Pigs Factsheet
Pigs are the most prolific breeders in Realistic Livestock RM, with litters of up to 16 piglets. They produce no special outputs (just manure), so their value comes entirely from selling offspring. The three breeds differ significantly in price - Berkshire commands a premium while Black Pied is the budget option.
Note: This documentation was generated with AI assistance and may contain inaccuracies. If you spot an error, please open an issue.
Breeds at a Glance
| Breed | Type | Target Weight (sow / boar) | Sell Value | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berkshire | Premium | 140 / 180 kg | Highest | Most valuable per head |
| Landrace | Standard | 165 / 205 kg | Moderate | Balanced mid-range |
| Black Pied | Economy | 180 / 250 kg | Lowest | Cheapest, heaviest boars |
Boars are heavier than sows and sell for more. Berkshire pigs eat the most but command the highest prices.
Sell Prices by Breed
Pig prices peak at 24 months and stay at that level for older animals (unlike cattle which decline).
Typical Sell Prices ($)
| Breed | Newborn | 6 mo | 24 mo (peak) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berkshire | Sow | 45 | 450 | 1,600 |
| Boar | 60 | 525 | 1,850 | |
| Landrace | Sow | 40 | 400 | 1,400 |
| Boar | 50 | 475 | 1,650 | |
| Black Pied | Sow | 35 | 375 | 1,200 |
| Boar | 45 | 450 | 1,500 |
These are typical prices for an average, healthy animal. Actual prices vary widely - well-bred healthy animals sell for significantly more, while sick or poor-quality animals can sell for far less.
What Affects Sell Price
| Factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| Quality genetics | Better genetics -> noticeably higher price |
| Weight | Well-fed animals near target weight are worth more |
| Health | Healthy animals sell for significantly more |
| Pregnant | Moderate price bonus |
| Castrated | Moderate price bonus |
| Diseases | Can substantially reduce price |
Buy Prices
| Breed | Sow (newborn) | Sow (adult) | Boar (newborn) | Boar (adult) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berkshire | 65 | 1,200 | 75 | 1,500 |
| Landrace | 55 | 1,100 | 65 | 1,400 |
| Black Pied | 45 | 1,000 | 55 | 1,200 |
Output
Pigs produce only manure and liquid manure - no milk, wool, or eggs. Their value is entirely in selling the animals.
| Breed | Manure (adult) | Liquid Manure (adult) |
|---|---|---|
| Berkshire | 50 / 55 | 91 / 95 |
| Landrace | 45 / 48 | 85 / 88 |
| Black Pied | 40 / 44 | 79 / 83 |
Values shown as sow / boar.
Food & Water by Breed
Genetics significantly affect how much each animal eats - some are naturally much more efficient than others. The Food Scale setting also adjusts consumption.
Food Consumption Range (L/day)
| Breed | Newborn | 24 mo (adult) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berkshire | Sow | 5-32 | 30-210 |
| Boar | 5-35 | 33-228 | |
| Landrace | Sow | 4-26 | 25-175 |
| Boar | 4-26 | 28-193 | |
| Black Pied | Sow | 3-21 | 23-161 |
| Boar | 4-26 | 24-168 |
Berkshire pigs eat the most. Black Pied are the most efficient to feed. Ranges show the span from the most efficient to the hungriest animals. Most animals eat near the middle of these ranges.
Water Consumption (L/day, newborn -> adult)
| Breed | Sow | Boar |
|---|---|---|
| Berkshire | 10 -> 80 | 13 -> 85 |
| Landrace | 8 -> 75 | 8 -> 80 |
| Black Pied | 6 -> 68 | 8 -> 72 |
Pregnant sows eat and drink more than usual.
Weights by Breed
| Breed | Birth | Target | Maximum | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berkshire | Sow | 1.6 kg | 140 kg | 1,050 kg |
| Boar | 1.7 kg | 180 kg | 1,200 kg | |
| Landrace | Sow | 1.36 kg | 165 kg | 1,050 kg |
| Boar | 1.4 kg | 205 kg | 1,200 kg | |
| Black Pied | Sow | 1.65 kg | 180 kg | 1,050 kg |
| Boar | 1.75 kg | 250 kg | 1,200 kg |
Black Pied boars have the highest target weight at 250 kg. Higher metabolism animals reach target weight faster but eat more. Castrated pigs gain weight faster than intact males.
Reproduction
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Sow breeding age | 6+ months |
| Boar breeding age | 8+ months |
| Boar max breeding age | 48 months (4 years) |
| Sow fertility ends | 96 months (8 years) |
| Gestation | 4 months |
| Min health to breed | 75% |
See the Breeding Reference for a side-by-side table of breeding ages, gestation, and litter sizes across all species.
Key insight: Boars retire from breeding at just 4 years while sows can breed until 8 years. Plan your boar replacements early!
Litter Sizes
Pig litters are the largest of any animal - typically around 12 piglets, and up to 16 from a highly fertile sow.
| Outcome | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| ~12 piglets (typical) | Most likely |
| Smaller litter | Uncommon |
| Up to 16 piglets | Possible with high fertility |
Litter size is driven by the sow's fertility genetics, not her age. What changes with age is her chance of conceiving each cycle, which stays high through the prime years and tapers to zero by 96 months. A sow must be at 75% health or above to conceive.
Lifespan & Death
| Event | Age |
|---|---|
| Boar stops breeding | 48 months (4 years) |
| Sow stops breeding | 96 months (8 years) |
| Old age deaths begin | 180 months (15 years) |
| Maximum lifespan | ~240 months (20 years) |
Death can be toggled off in settings. Accidents can happen at any age (affected by weather).
Diseases
| Disease | Spread | Fatal? | Treatment | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foot & Mouth | Moderately | Yes | Slow, moderate cost | Major price loss |
| PED | Moderately | Yes, devastating to newborns | Quick, affordable | Severe diarrhoea (liquid manure drastically increased, solid manure severely reduced) |
PED warning: Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea is extremely fatal in newborn piglets. In a large herd, a PED outbreak can wipe out an entire generation of offspring. Older pigs rarely catch PED on their own, but any pig infected during an outbreak is in danger - treat quickly. See the Disease Guide.
Tips
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Breeding is the business model. With litters of around 12 piglets (up to 16) and a 4-month gestation plus recovery time, a healthy sow can produce a litter roughly every 7 months. Sell the excess for profit.
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Replace boars early. Boars stop breeding at just 4 years - half the sow's fertile period. Buy young boars regularly or use artificial insemination.
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Berkshire for profit, Black Pied for volume. Berkshire piglets sell for noticeably more but eat more. Black Pied are cheaper to maintain for large-scale operations.
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Watch for PED. A single PED outbreak in a pen full of newborn piglets can kill most of them. Isolating young piglets or disabling diseases in settings can protect your investment.
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Pen capacity matters. If a pen is full when piglets are born, the excess are automatically sold. Make sure you have room for those 11-16 piglet litters.