Farmers ditch dairy for the allure of profitable pork

“About 10 years ago, finding pork was quite difficult. But today... there is a rise in the number of butcheries selling pork,” says Laban Kabiru, the general manager of Farmers Choice, a company that sells meat products, including pork, beef, lamb and poultry.

According to Mr Kabiru, the industry’s growth has made pig meat more readily available and affordable: “The expansion of this industry presents immense opportunities for farmers to venture into pig farming.”

To leverage genetics and modern technologies to boost production, Farmers Choice has been conducting training on good pig farming practices. They recently held an International Pig Day, an event that brought together farmers from different parts of the country.

The inaugural event was held at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (Kalro) Horticultural Research Institute in Kandara, Murang’a County.

James Mwangi, a farmer from Kiambu County, shared his journey into pig farming.

“I have been rearing pigs for the last two years. I ventured into the business after conducting online research,” he says.

The founder of Beaumont Pig Farm, located in Kikuyu, Kiambu County, has about 250 pigs.

“Dairy farming is far more labour-intensive than pig farming. Additionally, pigs have a high feed conversion rate, meaning they gain weight quickly, reaching market size within six months,” Mr Mwangi says.

Grace Wanjiru, a pig farmer from Sabasaba, Murang’a, says one of the major challenges farmers face is the skyrocketing cost of animal feed, which also affects pig farmers.

"One key lesson I have learnt is the importance of formulating my own feed to remain profitable,” she says.

Read: ‘With pig farming, you can never go wrong or broke’

Having been in the business since 2000, Ms Wanjiru says she was forced to stop rearing the pigs for sometime in 2012 due to substandard feed.

“I resumed four years later, but now the rising cost of pig feed compels me to process my own. Thanks to International Pig Day 2025, my eyes have been opened to new possibilities,” she says.

Currently, she has 26 pigs. She is a teacher in Murang’a and pig farming is a side hustle to supplement her income.

A 70-kilogramme bag of pig feed now retails at between Sh3,200 and Sh3,400, up from Sh2,400 in 2012. Feed accounts for approximately 70 to 80 percent of production costs in pig farming. Dr Sharon Tsigadi, general manager of the Rosemark Division at Farmers Choice, advises farmers to prioritise feed quality.

“Four main factors affect pig production, namely; genetics, feed, management and environment (housing). With the right approach, a farmer can slaughter a pig within five to six months at a live weight of 100 kilogrammes,” Dr Tsigadi says.

Key feed components include protein, energy and fiber, with nutrient percentages varying, based on the pig’s age – category. Alongside feeding and disease management, genetics is a crucial consideration for farmers.

James Muigai, the founder of Rosalex, a pig farm in Isinya, Kajiado County, highlights good genetics as one of his key lessons from International Pig Day.

“I have discovered that good genetics are achieved through modern breeding technologies such as Artificial Insemination (AI),” he says.

Currently, with 25,000 pigs, Rosemark specialises in pig breeding and feed production. The Farmers Choice-owned facility relies on AI to improve pig breeds.

James Muigai, a cereals entrepreneur, also transitioned from dairy farming to pig farming last year.

“A cow gives birth once per year, while a pig farrows twice. For a serious entrepreneur, pig farming is more viable,” he says.

A well-raised sow produces an average of 10 to 13 piglets per litter.

According to data from the State Department of Livestock under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Kenya produced 40,055 tonnes of pork in 2023 from 840,160 pigs, generating Sh19.5 billion in revenue.

Dr Tsigadi estimates that 80 percent of the pigs slaughtered by Farmers Choice are supplied by independent farmers.

“This is a significant indicator of industry growth, with more farmers joining the pig value chain,” she notes.

Farmers Choice, primarily engaged in pork processing, is estimated to control 85 to 90 percent of the value-added pork products market, Dr Tsigadi reveals.

Beyond serving local markets, Farmers Choice also supplies its products to East African Community (EAC) countries, West Africa, South Africa, and global markets such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

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