As others think of filth, these young men see easy cash in their swine
Rufus Ng'ang'a plays with some of his pigs at Ndundori in Kiambu County on November 17, 2014. PHOTO | TOM KARIUKI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Rearing pigs is considered a daunting task, with many preferring to enjoy the pork rather than taking up the job that has made Koigi and Ng’ang’a, both 23, rich.
- After birth, the young farmer says, a piglet is weaned for two months and then given starters. At four months, they are fed growers followed by sow weaners at six months. They are sold once their weight is between 86 and 100 kilos.
The stillness of the compound could be mistaken for well-mannered swine.
In a shade on the corner of the sty, a sow snouts soothing sounds to her piglets.
Issac Koigi, owner and caretaker of the pig empire at Ndenderu in Kiambu County, dashes out of the sty, threatening the calmness of the estate.
“He was cleaning the sties,” Rufus Ng’ang’a, co-owner, whispers. “Just like our mothers do when they want us to fall asleep, so is mother pig to her piglets.”
Rearing pigs is considered a daunting task, with many preferring to enjoy the pork rather than taking up the job that has made Koigi and Ng’ang’a, both 23, rich.
Koigi and Ng’ang’a, who own 10 and 30 pigs have learnt the art of soiling their hands and making thousands from their customers.
The duo sells the animals to Farmer’s Choice company. They have made a name for themselves with their supplies and won the confidence of the leading pork and bacon processor in the country.
Ng’ang’a is a college student who was introduced to pigs by his father. Last week, he pocketed Sh105,000 from the sale of seven pigs.
A well-fed pig, he says, brings in between Sh15,000 and Sh20,000 in just seven months.
After birth, the young farmer says, a piglet is weaned for two months and then given starters. At four months, they are fed growers followed by sow weaners at six months. They are sold once their weight is between 86 and 100 kilos.
The two farmers feed their swine twice a day— at six in the morning and six in the evening.
“Pigs also require a lot of water which cools them. In some instances, you can even build them a small pool. Too much heat can kill the animals,” Koigi says.
Pigs, just like other animals, should be free from internal pests. To keep tape worms and other internal pests away, the young farmers deworm the animals at seven days, then at 14 days and at 21 days.
“Pig rearing is not labour intensive. It only requires keen attention to their needs,” Ng’ang’a says. The two farmers spend almost Sh5,000 to feed a piglet until it is fully grown.
Ng’ang’a says he is happy rearing because they mature faster than other animals,
“Less than seven months and you earn your money. That’s a good deal,” he says.
