs both domestically and commercially. For commercial pig farming in Nigeria, please follow the steps listed below.
Choose a suitable floor
Before starting a pig farm business in Nigeria, you must acquire suitable land. The size or area of the land will depend on the size of your pig farming business. The more pigs you want to raise, the more land is required. Divide the land into several plots. This will help you to raise pigs of different ages separately. It will be better if you can select land away from residential areas. A calm and quiet place will be very effective. When selecting land for pig farming business in Nigeria, consider some necessary facilities.
• Sufficient supply of fresh and clean water in the farm area. It would be better if there was a pond, lake or other
water source available.
• The selected area will be very close to the market.
• Good transportation systems.
• Away from the residential area.
• Food is available near farmland.
• Availability of all kinds of veterinary services.
Select / buy breeds
Once you have selected a suitable agricultural land, it is very important to select the right pig / pig breeds. Because the profitability of pig farming in Nigeria depends primarily on the selection of suitable piglets. You can choose both local and hybrid piglets. For commercial purposes, crosses of exotic and local breeds are very suitable. These types of cross-breed pigs consume more feed, grow faster, and become healthier than other breeds available.
There are several types of crosses available. Therefore, it may be difficult for you to select the right breed for your pig farming business. Therefore, when buying pigs, pay attention to the following signs.
• The selected pig has a bright pair of eyes.
• Has a shiny coat.
• You must be attentive and responsive to the environment around you.
• Never buy an aggressive pig. The selected pig must have a good temperament.
• Has a good attractiveness for food.
• Easy and normal movement.
• Free of lameness or other unnatural signs.
• Try to buy pregnant sows. Not available, so good quality piglets are fine. When buying piglets, ask the producer about their parents and their health, production history and other documents. Ask the producer if the pig has been vaccinated and dewormed or not. If not, ask him to do it urgently.
Housing
Housing is very important for commercial pig farming in Nigeria. A good home can keep them healthy, productive, and free from harsh climates and all kinds of predators. The housing also helps the pigs stay warm during the winter season and low temperatures. It also helps them maintain a moderate temperature during the excessive heat in the summer season.
Pigs are very sensitive to heat and can get sick and die from excessive heat or cold. Controlled and moderate temperature can help maximize the growth and production of the pig farming business. Pigs can be raised both indoors and in individual stables, pens or barns.
If pigs are kept outdoors, they need a special kind of shelter during heat and cold. Keep enough space for food and bed inside the house. Pigs generally love dry bedding. Therefore, always try to keep the house and bed dry. Also create a suitable system to protect against extreme humidity, heat and cold.
For the indoor pig farming system, install adequate and sufficient ventilation systems in the house. Make sure there is sufficient flow of fresh air and light inside the house. Make adequate drainage inside the house to keep the house dry. A good internal sanitation system is very important for pig farming. Build homes with good sanitation so you can easily clean the house.
Feeding
Feeding good quality, fresh and nutritious feed can make your pigs healthier and ensure adequate growth. Good nutrition also helps prevent various types of diseases. You can feed your pigs just about anything, including fodder, kitchen waste, agricultural waste, products from beverage companies, etc.
For commercial production, you need to feed your pigs at least twice a day.
Pigs generally eat both grains and meat. You can also feed your pigs cooked leftovers, rice and vegetables. Of all foods, corn is the most common food for pigs. Cooked soy or meat can be an excellent source of protein for pigs. Pigs will grow faster, if you can, the necessary nutrients, vitamins and other supplements.
Piglets require more protein than mature piglets. You can buy ready-made pig food at the market or make your own homemade mix. In addition to providing fresh, nutritious food, always serve a sufficient amount of fresh, clean water. Pigs need a large amount of water per day. Therefore, make available a large source of fresh and clean water on the farm area.
Breeding
The pig farming process is easy and simple. Generally, the gestation period of pigs does not exceed 115 days. The sow gives birth to piglets twice a year. And produce more than 10 babies every time. After delivery, babies will be breastfed for the first nine weeks of age. After completing the piglet growth phase, the sow is again ready for mating.
Marketing
There is a good market for pork. You can sell your products in your local market or in the international market. China is the world’s largest consumer of meat
Pig farming in Nigeria has a great business opportunities for unemployed educated people, women and for the people who want to raise pigs commercially. If you are beginner in this business, try to learn more about pig farming, read a lots of books, visit pig farms as much as possible and finally do it.
