Pig Farming

[cagey007]

Hi

Me and my girlfriend are thinking of going into pig farming in Khorat.

We have the land and would be very interested in all help setting up buildings,food suppliers,where to buy the pigs to start etc..

[Mario2008]

Wrong section, try the farming section: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Farming-Thai...Forum-f104.html

[peng]

Hi

Me and my girlfriend are thinking of going into pig farming in Khorat.

We have the land and would be very interested in all help setting up buildings,food suppliers,where to buy the pigs to start etc..

So what makes u think a pig farm in Korat would be such a good idea? What do you know about pigs?

It never ceases to amaze me why people come to Thailand and start up some business enterprise in something they have absolutely zero experience of in their own countries. The plumber who opens a restaurant, the stockbroker who starts a fish farm. Amazing Thailand!

[Rinrada]

Never met a pig or cow before...always tried to avoid them but now our 2 have fattened up quite nicely and ideal for bacon sarnies ...they have become pets......

also the jungle cows that we 'rescued'....no steak and kidney pies here either....and now we are getting some donkeys...wonder wot they might taste like...but again unlikely...... ...all a bit of fun.....

[Nongwahyay]

Hi

Me and my girlfriend are thinking of going into pig farming in Khorat.

We have the land and would be very interested in all help setting up buildings,food suppliers,where to buy the pigs to start etc..

So what makes u think a pig farm in Korat would be such a good idea? What do you know about pigs?

It never ceases to amaze me why people come to Thailand and start up some business enterprise in something they have absolutely zero experience of in their own countries. The plumber who opens a restaurant, the stockbroker who starts a fish farm. Amazing Thailand!

I think it´s just a matter of people wanting to do something completely different...... not a bad thing at all. I´m thinking of doing the same thing.... but can´t make up my mind whether to raise frogs, pigs or rabbits....

But Peng... aren´t you a bit out of line with your comment???? Didn´t you post recently on the frog breading thread, asking for advice on how to do it????? Your own critical comment could be applied to your good self!!!!

[Isee]

Hi

Me and my girlfriend are thinking of going into pig farming in Khorat.

We have the land and would be very interested in all help setting up buildings,food suppliers,where to buy the pigs to start etc..

So what makes u think a pig farm in Korat would be such a good idea? What do you know about pigs?

It never ceases to amaze me why people come to Thailand and start up some business enterprise in something they have absolutely zero experience of in their own countries. The plumber who opens a restaurant, the stockbroker who starts a fish farm. Amazing Thailand!

I think it´s just a matter of people wanting to do something completely different...... not a bad thing at all. I´m thinking of doing the same thing.... but can´t make up my mind whether to raise frogs, pigs or rabbits....

But Peng... aren´t you a bit out of line with your comment???? Didn´t you post recently on the frog breading thread, asking for advice on how to do it????? Your own critical comment could be applied to your good self!!!!

My thoughts exactly after reading the post.

Nothing stopping or wrong with people learning and trying to get information/advice here before starting it and then relying on the assistance of your extended thai family to make it work (Only a fool would ignore the knowledge and experiences of others). I have more respect for someone who tried to "have a go" with some forethought and failing then for someone who is too scared to try.

I also want to start to dabble in some business and see where it takes me. I don't need the income to survive and I won't invest amounts that I couldn't afford to lose completely (Not saying I would like it - but I won't be jumping off any buildings). Any growth of that business will be from its own profits....if any. The excitement is that it is different to what I'm doing now and thereby being the challenge of learning new things to the point of succeeding that I enjoy. Sometimes the way to learn things is to just get stuck in and get your hands dirty. By gaining knowledge from someone who is kind enough to share it, maybe one day I can provide assistance to them or to someone new. Now doesn't that sound like making the world a little nicer for us to live in? Peng, you sound like someone who is happy to sit on the side and let life pass them because of any number of reasons.

[Isee]

Hi

Me and my girlfriend are thinking of going into pig farming in Khorat.

We have the land and would be very interested in all help setting up buildings,food suppliers,where to buy the pigs to start etc..

