Pigs are some of the most fun animals you can have on your farm.  Along with being a great production animal and providing some of the most delicious meat, pigs can also make a great companion animal and require relative small spaces.

Anyone with a hobby farm would benefit greatly from raising and keeping swine. Whether you decide to keep one for fun, for profit, or for food, pigs are a great addition to any farm. If you are looking to purchase a pig, expect to get one that is around eight weeks old. If you are keeping a pig on your farm for meat, expect to butcher them at around six months old.

Swine prefer to have company around, so more than one pig is recommended. Though pigs have a reputation for being dirty, they are usually only dirty if they are confined to small spaces. Providing your pigs with enough space will ensure they are happy and clean. Pigs also have a reputation as escape artists, so a securely-fenced area is a necessity.

If you are looking to keep pigs for meat purposes, some of the best breeds are: Yorkshire, Berkshire, Hampshire, Duroc-Jersey, and Chester White. Most pigs are kept on farms for producing meat, but they are also great companions and will certainly add joy to your farm.

If you are looking to keep them for companion purposes, the best breed is the Kune Kune. In fact, they are the only pig that can survive solely on grass without any other food sources.

Swine come in many shapes, sizes and colors.  Any what type of Hog you want will greatly depend on your own personal preferences.  Pigs can be great escape artists, so having a solid study enclosure is a MUST before bringing even the smallest piglets home.  Additionally, although they grown very quickly, Pigs require lots of food and more attention to their physical needs than other animals.  Unable to withstand harsh climates without some help, they can be much more work during cold winters and hot summers than other animals on your farm!

Check out the listings below to see if you can find the right breed for you!

Picture	Breed
	Berkshire: Origin: Berkshire Coloring: Black, white Production: Meat Breed Note: Around 600 pounds at maturity
	Chester White: Origin: U.S. Coloring: White Production: Meat Breed Note: Need shade during summer months as they are prone to sunburn
	Duroc: Origin: U.S. Coloring: Shades of mahogany red Production: Meat, breeding Breed Note: Least aggressive of all swine breeds
	Hampshire: Origin: U.S. Coloring: Black, white Production: Meat Breed Note: Noted for being well muscled and rapid growers
	Hereford: Origin: U.S. Coloring: Red, white Production: Meat Breed Note: Females can get up to 600 pounds while males can reach up to 800 pounds
	Kune Kune: Origin: New Zeland Coloring: Multiple Production: Meat, pets Breed Note: Only true grazing pig that can feed on grass without any other food source to keep them healthy and keep fattening them
	Landrace: Origin: Denmark Coloring: white Production: meat Breed Note: Sows produce milk that reach lactation at around 5 weeks
	Large Black (Devon): Origin: Great Britan Coloring: Black Production: Meat Breed Note: Only British pig that is entirely black in color
	Mangalitsa: Origin: Hungary Coloring: Multiple Production: Meat Breed Note: Grows a thick woolly coat much like that of sheep
	Meishan: Origin: China Coloring: Multiple Production: Meat Breed Note: Do not sweat a lot, so to keep them cool they roll around in the mud
	Mulefoot: Origin: Unknown Coloring: Black, white Production: Meat Breed Note: Litters average around 5 or 6 piglets
	Ossabaw Island: Origin: U.S. Coloring: Multiple, most common in black Production: Meat Breed Note: Both male and female reach up to 200 pounds
	Poland China: Origin: U.S. Coloring: Black, white Production: Meat Breed Note: Can drink about 14 gallons of water a day
	Red Wattle: Origin: U.S. Coloring: red Production: Meat Breed Note: Normally have 10 to 15 piglets in a litter
	Tamworth: Origin: England Coloring: Black, red Production: Meat Breed Note: Able to withstand very cold climates
	Yorkshire: Origin: U.S. Coloring: White to light pink Production: Meat Breed Note: Most widely used and distributed breed of pig