28/08/2026
Buying a pig? Don't choose it simply because it looks big. π·
Here are five things I'd want a farmer to pay attention to:
1οΈβ£ Body condition
Look at the animal as a wholeβnot just its size.
2οΈβ£ Legs and feet
An animal that is going to spend its life standing and moving needs sound legs and feet.
3οΈβ£ Teat structure
For breeding animals, this deserves attention.
4οΈβ£ Age and production history
Don't buy without understanding what you're actually buying.
5οΈβ£ Records and source
Know where the animal comes from and ask for the relevant information available about it.
And one more thing:
Don't let someone convince you that a particular breed is automatically the best breed for every farmer.
The right animal depends on your:
Objective + environment + management system + market.
Animal selection is a decisionβnot a guessing game.
We will be talking much more about this in the coming weeks.
What would you look at first when choosing a pig?