SPRING SUMMER BONUS MAGAZINE 2026

Buying weaners also allows for faster cash flow. Since the pigs are already several weeks old, they reach market weight sooner than pigs bred on the farm. This means that the farmer can sell pigs faster and recover startup capital within a shorter period. For self-funded farmers, quick turnover is extremely important because it helps sustain the business and generates working capital for future expansion. This system also provides the best way of learning about growing pigs. Farmers gain valuable experience in feeding, disease management, housing, and marketing while operating on a smaller and less risky scale. Many successful commercial pig farmers started this way before expanding into breeding operations. However, buying weaners also comes with challenges. Over time, the repeated purchase of weaners increases production costs, which can reduce profit margins compared to breeding piglets. Farmers also become dependent on outside suppliers for stock availability and quality. In some cases, poor quality weaners may have poor genetics, slow growth rates, or hidden health problems that affect the farm’s performance. Flow diagram frombuying weaners to owning sows: Once enough capital has been raised, it becomes important to invest in breeding infrastructures such as mating pens, farrowing units, and nursery facilities. This transition allows the farmer to gain more control over the quality and quantity of pigs produced on the farm. Producing piglets internally can significantly reduce costs per pig while creating opportunities for long-term expansion. However, farmers should only invest in sows once they have gained enough experience, secured a steady market, and built the necessary infrastructure to support breeding operations. Keeping your own sows is the long-term strategy Keeping your own sows is more beneficial in a long-term approach to pig farming. A healthy sow can produce multiple litters every year, making it possible for the farmer to produce piglets continuously and expand the operation over time. This system provides greater control and higher long-term profitability, but it also requires more investment, labour, and management skills. One of the biggest advantages of keeping sows is the reduction in long-term production costs. Farmers no longer have to buy weaners because they produce their own piglets. This improves profit margins and allows for more predictable production planning. Farmers also gain better control over genetics by selecting strong, healthy breeding stock with good growth rates, feed conversion, and mothering abilities. Keeping sows creates room for expansion. As the sow herd grows, more piglets become available for finishing or even for sale to other farmers. Over time, the breeding herd becomes the foundation of a larger and more sustainable business. Despite these advantages, keeping sows has serious challenges. The initial investment costs are high because breeding systems require specialised infrastructure such as farrowing crates, creep areas, nursery pens, and additional feeding systems (Picture 3). Breeding stock itself is expensive, and feed costs increase significantly when maintaining pregnant and lactating sows. Picture 2: Growing pigs in a grower/finisher shed Figure.1: Flow chart of starting from weaners to owning sows Picture 3: Farrowing pens in a newly built shed www.agribonus.co.za Spring/Summer 2026 BONUS 31