Overview

There are many reasons why you may want to buy and raise a few or many pigs on your property. It is important to be aware of the management, health and welfare requirements before buying your pigs.

Even if this is not your first-time raising pigs, you may still have questions about their feeding, management, health, government regulations or mandatory requirements for raising pigs in Ontario.

Resources

Ontario Pork has compiled a how-to-guide to help small scale producers or hobby farmers raising pigs in Ontario. This guide is intended for those raising weaned pigs through growing and finishing to slaughter weight but does not contain information on the management of sows, breeding or farrowing.

Resources and information on small scale pig production can be found on the ONswine blog. This will include resources and information on pig production, management, health, business and more, specifically for small scale pig producers.

If you plan to house your pigs outdoors proper, secure fencing is needed. Refer to Fencing for outdoor pig production: protecting your livestock and the environment for information on fencing to keep outdoor pigs confined and keep feral pigs away from your livestock and crops.

Rural landowners also have requirements to meet local municipal requirements for containing livestock. These are described in Best practices for keeping your livestock contained. As an animal owner or caretaker, learn about your obligations, and how to keep and return animals to containment.

Before moving a pig from your property to slaughter there are traceability requirements to track animal movements. Your animal may not be accepted at slaughter without these.