Have you searched for previous threads on here - I'm sure I read someone saying that the price of pork has dropped in Thailand and so its hard to get any reasonable return out of it. Just doing a quick search myself I came up with a few hits. If you don't get any replies could search your search results and PM those people who sound like they are in the business. There is a guy out Kanchanaburi way that has one...don't know him personally but have an email you could get him by (unless he's a member here )

[wagner54]

Hi

Me and my girlfriend are thinking of going into pig farming in Khorat.

We have the land and would be very interested in all help setting up buildings,food suppliers,where to buy the pigs to start etc..

So what makes u think a pig farm in Korat would be such a good idea? What do you know about pigs?

It never ceases to amaze me why people come to Thailand and start up some business enterprise in something they have absolutely zero experience of in their own countries. The plumber who opens a restaurant, the stockbroker who starts a fish farm. Amazing Thailand!

Peng, correct me if I'm wrong but isn't this forum for people to ask questions and share knowledge on farming related issues? The OP

asked only for some advise on something that interests him.

Cagey, if a pig farm is what you want there are lots of good books and info on the net, also there are several members of this forum that raise pigs and are very knowledgeable, so just type in pig farming in the search and read their comments, then you can ask questions to the ones you want. Good luck

[bankha]

Hello Cagey007,

I have a pig farm but its free range and only 36 pigs. I can give you details of feed and VET bills for this amount of pigs and the correct mixture of feed to give them and also what to do with there waste.

Please PM me and i can give you the details and also of pics of what i have done if your interested.

Paul

[fruity]

Hello Cagey007,

I have a pig farm but its free range and only 36 pigs. I can give you details of feed and VET bills for this amount of pigs and the correct mixture of feed to give them and also what to do with there waste.

Please PM me and i can give you the details and also of pics of what i have done if your interested.

Paul

Having been involved in the pig business....lolz....man & boy, both here in LOS & The UK I can only say that you either 'like' pigs or you don't. If you don't , leave them alone, as they are just about the most difficult domestic animal to manage. That said, if you think you are up to it, have a go, there is loads of information available on line these days.

Pigs have always been 'muck or money', more than any other livestock, prices fluctuate dramatically at times. At the moment, on the hoof price is 58 baht / kilo, which is good.

For a novice pig keeper, the best way to proceed & learn is to buy in a few weaners & rear them; forget about breeding until you have some experience.

Bangkha, I am interested in your free rangers, It is important in my opinion to give pigs access to outdoors / soft ground & my sows are let out daily, the only drawback being the white pigs will burn in the sun easily & have to be let out only very early morning. However, I am thinking of a free ranging growing experiment, so would be interested in your experiences.

[Khonwan]

Hello Cagey007,

I have a pig farm but its free range and only 36 pigs. I can give you details of feed and VET bills for this amount of pigs and the correct mixture of feed to give them and also what to do with there waste.

Please PM me and i can give you the details and also of pics of what i have done if your interested.

Paul

Hi Paul

Please share your information and advice here for the benefit of the wider readership of the forum (including me); it is the shared experiences of others (such as yourself) that makes this forum interesting, rather than the questions.

Having had a go at finishing pigs (not breeding) a couple of years ago, I believe it is not viable to so on commercial feed, given the costs and the instability of the market. I had considered making my own feed (used to do so for my cattle, but the requirements are much less exacting), but felt that it would be too time consuming to do so for hundreds of pigs since only my wife and I worked the farm. I opened a thread at the time: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Pigs-t97305.html

Vet bills? Bang goes any potential profit! You must learn to do ALL the vet work by yourself if you are to have a chance of earning anything.

Unlike fruity, I chose not to breed pigs since this really is very time consuming.

Rgds

Khonwan

[slapout]

A friend of mine mentioned that bean leaving at the bean mill could be purchased for 5 to 7 baht a kilo. This is a low cost high protein feed which could be utilized for pigs, cattle etc. In fact he mentioned feeding corn to the fish as price was so low. Just some info to consider.

[IsaanAussie]

A friend of mine mentioned that bean leaving at the bean mill could be purchased for 5 to 7 baht a kilo. This is a low cost high protein feed which could be utilized for pigs, cattle etc. In fact he mentioned feeding corn to the fish as price was so low. Just some info to consider.

