Hogs VS Cattle on raising for a profit and for home?

[CherokeeGal]

Hi everyone,

After getting chickens (and loving it!

), my family has decided to have our land work for us more. We have four acres, and are considering raising hogs and or cattle to sell and keep. I've done some research, but can't really find any specific numbers for how much things cost and how much you can make per hog, cow ect.

We have a friend who raises cattle and rotates them through local people's pastures. She has agreed to help us if we want to- but I really want to get some opinions on the pros and cons of both. My Dad is a carpenter so wood, shelter and fencing for both aren't really a problem. My parents have lived with hogs and cattle before and know the basics, but have never raised them personally.

So here's some of my questions-

How much can you buy a piglet for?

How much do they sell for?

Do you sell them directly to a butcher or auction them off?

Someone told me acorns are poisonous to pigs. Is this true because we have a LOT of oak trees!

How bad is the smell really with only one or two of each animal?

Can you feed pigs table scraps? I've been told both yes and no on this.

Thanks for putting up with my newbie questions!

I really like the idea of raising our own food and possibly making a little money on the side. I'm not thinking it will be a hugely profitable venture, I just want something my little brother (11 years) and I (15) can work at to make a little bit of money.

Thank you!

-Sam

 

[Sparklecoon]

Don't have any info for you but I'm very curious myself.

 

[saddina]

Quote:
It's been about 15 years so I'll let someone else give you costs, my 1st husband raised them for 4h fair auctions and would get a couple thousand a year, bought a car with saved up prize $, but I didn't pay attention to the business end.

 

[Judy]

You need to check out the forum's sister site:

http://www.backyardherds.com/forum/

 

[Livinzoo]

I raised 2 feeder pigs and have a Old spot Hog. Next week I get 3 more old spots.

The pigs are great. They eat scraps from our kitchen and garden. I also bring home out of date milk and cottage cheese from work.

The smell will depend on how your pigs are raised. Mine get rotated through different areas with the goats. The chlorophyll in the leaves and grass they eat and the fiber help with the odor. Then nature gets time to break down the waste while they move on to other areas.

I will be selling registered stock. And castrated males will be sold as feeder pigs. I will only raise what we need to eat now. Just because of space limitations.

As far as prices. Registered hogs are one of the cheapest investments. For a rare breed like GOS they sell for $250 - $300 a registered piglet. Castrated feeder pigs sell for $40-70.

Mine have been below oak trees and probably ate lots of acorns, without a problem. Keep in mind that pigs will root. But given enough space seem to root out a few spots and leave most of the land alone.

Also if you plan to breed the animals hogs will have between 6-12 babies 3 times in a 2 year period. I will be farrowing on pasture. Some people use a farrowing crate. But I also have a breed that has been raised to be pastured.

Auctions you won't get much money for the animals. Plus if you bring any animal home you run the risk of disease. Craigslist, Agricultural bulletins and other sources will be great places to sell.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

 

[cassie]

Acorns are not poisonous to hogs unless that is their only feed. Wild hogs eat acorns all the time. Pigs don't usually eat things that are bad for them unless they are starving. They are smart and resourceful critters. Between cattle and hogs I think you are better off with pigs. When my hubby was in FFA he got bakery surplus and fed a lot of that to the pigs. A lot of it was good stuff. His mother never bought bread or sweet rolls for years.

 

[CherokeeGal]

Thank you all for your responses!

I've learned so much!

 

[fowler_chick]

we haave both...to tell you the trust...raissing a calf and selling at butchering you really not making any money if you do it 2 or 3 at a time....i do raise pig's, i have 2 feeder pigs going for butchering next month....i sell my pig's in halfs at $125 which includes buthering...i'll go and pick up a few pigs every so often at $ 10 to $25 a head and feed them up....we just bought a steer last month at $600 which was a steel and sold 2 halfs. we started making our farm work for us...

 

[skeeter9]

Good for you, Sam!! There's nothing like homegrown meat!

Where are you in CA? We are in the foothills outside of Clovis (by Fresno) and everybody up here raises their own beef and pork. Wish I could get my husband to agree to it!!!!

 

[redhen]

I want to do this with pigs also..
Can i put the bigger hogs in with my smaller pot bellies? probably not...

Plus..what if i start to think that they're cute...
*sigh* i better not do this...