One of the reasons why pig farming is very lucrative is that pigs multiply really fast. One sow (mature female pig) can farrow (give birth to) between 8 and 18 piglets at a time.

The gestation (pregnancy) period for pigs is just four months and sows can farrow up to two times a year. This means that one sow, which costs about N140,000, can produce up to 16 – 36 piglets in a single year. These piglets which reach a market size of 90 kg in nine to eleven months can sell for up to N40,000 each!

No other farm animals, except chickens, rabbits and ostriches, can multiply this fast!

Pigs grow to market size very fast because of their amazingly high feed-to-meat conversion ratios. This simply means that for every kilogram of food they eat, pigs produce more flesh (meat) than cattle, goats and sheep