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Pigs are a very common animal in farming, enjoyed for their meat and fat. While they are being looked after in a farm, you must take good care of them in order to raise them well. So, this will be a simple, fairly surface level guide for newer farmers if they want to take up pig farming.
Pigs should be fed a balanced diet of prepared pig food, and you must ensure what you have is suitable for the age and species of the pigs you have. Ensure they have access to clean and fresh water constantly, and make sure you remove ice from it in the winter (DO NOT use chemicals to do this!). Food bowls and water dispensers should be cleaned regularly to minimise the risk of bacteria and other germs building up. It is also worth noting that it is illegal to feed pigs using food waste/ kitchen scraps, meat, bones, offal or any part of another animal. This applies even if the waste you give to the pigs did not come into any contact with meat (e.g. in a vegan household).
Like many species, pigs are also herd animals, and are very social. This means just having a single pig on your farm is doing it a huge disservice, and you deprive it of the social interaction it needs to live comfortably. Always aim to have at least two or more pigs that get along well in your farm.
Ensure the pigs are getting plenty of exercise to avoid obesity, digestive issues (such as constipation), and their feet becoming overgrown. Regular vet checks are also essential to the pigs’ welfare, along with keeping them vaccinated against health conditions (such as Lungworm, Escherichia Coli, and Erysipelas) to prevent premature deaths or contaminated meat.
Before you even get pigs of your own, ensure you are getting them from a reputable source by doing plenty of research on the subject. If you are not careful, you could get pigs who are diseased and their meat could be harmful to consumers, and it would cause a lot of pain for the pig.
In summary, do remember that pigs are alive too, and it is your duty as a farmer to ensure their lives are as good as they can possibly be. Always do thorough research before taking on animals! Happy Farming!