I never really thought of raising pigs and spending money at the same, it was always the good quality meat it provides and the "do it yourself" process, which likely makes everything better anyway.
I think pigs work better with two or more, food competition I think.
Last year I bought four hogs, (two male, two female), first pair did not produce, second pair made 10 piglets (sold them @ 50 bucks a piece). Slaughtered the two hogs that did not produce, put about 400 pounds of meat in several freezer's (they were huge). For the year I invested total 800 dollar's in hog's, pigs and feed. This number minus 500 for piglets I recieved. So total investment of 300, (800, minus 500 for piglet sales), 400 pounds of meat in freezers, still have two large hogs, about to have more piglets (provided all goes well). So let us say, on a very optimistic note, 150 dollars for 400 pounds of pork, heck even if you figure 300 that's around 35-75 a pound based on how you look at it. Now this does not take into consideration the cost of housing, wire (I use electric & hog wire), obviously the cost is more considering this, but for me it is a hobby...My meat is more expensive if you consider all the tools I use to process the meat, slicers, bone saws, grinders, seasonings, etc.. again this is just a hobby, but a cool one the way I figure.
Yes there are days these hogs literally drive me out of my mind, and keeping boars and sows you end up dealing with large animals. Our process starts over soon, hopefully a guilt from the next litter, and go find a boar and start it up again. I buy all my feed from the Amish at around 9.50 per hundred mash, there are times I get starter feed, other stuff, but I consider it all part of the fun.
There should be no reason not to be able to raise up some quality meat and beat the store price, again though, the home made pork is worth far more than store meat, just an opinion held by many
Hope I did not confuse things too much, my writing skills blow!
