Hog raisers see profits this year

Hog raising is a popular fast growing home-based business in the Philippines which most backyard producers believed that this would dominate and produce high profits this year, the year of the Fire Pig.

According to Jose Manco, who is in the business for more than 30 years, he positively assumed that since 2007 is the year of the pigs, any business derived from every part of these swine would play healthy operations in the industry especially the livestock production.

For him, raising boars is less-hassle compared to raising sows while profit is equally achieved.

Janing Perez of Danao City depends greatly to this business for her family's source of income. Out of its business income, she is hoping to send her two children in college on the first semester classes this June.

On the other hand, a 53 years old entrepreneur, Lourdes Cano-og has been engaged in different small businesses but when she started raising hogs she decide to prioritize it since among others it gives her positive return of investments. This year, she is preparing for a bigger and wider breeding.

In operating backyard hog raising, initial investments for simple hog housing and choosing the right breeds are the important elements needed. Other element to consider is the operational costs for feeds, veterinary medicines, vitamins, and food supplements' expenses. Labor cost will just follow if deemed necessary by the producer.

The common types of hogs raised in the Philippines are Yorkshire, Landrace, Duroc, Hampshire, Berkshire, and Pietrain.

Meanwhile, some livestock are marketed for commercial pork production. Lechon is in fact known to be the representative dish of the Philippines and Cebu broke the Guinness Book of Records as the barbecue capital of the world which is highlighted by pork barbecue. While within Cebu, Carcar and Talisay are the most renowned lechon-producing locales.

Aside from providing income for small families, it may also be converted to delicious rations especially for big occasions such as birthdays, marriages, christenings and fiestas, that is in Christian community.

Despite the crisis facing the swine industry, still many people are venturing in this kind of business in the hopes that this would bring justifiable profit and improve their quality of life.