Pigs

Farmer’s Weekly brings you the latest pig farming and production news and updates from South Africa and the rest of Africa.

Leandre Mitchley

How top small-scale farmer reduces risk

Western Cape pig farmer Leandre Mitchley was named Top Smallholder Farming Entrepreneur 2018 at the annual Female Entrepreneur Awards. Her success came after a slow start and a recent major setback, and is testimony to her resilience and discipline.
Top female entrepreneur’s passion for training new farmers

Top female entrepreneur’s passion for training new farmers

Piggery owner Zodwa Thwala, winner of the 2017 Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Best Female Entrepreneur Award, says that her love for teaching motivated her to add farmer training to her existing piggery business.
The indigenous Kolbroek pig – a South African success story

The indigenous Kolbroek pig – a South African success story

South Africa’s indigenous Kolbroek breed is ideal for contributing to food security in rural areas, according to Wessel Pistorius, a Kolbroek breeder near Magaliesburg. The modern animal, bred from a wide variety of breeds, offers many advantages: it requires little space, is an indiscriminate eater, has excellent maternal traits, and is generally healthy.
Small-scale pig farmer Augusta Thomas

Small-scale piggery success in the Western Cape

With her tiny 10-sow piggery, Western Cape pig producer Augusta Thomas lacks economy of scale. But despite this, she is making a reasonable living. She spoke to Glenneis Kriel about her business strategies and how they enable her to overcome size contraints.
Happy pigs make for good business

Happy pigs make for good business

With 9 600 sows, Chalala Farms near Malmesbury in the Swartland will soon produce more than 275 000 piglets per year. Jeff van Zyl, manager of the piggery, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the operation’s production methods.
Investing in animal welfare pays off for German piggery

Investing in animal welfare pays off for German piggery

With the welfare of farm animals under close scrutiny in Europe, farmers there are increasingly utilising technologies and systems that balance animals’ well-being with profitability. Lloyd Phillips recently toured a modern sow unit near Magdeburg in Germany to witness this approach first-hand.
Understanding the role of the boar in breeding

Understanding the role of the boar in breeding

Novice pig farmers should start with highly marketable and popular breeds such as the Landrace or Large White, says Shane Brody.
bearded-pigs

The many advantages of pigs

Today’s domesticated pig has most of the qualities that the modern farmer looks for in livestock, including high profitability, explains Shane Brody.
sleeping-areas-for-pigs

Basic requirements for the sleeping area

The enclosed sleeping area for pigs should take up about a third of total pen size.
pig-feed-with-whey

How whey can cut the cost of pig feed

Alternative feed options can help to buffer the impact of rising costs, especially when prices increase due to adverse climatic conditions. Mauro Delle Donne of Zandam Farm explained to Glenneis Kriel how he lowers production costs by using software technology and whey from his cheese factory.

Pig farming: starting from scratch

There are several key factors to consider before deciding to farm pigs, whether intensively or free range, says Shane Brody.
Intensive or free-range pig farming?

Intensive or free-range pig farming?

This is the first question you have to ask yourself when considering raising pigs, says Shane Brody.

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