Slapout,

Thanks for the tip. I wonder if you can help with issues such as digestibility and fibre content for bean leavings. I have attached a copy of an article which came from the net this month but unfortunately doesnt include beans.

For those interested in producing their own feed it may help evaluate the options. I would also consider starting with a feed concentrate which includes all the vitamin and mineral neccessities and therefore reduces the mixing of ten or more seperate ingredients. It and both vitamin and mineral premixes can be purchased at specialist feed merchants but beware of the maximum use by restrictions when it is combined.

Isaanaussie

Comparative_Feed_Values_for_Swine.doc

[bruceboy]

I do not think that the price of pork will ever drop enough for an individual not to make money.

[IsaanAussie]

I do not think that the price of pork will ever drop enough for an individual not to make money.

Let me go first Bruceboy,

Believe it, the maths are simple. Feed Thai style pigs grow slower and the figures remain comparable but for commercial feed here are the ratios. Sold at 100 Kg a pig will consume 3 times its weight (much higher feed conversion than Thai banana stem feed regimes and average for European growers). With pork prices having reached 43 baht live weight and feed at nearly 15 baht per kg. Answer, lose 2 baht per kg.

At the moment there is money to be made if you are careful. All further comments welcome

Isaanaussie

Edited January 21, 2009 by IsaanAussie

[Khonwan]

“Feed Thai style pigs grow slower….” - and this means that they are old and the meat tough by the time they reach 100kg. I produced the best pork in my area…but at a loss! It cost me 34 baht per kg (fattening from 5kg to 105kg) but I was forced to sell at 22-24 baht per kg two years ago when the price of pork collapsed to 3kg for 100 baht in the markets.

Rgds

Khonwan

Edit: My only serious loss in more than 10 years farming here was growing pigs!

Edited January 21, 2009 by Khonwan

[IsaanAussie]

"Feed Thai style pigs grow slower…." - and this means that they are old and the meat tough by the time they reach 100kg. I produced the best pork in my area…but at a loss! It cost me 34 baht per kg (fattening from 5kg to 105kg) but I was forced to sell at 22-24 baht per kg two years ago when the price of pork collapsed to 3kg for 100 baht in the markets.

Rgds

Khonwan

Edit: My only serious loss in more than 10 years farming here was growing pigs!

Khonwan,

I agree with you entirely. Especially two years ago with 33 baht per kilo in the meat markets. One only has to look at the number of pig farms that closed down during that period despite all the investment and industry growth of the previous four or five years.

Currently 34 baht per kilo for finishing pigs is a reasonable target and you may have better luck. But I might hasten to add that 5 Kg weaners are small in my experience with the norm being 7.5 from my source (28 to 35 day weaned). You mentioned your experience in finishing pigs and I dont wish to appear pedantic but to me that implies pigs that are much older. Maybe its just terminology so forgive me if thats the case.

Do you have any numbers for your costs during the starting and growing phases? I would be very interested to know the breakdown at that time.

Isaanaussie

[Khonwan]

Hi Isaanaussie

You are correct on both points – I was using the term fattening for the benefit of folks who are not familiar with the “correct” terms. 5kg is the lowest 28-day weight I have purchased but my average weights were well in excess of this, with most litters from one breeder (in Lan Sak) averaging over 10kg; litters were normally purchased at 30 (sometimes to 35) days of age rather than 28 days.

I purchased feed direct from Mittraphap at deeply-discounted negotiated prices (ordering 300 30kg-bags at a time). The following represents what I fed each pig, weaned then fattened for an age of 4-5 weeks to a maximum age of 23 weeks.

M102 (20% protein) @423 baht x1

M103 (18% protein) @323 baht x2

M104 (16% protein) @308 baht x2

M105 (14% protein) @268 baht x2

Total cost per pig was therefore 2,221 baht. Piglets were purchased from one excellent breeder plus two average breeders (the “excellent” breeder – based in Lan Sak – couldn’t meet my demand due to the number of other clients he had) for 1,000 baht per pig.

