pigkeeper

PigKeeper is a term used to describe a person responsible for the care, management, and welfare of pigs. In farming contexts, a PigKeeper may work on commercial operations, smallholder farms, or hobby holdings, where duties center on ensuring the health, nutrition, and housing of swine.

Key responsibilities include providing suitable housing and bedding, ensuring access to clean water and a balanced diet, monitoring health and signs of illness, administering medications as prescribed, planning breeding and farrowing schedules, and maintaining records on reproduction, growth, vaccination, and performance. Biosecurity—preventing disease entry and spread—is also a central duty, as is managing waste and environmental conditions to reduce stress.

Best practices emphasize animal welfare, including adequate space, enrichment, comfortable temperatures, gentle handling, and appropriate vaccination and parasite control. In larger operations, PigKeepers coordinate with veterinarians, nutritionists, and farm managers; they may use technology such as monitoring sensors and data systems to track health and growth, and they work to comply with animal-welfare and biosafety regulations.

Facilities and equipment commonly used include climate-controlled pig housing (indoor pens or outdoor runs), feeding and watering systems, farrowing areas for sows and piglets, and waste management infrastructure. The exact setup varies by region, farm size, and production system, such as farrow-to-finish, nursery, or breeding-only operations.

Historically, pig keeping has evolved from traditional free-ranging practices to structured, intensive systems in which dedicated keepers oversee large groups of animals. The term PigKeeper is sometimes used interchangeably with swine herdsman, pig farmer, or pig caretaker, depending on regional language and the scope of responsibilities.