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Dr. Ernest AgriTech Hub, Abeokuta (2026)

27/03/2026

Why Many Pig Farmers Are Not Expanding… Even When the Business Looks Profitable

This is something I’ve been observing closely.

On paper, pig farming still looks profitable.
Demand is there.
Prices are not bad.

But if you look around, many farmers are not expanding.

In fact, some are even reducing their stock.

Why?

It’s not because pigs are not selling.

The real issue is confidence.

Feed cost is unstable. Today you can calculate your cost, tomorrow everything changes.

One mistake in planning, and your profit disappears.

So instead of taking the risk of increasing their herd, many farmers are choosing to stay small and manage what they already have.

Some are even spacing out production, not because they don’t want to grow, but because they don’t want to lose control.

Another thing is cash flow.

Pig farming ties down money. You invest in feed for months before you see returns. If something goes wrong, disease, poor growth, or delayed sales, it affects everything.

So farmers are becoming more careful.

Not because the opportunity is gone…

But because the risk is more obvious now.

The farmers who are still expanding are not just confident, they are structured.

They understand their cost.
They have buyers already.
They manage feed properly.
And they don’t leave things to chance.

Pig farming is still a good business.

But it is no longer a “just try it” kind of business.

You have to think, plan, and control things properly.

Let me ask you honestly…

Are you currently expanding your farm, maintaining it, or reducing your stock?

23/03/2026

You Say There Is No Market for Pigs… But Others Are Still Selling

Let’s be real for a moment.

While some farmers are complaining about no market, others are quietly selling out and even struggling to meet demand. Some are even buying extra pigs just to supply their customers.

So maybe the issue is not that the market doesn’t exist.

Maybe the real issue is why buyers are not coming to you.

Because if you truly have good pigs and they are not moving, something is not adding up.

From what I’ve seen, it usually comes down to a few things.

Some farmers are simply not visible. If nobody knows you’re selling, how do you expect buyers to find you?

Others don’t build relationships. They wait until pigs are ready before they start looking for buyers, instead of connecting with people ahead of time.

Then there’s pricing. If you don’t understand your cost, it’s easy to price wrongly and scare serious buyers away.

Communication also matters. Buyers want clear details, weight, size, quantity. If you can’t provide that confidently, they move on.

Consistency is another issue. Buyers prefer someone they can rely on, not someone who has pigs today and disappears tomorrow.

Quality plays a role too. Not every pig is market ready, and buyers can tell the difference.

And then there’s networking. Some farmers are connected to butchers, processors, and other sellers, while others are working completely on their own.

I’ve also seen farmers wait too long, hoping for a better price, only to end up spending more on feed.

At the end of the day, pig farming is not just about raising animals.

It’s also about how you position yourself to sell them.

So before saying “there is no market,” it might be worth asking yourself a simple question:

What could I be doing differently?

Let’s talk, is your challenge finding buyers, or getting the right price?

21/03/2026

This side of pig farming… not everyone likes to show it.

But this is the real work behind healthy animals and good results.

What you’re seeing here is part of my daily routine, clearing waste and keeping the pen clean. It may not look like much, but it plays a big role in how well your pigs perform.

Now, let’s talk about how to actually manage waste properly on a pig farm.

First, don’t allow waste to stay too long in the pen. The longer it stays, the more it builds up smell, attracts flies, and increases disease risk. Regular flushing or scraping should be part of your daily routine.

Second, your drainage system must be working well. Wastewater should flow easily out of the pen into a channel or pit. If water is stagnant, you’re already creating problems for yourself.

Third, have a collection point. This can be a soakaway pit, waste pit, or a simple lagoon system where all the waste is directed. From there, you can decide how to make use of it.

Because the truth is, pig waste is not completely useless.

You can convert it into organic manure for crop farming. Some farmers even go further to use it for biogas production, which can help reduce energy costs on the farm.

Also, wash your pens regularly, not just to make them look clean, but to reduce bacteria load and keep the environment safe for the pigs.

And don’t forget this, consistency is everything. Cleaning today and leaving it for the next few days will only bring you back to the same problem.

At the end of the day, waste management is not just about cleanliness. It is about protecting your animals, improving their performance, and running a farm that actually gives you results.

