Small breeding herd selling weaners and breeding stock

Smallholders, hobby pig keepers, small farms selling direct, and people buying registered breeding stock.

Sell weaners at 8 weeks or so, plus occasional gilts, boars or registered breeding stock at a higher price. Some income can come from pork sales of surplus animals.

• Experience handling and caring for pigs
• Understanding farrowing and piglet care
• Good record keeping and breed knowledge
• Networking with other keepers and breed societies

• Registration, movement licences and standstill rules, which can differ across the UK, so check with APHA or your devolved authority
• Medicine and treatment records, and how you must store and use veterinary medicines
• Never feed catering waste or kitchen scraps, and check current biosecurity and disease controls
• Farrowing is demanding and often out of hours, so plan cover for holidays and illness
• Check planning, tenancy and neighbour issues before putting up housing and fencing
• Public liability insurance and livestock insurance, check what is covered
• Demand for weaners and breeding stock can vary, so test the local market before committing

Startup costs are typically around £5,000 to £20,000, depending on the number of sows, housing, fencing and breeding method. These are estimates, so check planning, tenancy and neighbour issues before you build.

Check registration, movement licences and standstill rules with APHA or your devolved authority, as they can differ across the UK. Also check medicine and treatment records, storage of veterinary medicines, and that you never feed catering waste or kitchen scraps.

Monthly revenue is typically around £800 to £4,000, depending on herd size and demand. The estimate starts from about 15 hours a week. Farrowing is often out of hours, and local demand can vary, so test the market first.