Feeding only 210kg of the above feed, I finished the pigs at around 100-120kg (barrows being heavier than gilts). This is a very good conversion rate – a testament to the breeders, the feed, and our own good animal husbandry.

Vaccines, dewormer, medication and electricity brought the total cost up to around 3,400 baht per pig. I have not factored in labour costs since only my wife and I did any of the work.

Local butchers considered our pigs to be first class for their lean pork – better than their other suppliers.

Of course, all these costs were as of more than two years ago. Last I heard, 4-wk piglets were being sold @Bt2,000, and I know that the cost of feed has shot way, way up. I guess the same feed may now cost nearly Bt4,000 per pig. The highest I have heard being paid locally these days is Bt58/kg liveweight. The arithmetic doesn’t add up to a positive profit. Bit-by-bit, my feedlot is being sold off or recycled one way or another. Sad, unfortunately – I really enjoyed working the pigs.

Rgds

Khonwan

[IsaanAussie]

Hi Isaanaussie

You are correct on both points – I was using the term fattening for the benefit of folks who are not familiar with the "correct" terms. 5kg is the lowest 28-day weight I have purchased but my average weights were well in excess of this, with most litters from one breeder (in Lan Sak) averaging over 10kg; litters were normally purchased at 30 (sometimes to 35) days of age rather than 28 days.

I purchased feed direct from Mittraphap at deeply-discounted negotiated prices (ordering 300 30kg-bags at a time). The following represents what I fed each pig, weaned then fattened for an age of 4-5 weeks to a maximum age of 23 weeks.

M102 (20% protein) @423 baht x1

M103 (18% protein) @323 baht x2

M104 (16% protein) @308 baht x2

M105 (14% protein) @268 baht x2

Total cost per pig was therefore 2,221 baht. Piglets were purchased from one excellent breeder plus two average breeders (the "excellent" breeder – based in Lan Sak – couldn't meet my demand due to the number of other clients he had) for 1,000 baht per pig.

Feeding only 210kg of the above feed, I finished the pigs at around 100-120kg (barrows being heavier than gilts). This is a very good conversion rate – a testament to the breeders, the feed, and our own good animal husbandry.

Vaccines, dewormer, medication and electricity brought the total cost up to around 3,400 baht per pig. I have not factored in labour costs since only my wife and I did any of the work.

Local butchers considered our pigs to be first class for their lean pork – better than their other suppliers.

Of course, all these costs were as of more than two years ago. Last I heard, 4-wk piglets were being sold @Bt2,000, and I know that the cost of feed has shot way, way up. I guess the same feed may now cost nearly Bt4,000 per pig. The highest I have heard being paid locally these days is Bt58/kg liveweight. The arithmetic doesn't add up to a positive profit. Bit-by-bit, my feedlot is being sold off or recycled one way or another. Sad, unfortunately – I really enjoyed working the pigs.

Rgds

Khonwan

Khonwan,

I bow to your expertise and offer what apologies may be needed by my implied previous doubts. If I can achieve a 2.1 FCR then I will be over the moon well done you.

It is my belief that the "real money" is to be made in producing value-added products here. For pigs that means bacon, hams, sausages etc.. where the difference between live weight prices and shelf prices to the farangs are very large. Personally I like a good sausage, a piece of bacon or smoked ham but refuse to buy the CPF per kilo rate for the products on offer. I will never be a large producer but will aspire to satisfy a small and decerning western customer base, hopefully there will be a gain in that for all.

Isaanaussie

PS. I believe Nakhorn Sawan is an area where sunflowers are grown. I would like to source oilseed varieties to plant within the next month in Sisaket. All clues are welcome on where I can get them.

[Khonwan]

Hi Isaanaussie

No offence recognized or taken.

I agree with you that value-added products, such as you describe, is the (only, perhaps…certainly best) way ahead. I live quite remote from other farangs, however, and couldn’t really be bothered with the marketing aspects anyway or the extra time involved. But I hope to taste some of your bacon in the not too distant future!

My wife grew a couple of rai of oilseed sunflower 13 years ago. The seeds are readily available in Nakhon Sawan city. I expect you could more easily have your local ag. supplier order some for you.