Some people focus only on feeding.

But experienced farmers know that hygiene is just as important.

If your farm is clean, your pigs will show it.

How are you currently managing waste on your farm?

21/03/2026

This one here is a good example of why you don’t give up on a piglet too early.

She was the smallest in the litter right from farrowing. One of those weak ones that normally struggle to keep up with the rest. If you’ve been in pig farming for a while, you’ll understand this, almost every litter has one or two piglets that come out smaller or weaker than the others.

That’s where proper attention comes in.

Instead of leaving her to compete with the stronger piglets, she was given a bit more care to help her survive those early days. Because the truth is, if you don’t support them at that stage, you’ll likely lose them.

When it was time to wean, I didn’t rush her.

While the bigger, stronger piglets were separated, I allowed her to stay back with the sow for some extra time. That little extension made a big difference. She was able to build strength, feed better, and gradually improve.

Not all piglets should be treated the same way.

Some will grow fast on their own. Others need a bit more time and attention. And if you manage them well at that early stage, you won’t just save them, you’ll actually raise better animals.

That’s one thing farming will teach you, patience and observation.

Have you ever kept a weak piglet that later turned out well?

20/03/2026

Let’s Break It Down: What 1,000 Layers Can Realistically Give You

A lot of people like to talk about poultry profits, but many times the figures are too optimistic. So let’s look at it in a more practical way.

Instead of using very high production like 90%, let’s work with 75% production, which is more achievable on a well managed farm.

Out of 1,000 birds, about 750 will be laying daily. That gives you around 750 eggs per day, which is roughly 25 crates.

If one crate is selling for about ₦5,100, your daily income comes to approximately ₦127,500.

When you calculate it for a week, you’re looking at about 175 crates, bringing your weekly revenue to around ₦892,500.

For a full month, that adds up to about 750 crates, which gives you roughly ₦3.8 million in revenue.

Now, let’s talk about feeding, because that’s where most of the money goes.

A layer bird eats about 115g of feed daily. For 1,000 birds, that’s about 115kg per day, which is about 4 to 5 bags of 25kg feed.

If one bag costs around ₦14,500, your daily feeding cost will be about ₦66,000 to ₦70,000.

That means in one week, you’re spending roughly ₦460,000 on feed, and in a month, about ₦2 million.

Aside from feed, there are other regular expenses, things like medication, transport, and general farm upkeep. These can easily take about ₦150,000 to ₦200,000 monthly. If you’re also paying for labour, at this level it may go up to around ₦150,000 to ₦200,000 depending on how your farm is structured.

So in total, your monthly expenses come to about ₦2.3 million to ₦2.4 million.

When you subtract that from your monthly revenue, you’re left with an estimated profit of about ₦1.4 million+.

Of course, this is just an estimate. Your actual profit will depend on how well you manage the birds, how consistent your feeding is, and how low you keep mortality.

One practical point, at this level, labour becomes more important. Some farmers still manage it themselves, while others bring in workers to make daily operations easier.

At the end of the day, poultry farming can be profitable, but it depends heavily on management and planning.

So let me ask you…

If you were to start, would you go straight into 1,000 birds, or start smaller and grow gradually?

20/03/2026

If You Wean Your Piglets and They Are Not Growing Well, Check These Things

This is something many pig farmers face.

After weaning, you expect the piglets to pick up and start growing fast. But instead, they just remain small, weak, or not adding weight the way they should.

At that point, it can be frustrating.

But most times, the problem is not one big issue. It’s usually a combination of small things that were overlooked.

The first thing to look at is feed.

After weaning, piglets are very sensitive. If the feed is too hard, poorly formulated, or not palatable, they won’t eat enough. And if they don’t eat well, growth will slow down immediately.

At this stage, the feed must be soft, balanced, and easy for them to adjust to.

Next is water.

It sounds simple, but many farmers overlook it. If clean water is not always available, piglets won’t eat properly. And once feed intake drops, growth drops with it.

Another thing is stress from weaning.

Weaning itself is a big change for piglets. They are separated from the sow, introduced to new feed, and sometimes moved to a new environment. All of this can affect their appetite for some days.

