Raising Pigs for PROFIT! Can you really earn $1K per pig, or $60k a year, even $188k a year?!..

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

These numbers are fairly spot on . I farrow 120 to 150 pigs a year and feed out 30 . I sell dressed pigs for 5.00 a lb processing is 1.15 - 2.00 a lb feed / health 1.00 a lb housing and repair .10 fuel and time aren't figured. I have a good customer base and a waiting list for pigs that took years to build and one thing I'll say is finding a market for more experience pork is way more difficult than people think just cause you raise them doesn't mean you'll sell them

[@highdeseretranch]

@ Homesteading the Hard Way As a simple man myself, this is one of the highest compliments I can receive coming from a man that, in my opinion is the G.O.A.T. when it comes to raising hogs and offering folks REAL advice and expectations. Thanks for your support as always & blessings to both You and Darlene!

[@HomesteadingtheHardWay]

@@highdeseretranch I appreciate you for trying to spread real knowledge and truth . Knowing what you're up against is important for success

[@HWPasturesLLC]

I just came across this video, so I know my comment is super late. That said, I’m very happy I came across it. Thank you for putting out a realistic numbers video because this is what most people need to understand going in. There are people that can command those amazing prices, but they spent years, or even generations, developing their market and obtaining a loyal following who will pay almost anything for their product (mostly because they give them something to believe in, so the product is purchased not on face value, but in support of an ideal). Before you begin, go to your local farmers markets to see the prices people are actually getting. Ask them how much volume they move and how much room is left in the market. DON’T UNDERCUT! That is a losing game. Go to your local grain mill and get prices on feed that meets your standard. Talk to your local vet. Assess your infrastructure and develop a process for management of feed, animals, and waste. Then, if the numbers make sense, go for it. Just my 2-cents based on my experience.

[@highdeseretranch]

Couldn't have said it better myself. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment!

[@roseblood7632]

Awesome video. Would love a copy of the spreadsheet

[@highdeseretranch]

Send me an email to [e-mail] and I'll get you a copy.

[@percussionof12]

Your numbers look pretty similar to what i'm estimating as i start out my operation. A little context for the unrealistic numbers coming from other youtubers though. The $1k per pig guy is charging a crazy price per pound for pork, and because of a few factors, people are happy to pay it. Most of us don't have the customers for that. As for the video where the other guy mentions the 60k number, i think he mentioned raising 300 pigs, and grossing nearly 200k before factoring in expenses. So his profit margin is totally within reason there, but the scale is way more than most folks can manage, and the input costs would bankrupt a lot of us before the pigs ever went to market. I think what you present here is a lot more honest about the realities of farming.

[@cisco5400]

Very interesting, thanks for sharing!

[@kotinkarwak7691]

Emailed for copy. Thanks for the breakdown and pointing out the falsehood in some of the yt videos.

[@highdeseretranch]

Sent!

[@SarahPerine]

Did you make your spreadsheet? It's fantastic! Thank you for this. You are right about the crazy videos that boast such huge profits. I guess if you have a farm where you cut and mill your own lumber for fences, have limitless laborers to help, make your own feed.... I'm just starting the last seven months and we just had our first piglets. It is a big investment to get started and you can't recoup your costs right away unless you're doing a much bigger scale than I'm attempting!

[@highdeseretranch]

Yes, I created it awhile back to help myself and reckoned others could benefit from it too. I think some folks don't think about all the input costs and have other revenue streams that it doesn't matter but when you focus on just one thing and go off misleading numbers it can really crush your spirits and put you financially in a pinch, and it was all based upon misleading numbers, whether intentional or not the results are the same. Thanks for commenting Sarah and keep watching them YT videos with both eyes wide open!

[@highdeseretranch]

Send me an email if you think you can benefit from the spreadsheet. I'm happy to share it with folks.

[@micheleholmes8490]

​@highdeseretranch I sent you an email! That spreadsheet is amazing.

[@SowKingRanch]

The math may not add up but id put pasture raised pork against confinement pork any day. Flavor and tenderness.

[@delawareteacher1182]

I turned my ad blocker off for your channel and hope you get some ad revenue for your wonderful help to us!

[@highdeseretranch]

Haha, wow that's so kind of you. That's why I started this channel was to help good folks and combat the myths and falsified things I see in YT in agriculture and animal husbandry, whether intentional or not, folks new to this life waste a lot of time and money and more importantly the animals suffer and get folks get hurt.

[@okgearheads3551]

Great video and spreadsheet! I need it and not smart enough to create..

[@highdeseretranch]

@ Okgearheads Send me an email and I can share it with you.

[@GregorySween]

Thank you, and might I say friend. I do appreciate the information.

[@highdeseretranch]

Glad to help!

[@r.j.4950]

I’m not a farmer but many thanks for this video it shows the lack of integrity most people have. It also shows the old saying "Take everything with a grain of salt" is evidently true. Do your own research first if you want to learn about farming ask a real farmer.

[@farnorthhomested844]

thanks for the honest video.

[@highdeseretranch]

I hope it helps or atleast gives an idea of what to expect

[@bendustin7609]

The Salatins also don’t have to figure in labor expenses on their poultry production. The get it for free from disillusioned interns.

[@highdeseretranch]

@ Ben Dustin This is true, labor or one's time is a big cost not to be overlooked. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.

