Pig Care Guide: Meat & Breeding Pigs, Housing, Feed & Operating Cost (2026)

A practical guide to raising pigs for meat or breeding, covering housing setup, nutrition, health management, breeding timelines, and real-world annual costs for small-scale pig operations.

A growing pig (feeder to market weight) consumes 4–5 lbs of feed daily, costing $15–30 per pig per month in commercial ration. A breeding sow consumes 5–8 lbs daily ($50–100 monthly). Pasture access reduces feed costs 10–20% via foraged greens and insects.

Pigs require wallows in summer (mud keeps them cool); without access, pigs overheat and become stressed. Hoof care is minimal if pigs live on pasture or soft bedding. Ear notching for identification is standard practice.

A feeder pig (40–60 lbs) costs $75–150; a breeding sow $150–400. Annual costs per pig: feed ($200–400 for meat pig, $500–800 for breeding sow), bedding/housing ($100–200), veterinary ($50–150), and miscellaneous ($50–100). A market-weight pig (250 lbs) costs $400–600 to raise.