How much can you earn in a year raising 20 pigs?

The current environment for pig farming in China is one where large-scale farms are surrounded by numerous small free-range raisers, and free-range raisers across the country account for more than half of total pig production. Generally speaking, raising 20 pigs counts as a fairly good scale among free-range raisers. So, taking raising 20 pigs as an example, what are the profits and costs? Qinnong Web explains it for everyone.

1. Raising sows

Sow piglets are more expensive than meat piglets; the price of a sow piglet is around 40 yuan/jin, and the weight is around 40 jin, so the piglet cost is 40*40*20=32,000 yuan. Sow feed is relatively more expensive; generally, raising them until they give birth requires about 700 jin of feed, with feed priced at 1 yuan/jin, plus about 800 yuan in feed input for breeding and the lactation period, so the feed cost is (700+800)*20=30,000 yuan. Adding the roughly 8,000 yuan cost of raising the young pigs to market weight, the total investment is about 32,000 + 30,000 + 8,000 = 70,000 yuan.

Each sow gives birth 2 times per year, with an average of 10 piglets each time, and at a 90% survival rate, the number of piglets produced in a year is about 2*10*20*0.9=360. Each piglet is sold at 20 jin, and the unit price of young piglets is around 20 yuan/jin. The total annual profit is 360*20*20=144,000 yuan, and sows will also be produced among them, so the total profit is actually higher. In this way, the usual annual gain is 144,000 - 70,000 = 74,000 yuan. Later, with no need for sow piglets, the profit can reach more than 100,000 yuan.

2. Raising meat pigs

Meat piglets are relatively cheap. Calculated at the most common piglet price, piglets are 20 yuan/jin, and each pig weighs about 30 jin, so the piglet cost is about 20*20*30=12,000 yuan. The feed needed to raise them to market weight is about 600 jin, at a unit price of 0.8 yuan/jin, so the feed cost is 600*0.8*20=9,600 yuan. Adding about 20 yuan per pig for vaccines, the total cost required is about 12,000 + 9,600 + 4,000 = 22,000 yuan.

Meat pigs can generally be sold after about 7 months. With proper rearing, they can generally be raised to about 300 jin, and under normal conditions they can also be raised to about 240 jin. The usual purchase price for pork is around 7 yuan, and retail at stalls is around 10 yuan. In this way, the total annual profit is about 240*20*7=33,600 yuan. If all are sold retail at stalls, then it is 48,000 yuan, so the usual net profit is between 11,000 and 26,000 yuan.

Overall, the outlook for pig farming is still quite good. Although raising sows is profitable, it takes more time and is more prone to problems, while raising meat pigs is simpler. Everyone can choose according to the actual local conditions. More pig farming information is on Qinnong Web.