[@phoenixfireclusterbomb]

I raised one single hog this year and Im poor as poor can be. One hog alone is a massive amount of money away from the budget of a family living paycheck to paycheck. It’s possible, restaurants or daily convenience store runs for lunch is completely off the table. Really no convenience service at all. Its all DIY from hear on out. Yes, your going to butcher that Hog yourself too. Given, the facilities were also already here so that wasn’t much extra besides repair and additional hog panels to house the Hog. She came to us free too so yeah, management of multiple heads of Hogs the upfront and active cost would be well outside my budget. I also have a son helping me with daily chores.

[@highdeseretranch]

There is no other better feeling than raising your own food, especially meat. It is better to go without, when it comes to buying meat from the supermarket. Make do or do without. Paying for convenience foods, really means you end up 'paying for it' in the long run, when it comes to your health.

[@gwc3721]

Very realistic video.

[@davidt1621]

Which regions of the US pay the most? It might be feasible to transport across state lines to a higher paying market if you have the right truck & trailer up to dot inspection standards, as long as mandatory interstate resting/grazing and fuel costs are worth the trip and the time, but it's probably unlikely for most folks. I reckon if you plan to buy something for resell, you should go to your market and find out what it'll sell for before buying.

[@highdeseretranch]

Correct. Let the invisible hand of economics determine what is best for folks to do what is best. Thanks for your comment David.

[@davidt1621]

@@highdeseretranch Maybe it's just because tonality must be inferred through text rather than heard, but I think I detect a hint of sarcasm.

[@highdeseretranch]

@@davidt1621 No sarcasm. Like you said. Do your homework, know the market and your costs before buying pork or raising hogs for resell.

[@davidt1621]

@@highdeseretranch Ok. Maybe I should lay off listening to so much conspiracy theory podcast.

[@highdeseretranch]

@@davidt1621 Haha, no worries. The invisible hand that I referenced is an idea concieved and mentioned by economist Adam Smith in his book 'The Wealth of Nations'. Which is why your original comment is a major part of that economic concept, and reminded me of such. Again thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.

[@joedecook]

Holy smokes. Locally here, most of our local pork growers sell at over $10.00/lb of pork.

[@highdeseretranch]

It comes down to economics. Are input costs high, thus a higher sale price or is the market willing to bear those kind of high prices, in turn pork producers are really making excellent profit margins. Those are some really high prices regardless, and the fact that folks are willing to pay them suggest higher disposable household income. Whereabouts is local for you?

[@joedecook]

@@highdeseretranch Mendocino County, in Northern California.

[@robdye2192]

Interesting video. I'm using pigs to clear land, but also plan to sell off feeders from the sows. As I'm not butchering I guess numbers will be different but I'm keeping track.

[@highdeseretranch]

That's correct. The nice thing about the spreadsheet, is you can custom tailor it to your circumstance. Send me an email if you want a copy. [e-mail]

[@morganlindstrom9860]

Is there a way to gain access to this spreadsheet?

[@steveufford3019]

would it be possible to get a copy of your spreadsheet? i have no idea how to create them

[@highdeseretranch]

Send me your email address to: [e-mail] and I can send the spreadsheet as an attachment. Thanks!

[@steveufford3019]

@@highdeseretranch thank you

[@steveufford3019]

Email sent

[@ExploreAmerica]

Bravo!

[@commanderpurple5228]

Will watch this tonight when I have more time. Did I hear you say that you are bringing the family ranch back out of a nearly defunct status by yourself? Can you do a video on the history of the ranch and another on you bringing the ranch into a more important active role?

[@120376mac]

Great idea for video. Would enjoy to hear the history.

[@highdeseretranch]

@ Commander Purple Yes, for the better part of it. I have a 'Introduction to the High Deseret Ranch' video. I will have to look into doing something of that nature. Can't promise top shelf artistic quality, per the rest of my YT videos. ;) Thanks for your support and watching!

[@highdeseretranch]

@ blueline beast Come to think of it I did offer a brief family history on the 'State of the Fenceline 2021' video. Thanks for watching, your support is always appreciated.

[@IzzyEatz]

How many hogs do you raise a year?

[@shamikajackson190]

Hi we are new raising pigs, the is our first full year and our first year sailing them. Can you send me your spreadsheet it looks like it would be so much help for us.

[@highdeseretranch]

Sure, send me an email. [e-mail]

[@mr.skeptical3071]

Not after feed prices!

[@GriffenNaif]

Liked and Subscribbed

[@highdeseretranch]

Welcome aboard!

[@geraldsweeten509]

Good vid. The video the guy did wasn’t priced out like the he sold the whole hog for food no butcher, known killing going on and his pigs were market weight 320-350lbs. That’s additional 100lbs of meat beyond your 144lbs

[@highdeseretranch]

@ Gerald Sweeten Thanks for watching and your reply. I'm just trying to help folks apply some basic knowledge and common sense and fight the YT fairytale, that seems to be very prevalent. Don't be a stranger to the channel!

[@kblb0410]

Can I get a copy of this spreadsheet?

[@highdeseretranch]

@ Bowen Family Farm Send me an email at [e-mail].

[@jame1seire]

My friend toss all of your numbers in the trash can. With the intended shortages we are and will experience, add from 50 to 100% profit margin. For instance, just the cost/profit on bacon alone has nearly doubled. The Govt. is going to put a heavier hand the scale, reference the experience of Amish farmer Amos Miller.