We have raised two pigs for the first time this year. They are pretty much ready to go. I was kind of surprised how much it is going to cost to butcher them. He said about $200 per pig, yielding about 140 pounds of meat. Since I only paid $50 per pig and food was free (I'll get to that), it comes out to just under $2.00 per pound. Not a huge savings, perhaps, but I have the satisfaction of knowing everything my pigs ate, that they were always humanely treated, and had no chemicals of any kind.
As to how I fed them, I own a restaurant. It has given me such peace of mind to know that I've eliminated so much waste. I have supplemented them with a bit of pig food and some dog food too, but mot much. My kids are so much more conscious about waste. They save everything everywhere for the pigs. I also have a good friend that owns a doughtnut shop. He save his old yucky stuff for the pigs too, in exchange for a ham this fall. Nice of him! But that brings me around to my suggestion... find creative ways to provided for your pigs. You'll save a lot of money and feel good about it too.
Perhaps, you could find some like minded friends in the restaurant industry that would save scraps for you. It is a bit of a pain for my employees, but they are all used to doing it now. Offer to pay a bit or trade for some meat, provide clean pails with lids for the refuse.
I've really enjoyed having pigs. I will get two new ones as soon as possible. They are friendly, clean and easy to care for.
Best wishes,
Tina