Good management during this period helps reduce that stress.

Then check your housing.

If the pen is too cold, too hot, overcrowded, or dirty, piglets will not perform well. Young pigs need a comfortable, clean, and dry environment to grow properly.

Also pay attention to health.

Worms, infections, or even mild diarrhea can slow down growth without you noticing immediately. Regular observation and early treatment make a big difference.

One more thing many farmers ignore is competition.

If small piglets are mixed with bigger ones, they may not get enough feed because the stronger ones will dominate. Sorting them by size helps each group grow better.

At the end of the day, poor growth after weaning is usually a sign that something is off in management.

Once you correct those small issues, you will start seeing improvement.

If you’ve experienced this before, what did you notice was the main cause on your farm?

20/03/2026

Pig Farming Is Not the Problem… Structure Is

Let me be honest about something I’ve noticed.

Most times, it’s not the pigs that are the problem.

It’s how the whole operation is being run.

If you look closely, the demand for pork is still there. People are buying. The market hasn’t disappeared. Yet, many farmers are still struggling and wondering why things are not adding up.

From what I’ve seen, it often comes down to structure.

Some farmers start production without thinking about where the pigs will be sold. Others are feeding without really calculating what it’s costing them. Breeding is happening, but there’s no clear plan behind it. Everything just feels uncoordinated.

And when things are not organised, even a good business will start looking like it’s not working.

Another thing is the disconnect in the system. You’ll find farmers with pigs ready for sale, while buyers are also looking for pigs somewhere else, but there’s no proper link between both sides.

Then there’s management.

No proper records.
No clear tracking of expenses.
No way to really tell if the farm is making profit or just running in circles.

At that point, it becomes difficult to make good decisions.

Pig farming itself is not a bad business. In fact, it still has strong potential. But the results you get depend a lot on how well the system is put together.

The farmers who seem to be doing better are not always the ones with the biggest farms. Most times, they are the ones who understand what is happening on their farm.

They know their numbers.
They plan their production.
They understand their market.
And they try to keep things organised.

Pig farming is not just about having animals in the pen.

It’s about how you run the entire process.

Let me ask you, from your own experience, where do you think the real issue is?

19/03/2026

What Is Really Changing in Pig Farming Right Now?

If you’ve been in pig farming for a while, you’ll probably agree with me… things are not the same anymore.

It’s no longer just about raising pigs and waiting to sell.

That approach is getting harder to sustain.

These days, the real pressure is coming from the cost of production. Feed is expensive, fuel is expensive, and almost everything needed to run a farm has gone up. You look at your expenses and you start asking yourself serious questions.

At the same time, the market is still there. People are still buying. Demand hasn’t disappeared.

So the issue is not really “can pigs sell?”
The real question now is “how do you still make profit after everything?”

And that’s where I’m seeing a shift.

Some farmers are becoming more careful with feeding. Not just giving feed, but paying attention to how well the pigs are converting it. Because right now, wasted feed is wasted money.

Others are no longer waiting to sell only live pigs. They are looking at other ways, processing, roasting, supplying directly to buyers. Just trying to get more value instead of depending on one market.

Then there are farmers who are tightening their system. Fewer mistakes, better planning, cleaner pens. Because truth be told, poor management is now more expensive than before.

One thing that is also becoming clear is this, prevention is cheaper. Farmers who take hygiene seriously and control disease early are spending less on treatment.

Pig farming is changing quietly.

It’s no longer just about working hard. You have to think more, plan better, and pay attention to small details.

The opportunity is still there, no doubt. But now it favors farmers who are intentional.

Let me ask you honestly… what is putting the most pressure on your farm right now?

Feed cost?
Market?
Or management?

14/03/2026

This is a question many pig farmers ask, especially when the cost of feed keeps rising.

Formulated feed is often the biggest expense on a pig farm, and when prices of ingredients like maize and soybean meal go up, farmers naturally begin to look for alternatives. The question then becomes: can pigs survive or even perform well on other feed materials without relying completely on commercial or fully formulated diets?

The honest answer is that pigs can utilize many different feed resources, especially those that are locally available. Things like cassava peels, yam peels, sweet potato vines, brewer’s grains, kitchen leftovers, and some agro-industrial by-products can help reduce feeding costs. Many farmers already use some of these materials on their farms.

