Life of a Pig

Baby pigs are brought into this world one litter at a time. A litter of baby pigs ranges from 8-15 piglets. Each mother receives individual attention during and after the birthing process. Several days prior to the birthing process, the mother sow is put into a farrowing stall. These pens keep the piglets safe and warm when they are born, and allow the farmer to safely monitor the sow and assist in farrowing, or birthing. From birth until 18 to 21 days old, the piglets have access to their mother’s milk and live in a space alongside their mother’s stall. These areas are heated by lamps and mats to keep the young piglets at a comfortable temperature.

Pigs can live in two or three different farms throughout their life. At about four weeks, or 15 to 20 pounds, the piglets are weaned.  After the weaning process, they usually move to a wean-to-finish operation. This means they would go to a barn where they would grow to market weight or 260 pounds. Another option is to move the piglets into a nursery until they reach 50 pounds and then onto a finishing barn to grow to market weight.

Baby pigs have much different needs than that of an older pig. Raising pigs in different barns at different points in their life allow for specialization in feed and facilities to meet varying life stage requirements. It also allows owners of these facilities to become more knowledgeable on a single aspect of the pigs life and provide better attention and care than if they were responsible for the entire process. Sometimes business arrangements, or contracts, are designed to involve more farmers in raising one farm’s pigs.

Adult female pigs that are kept for breeding stock would move to a barn with stalls.  Gestation and farrowing are the two types of stalls in which sows, or mother pigs, live. Gestation stalls are used when sows are pregnant, while farrowing stalls are used from just before birth until weaning. These individual stalls allow for individual care and protect pregnant sows and baby pigs. They are specifically designed for the pig’s health and well being, while offering protection to farmers at the same time. 

Modern-day pigs live in barns that are climate controlled to help maintain a consistent temperature all year round. Fans, heaters and misters help make sure the pigs are in a comfortable environment. Many barns utilize automated feeding and water systems to ensure each individual pig is receiving adequate nourishment.

Contrary to popular belief, pigs do not eat slop. Corn and soybeans are ground and supplemented with vitamins and minerals to make feed that maintains a healthy diet for the pigs.

Many farmers also use a continuous natural production cycle as an integral part to the operation of their farms in the sustainable agriculture system. Manure is collected and stored under the barn in pits or outside the barn in lagoons. This manure is used as an organic fertilizer to produce crops. These crops are harvested to provide feed for the animals, which in turn produce more manure.