Rgds

Khonwan

[egg6447]

A friend of mine mentioned that bean leaving at the bean mill could be purchased for 5 to 7 baht a kilo. This is a low cost high protein feed which could be utilized for pigs, cattle etc. In fact he mentioned feeding corn to the fish as price was so low. Just some info to consider.

not sure what ur saying here apart from its reasonably priced. what beans and what are leaving.??

[egg6447]

“Feed Thai style pigs grow slower….” - and this means that they are old and the meat tough by the time they reach 100kg. I produced the best pork in my area…but at a loss! It cost me 34 baht per kg (fattening from 5kg to 105kg) but I was forced to sell at 22-24 baht per kg two years ago when the price of pork collapsed to 3kg for 100 baht in the markets.

Rgds

Khonwan

Edit: My only serious loss in more than 10 years farming here was growing pigs!

yep this sums up my experience too.. i said then the only way to make money from pigs is to fatten kill sell pork. unfortunatly my wife is a very kind hearted lady therefore no killing on our farm. cant say i like the idea either, but someone has to do it. we did infact kill the last few and broke even on them but lost tooooooooooo much overall.

[jubby]

We kept a few pigs free range a few years ago. They were fed 'pig pellets' from the local shops which is very expensive. They also had anything else we could find. They would scream for food if we were five minutes late and when they got to about 70kgs started to eat the bark from the young teak trees and then they learn't to plough the young trees down to get to the fresh leaves. being free range the animals were very muscular and lean unlike the other local pigs which were kept in a box. Needless to say we made no profit and didn't expect one. It was an experience and a learning curve. If I was to do it again (which I won't because they were a complete nightmare) I'd get them butchered and sell the meat rather than the whole pig. It was indeed quality meat.

Complete Nightmare at the time but I can laugh about it now ;-)

[fruity]

Hi Isaanaussie

You are correct on both points – I was using the term fattening for the benefit of folks who are not familiar with the “correct” terms. 5kg is the lowest 28-day weight I have purchased but my average weights were well in excess of this, with most litters from one breeder (in Lan Sak) averaging over 10kg; litters were normally purchased at 30 (sometimes to 35) days of age rather than 28 days.

I purchased feed direct from Mittraphap at deeply-discounted negotiated prices (ordering 300 30kg-bags at a time). The following represents what I fed each pig, weaned then fattened for an age of 4-5 weeks to a maximum age of 23 weeks.

M102 (20% protein) @423 baht x1

M103 (18% protein) @323 baht x2

M104 (16% protein) @308 baht x2

M105 (14% protein) @268 baht x2

Total cost per pig was therefore 2,221 baht. Piglets were purchased from one excellent breeder plus two average breeders (the “excellent” breeder – based in Lan Sak – couldn’t meet my demand due to the number of other clients he had) for 1,000 baht per pig.

Feeding only 210kg of the above feed, I finished the pigs at around 100-120kg (barrows being heavier than gilts). This is a very good conversion rate – a testament to the breeders, the feed, and our own good animal husbandry.

Vaccines, dewormer, medication and electricity brought the total cost up to around 3,400 baht per pig. I have not factored in labour costs since only my wife and I did any of the work.

Local butchers considered our pigs to be first class for their lean pork – better than their other suppliers.

Of course, all these costs were as of more than two years ago. Last I heard, 4-wk piglets were being sold @Bt2,000, and I know that the cost of feed has shot way, way up. I guess the same feed may now cost nearly Bt4,000 per pig. The highest I have heard being paid locally these days is Bt58/kg liveweight. The arithmetic doesn’t add up to a positive profit. Bit-by-bit, my feedlot is being sold off or recycled one way or another. Sad, unfortunately – I really enjoyed working the pigs.

Rgds

Khonwan

Hi Khonwan,

Absolutely 'spot on' analysis. There is little to be made from rearing pigs, i.e. buying in weaners as you did & selling them off the farm at whatever the going rate happens to be per kilo at any given time.