However, it is important to understand one thing. These materials alone usually do not provide all the nutrients pigs need for proper growth and performance. Pigs require a balanced combination of energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals. When pigs depend only on one or two unbalanced feed sources, they may fill their stomachs but still grow slowly.

What many successful farmers do instead is combine local feed materials with properly balanced supplements. This way the pigs still get the nutrients they need, while the farmer reduces the overall cost of feeding.

For example, cassava peels can provide energy, brewer’s grain can supply some protein, and green forages or kitchen by-products can add variety. But these still need to be managed carefully so the pigs are not lacking important nutrients.

So while pigs can make use of many alternative feed ingredients, the goal should not be to completely replace formulated diets, but rather to use local resources wisely to reduce cost while still maintaining good nutrition.

Pig farming is always a balance between cost and performance. When farmers understand the nutritional value of what they are feeding, they can make better decisions and keep their pigs growing well without unnecessary expenses.

13/03/2026

I’ve been looking closely at what is happening in the pig industry lately, and the picture is quite interesting.

Pig prices across several parts of Nigeria are currently hovering around ₦2,000 – ₦2,300 per kg, with some areas even slightly higher depending on demand. In places like Lagos and Rivers, buyer activity is still strong, which shows that the demand for pork is not slowing down.

But while the market is encouraging, farmers are also dealing with serious pressure on the cost side.

Feed ingredients are not cheap. Maize alone is around ₦300 per kg, soybean meal is even higher, and protein ingredients continue to push feed costs up. When you combine that with rising fuel prices and other operating expenses, you can see why many farmers are feeling the strain.

This is the reality of livestock farming today. The opportunity is still there, but farmers have to be more strategic than before.

One thing that is becoming clearer is the importance of value addition and market visibility. The more pork becomes visible in restaurants, markets, and food businesses, the stronger the demand will become for pig farmers.

At the end of the day, pig farming is not just about raising animals. It is also about understanding the market, managing costs, and positioning yourself where the demand exists.

For those of you currently in pig farming, what is the situation in your area?

Are prices improving, or are feed costs still putting pressure on your production?

11/03/2026

Many people are beginning to show interest in goat farming, and honestly, it is one of the most practical livestock businesses a beginner can start with. Goats are hardy, they adapt well to our environment, and the demand for goat meat is always there. But before jumping in, there are a few things every beginner should understand.

First, start small and learn the animals. One mistake many new farmers make is trying to start big immediately. Goat farming looks simple from the outside, but like every livestock business, it has its learning curve. Starting with a manageable number of animals gives you time to understand their feeding behaviour, health issues, and general management without putting yourself under too much pressure.

Housing is another thing beginners often overlook. Goats may look tough, but they still need proper shelter. A simple, well ventilated house that keeps them dry is very important. Goats dislike wet and dirty environments, and when they are constantly exposed to moisture, diseases and parasites become a serious problem.

Feeding is also important to understand early. Many people believe goats can survive on anything, but surviving is not the same as growing well. Goats are natural browsers; they prefer leaves, shrubs, and tree branches more than grasses. Allowing them access to these plants helps, but during certain periods, especially in the dry season, you may still need to provide extra feed such as crop residues, legumes, or other locally available supplements.

Health management is something every beginner must take seriously. Internal parasites are one of the most common problems in goats. Regular deworming, keeping their housing clean, and observing the animals daily can help prevent many avoidable losses. The earlier you notice a problem, the easier it is to handle.

Another thing beginners should think about is breeding. Good breeding animals make a big difference over time. Try to start with healthy animals from reliable sources. Strong genetics will influence growth rate, reproduction, and overall productivity of your herd.

Finally, patience is important. Goats multiply, but they do not multiply overnight. The farmers who benefit the most from goat farming are usually the ones who stay consistent with good management and allow their herd to grow gradually.

Goat farming may look simple, but when it is done properly, it can become a very reliable livestock enterprise. For beginners, the key is to start carefully, learn from the animals, and improve your management as you gain experience.

Dr. Ernest AgriTech Hub

27/03/2026

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