To make any money from 'growing' pigs, you have to breed them yourself, which, as you have pointed out is a lot of work & very time consuming & if labour costs were factored in, then you make nothing. The only way to make money is like Issan Aussie says, is to to take things a step further & either sell the finished product i.e. the pork, or to process the pork into something else.

I am more of a breeder, only keeping limited numbers,primarily, producing potential 'breeding stock', as opposed to producing growers for slaughter. Of course, the majority, go that way. I get a premium price for gilts & the occasional young boar. If something doesn't look good enough then theres only one route:)

Sometimes we will kill a pig & sell the meat in the village; the demand is tremendous & theres never a scrap left. We will sell the pork for a bit less than they would usually pay elsewhere; last time 90 baht / kilo.

You either like pigs or you don't. As long as I don't lose, I'll have them.

[peng]

Hi

Me and my girlfriend are thinking of going into pig farming in Khorat.

We have the land and would be very interested in all help setting up buildings,food suppliers,where to buy the pigs to start etc..

So what makes u think a pig farm in Korat would be such a good idea? What do you know about pigs?

It never ceases to amaze me why people come to Thailand and start up some business enterprise in something they have absolutely zero experience of in their own countries. The plumber who opens a restaurant, the stockbroker who starts a fish farm. Amazing Thailand!

I think it´s just a matter of people wanting to do something completely different...... not a bad thing at all. I´m thinking of doing the same thing.... but can´t make up my mind whether to raise frogs, pigs or rabbits....

But Peng... aren´t you a bit out of line with your comment???? Didn´t you post recently on the frog breading thread, asking for advice on how to do it????? Your own critical comment could be applied to your good self!!!!

Sure I have enquired regarding frog farming. I know little about them and wanted to know more. The thing with frog farming is to set it up costs very little money and would not be intended as a means to making a living UNLIKE the original poster here who is talking about spending a lot of money in setting up a pig farm from scratch. NO SMALL UNDERTAKING and to do so without first hand knowledge and experience is destined to failure whatever anyone says.

It is all very well saying 'great idea, go for it ect' How many farang are there here who have lost or very nearly lost their shirts as a result in 'investing' in business they have no former experience of? This applies to all aspects of business, not only farming endeavours.

[royboythai]

Hi

Me and my girlfriend are thinking of going into pig farming in Khorat.

We have the land and would be very interested in all help setting up buildings,food suppliers,where to buy the pigs to start etc..

So what makes u think a pig farm in Korat would be such a good idea? What do you know about pigs?

It never ceases to amaze me why people come to Thailand and start up some business enterprise in something they have absolutely zero experience of in their own countries. The plumber who opens a restaurant, the stockbroker who starts a fish farm. Amazing Thailand!

[royboythai]

peng my wife and i started a pig farm 3 years ago with no experience at all, and now are breeding 40 to50 pigs per month, plus 10 thousand fish 60 ducks, and selling ( kee moo) waste @ 35tbh per sack, making a decent living for thailand. so give cagey a chance, he might get lucky like ourselves

[teletiger]

Way to go Roy.......35 Baht? How bigs the sack?? 10 Baht for neung tung kee vuaar round here. (and as much as I can stuff in the tung) :-). 2 years ago it was 6 baht. anybody making a living farming in Thailand is a hero. Keep it up.

[fruity]

peng my wife and i started a pig farm 3 years ago with no experience at all, and now are breeding 40 to50 pigs per month, plus 10 thousand fish 60 ducks, and selling ( kee moo) waste @ 35tbh per sack, making a decent living for thailand. so give cagey a chance, he might get lucky like ourselves

Well done Roy. What do you do; sell the piglets as weaners or rear to finishers, or a combination of the two? How many sows do you have?

All my 'kee moo' goes into a pool behind the pigs, @ 35 baht / bag, I must have a fortune out there:)

I can see Peng's point of view. Many years ago I lost a lot of money on a hair brained business venture in Pattaya. As they say; education is expensive!

[royboythai]

Way to go Roy.......35 Baht? How bigs the sack?? 10 Baht for neung tung kee vuaar round here. (and as much as I can stuff in the tung) :-). 2 years ago it was 6 baht. anybody making a living farming in Thailand is a hero. Keep it up.