That’s a great question and actually, there’s some fascinating research and real-world experience showing that pigs can play a significant role in boosting earthworm populations and overall soil health.
When pigs root and forage, they naturally aerate and break up compacted soil, which makes it easier for earthworms to move through and thrive. Their manure is also rich in organic matter and nutrients, creating the perfect conditions for earthworms to multiply. Studies and farmer reports have shown that managed, rotational grazing with pigs can lead to a noticeable increase in earthworm numbers over time. More earthworms means better soil structure, improved drainage, and more natural fertility thanks to all those worm castings.
As for flies, pigs can help indirectly by breaking down organic material quickly and keeping pastures “turned over,” which can disrupt fly breeding cycles. Of course, good management is key rotating pigs and avoiding overstocking helps keep everything in balance.
It’s one of the reasons I’m so passionate about integrating livestock into regenerative farming systems. When managed well, pigs don’t just produce food they help build healthier, more resilient soils from the ground up.
Yes even cardboard can become a home for homeless or tilled and devoured food for earthworms to increase the fertility of soil and help retain water longer. Like leaf mulch let it remain where it falls. Unfortunately mow and blow ‘gardeners’ and their customers don’t understand nature’s preservation.
So true. We have a small copse of trees on our front field and we like to leaves fall and mulch into the ground. The mushrooms always grow so well in this environment and the poultry and guineas love the extra insects it attracts. I love simple changes in our garden or in my case the farm that encourage a whole new ecosystem of life.
Absolutely, that’s a really important point to add! The quality of pig manure and its value as a fertiliser really does depend on what the pigs are eating. I always recommend being mindful of feed sources. Store-bought pig feed is often loaded with soy or fish meal, which isn’t always the most sustainable or ideal option, especially if you’re aiming for the highest quality manure for things like mushroom production. We actually use to sell our pig manure to a vineyard as fertiliser.
If it’s possible, milling your own feed or sourcing locally-grown grains as protein is best. Not only does this support better animal health and welfare, but it also means the manure will be richer in nutrients. Pig feed typically has a higher protein content (around 15–18%), and that extra protein translates to more nitrates in the manure, which is a big plus for soil fertility.
I get that milling your own feed isn’t always practical for everyone, especially smallholders, but even making small changes to feed quality can make a real difference in the end product. Thanks for raising this - are you thinking about feed options for your own pigs?
I’m in Los Angeles. No pigs. But do cultivate earthworms and did raise organic French snails that I sold to a cannery in central California. Always curious about the environment and living in it not against it. Recycling waste starts at home. People have to learn to get back to basics, not be so dependent on governments to take care of their needs. Too much waste. Over packaging products.
Thanks so much for sharing a bit about your own experience raising organic French snails and cultivating earthworms in LA is fascinating! I completely agree, so much of real environmental progress starts at home, with the simple things like recycling waste, reducing packaging, and finding creative ways to close the loop.
It’s inspiring to hear from people who are actually living these values, not just talking about them. Getting back to basics, whether that’s composting, growing a bit of our own food, or just being mindful about what we consume makes a huge difference over time.
Always love connecting with others who are curious and hands-on about the environment.
In the 1950's mum bought 10 pigs to clear a half acre impenetratable bramble patch. Result this patch produced all the vegetables to feed 12 of us for the next 40 years. I kept my own first herd of pigs in woodland in the 60’s.
Now I put 4 weaners into the cattle shed in spring, on top of the winters cow crap and by the time they are fat they have turned the cow manure into great compost.
Wonder if pigs cold help in raising earthworms. Reduce any flies and help break down the soil to add their castings a detect fertilizer.
That’s a great question and actually, there’s some fascinating research and real-world experience showing that pigs can play a significant role in boosting earthworm populations and overall soil health.
When pigs root and forage, they naturally aerate and break up compacted soil, which makes it easier for earthworms to move through and thrive. Their manure is also rich in organic matter and nutrients, creating the perfect conditions for earthworms to multiply. Studies and farmer reports have shown that managed, rotational grazing with pigs can lead to a noticeable increase in earthworm numbers over time. More earthworms means better soil structure, improved drainage, and more natural fertility thanks to all those worm castings.
As for flies, pigs can help indirectly by breaking down organic material quickly and keeping pastures “turned over,” which can disrupt fly breeding cycles. Of course, good management is key rotating pigs and avoiding overstocking helps keep everything in balance.
It’s one of the reasons I’m so passionate about integrating livestock into regenerative farming systems. When managed well, pigs don’t just produce food they help build healthier, more resilient soils from the ground up.
How could pigs and their fertilizer increase mushrooms production. The re are more ways to make money from pigs.
Yes even cardboard can become a home for homeless or tilled and devoured food for earthworms to increase the fertility of soil and help retain water longer. Like leaf mulch let it remain where it falls. Unfortunately mow and blow ‘gardeners’ and their customers don’t understand nature’s preservation.
So true. We have a small copse of trees on our front field and we like to leaves fall and mulch into the ground. The mushrooms always grow so well in this environment and the poultry and guineas love the extra insects it attracts. I love simple changes in our garden or in my case the farm that encourage a whole new ecosystem of life.
Absolutely, that’s a really important point to add! The quality of pig manure and its value as a fertiliser really does depend on what the pigs are eating. I always recommend being mindful of feed sources. Store-bought pig feed is often loaded with soy or fish meal, which isn’t always the most sustainable or ideal option, especially if you’re aiming for the highest quality manure for things like mushroom production. We actually use to sell our pig manure to a vineyard as fertiliser.
If it’s possible, milling your own feed or sourcing locally-grown grains as protein is best. Not only does this support better animal health and welfare, but it also means the manure will be richer in nutrients. Pig feed typically has a higher protein content (around 15–18%), and that extra protein translates to more nitrates in the manure, which is a big plus for soil fertility.
I get that milling your own feed isn’t always practical for everyone, especially smallholders, but even making small changes to feed quality can make a real difference in the end product. Thanks for raising this - are you thinking about feed options for your own pigs?
I’m in Los Angeles. No pigs. But do cultivate earthworms and did raise organic French snails that I sold to a cannery in central California. Always curious about the environment and living in it not against it. Recycling waste starts at home. People have to learn to get back to basics, not be so dependent on governments to take care of their needs. Too much waste. Over packaging products.
Thanks so much for sharing a bit about your own experience raising organic French snails and cultivating earthworms in LA is fascinating! I completely agree, so much of real environmental progress starts at home, with the simple things like recycling waste, reducing packaging, and finding creative ways to close the loop.
It’s inspiring to hear from people who are actually living these values, not just talking about them. Getting back to basics, whether that’s composting, growing a bit of our own food, or just being mindful about what we consume makes a huge difference over time.
Always love connecting with others who are curious and hands-on about the environment.
In the 1950's mum bought 10 pigs to clear a half acre impenetratable bramble patch. Result this patch produced all the vegetables to feed 12 of us for the next 40 years. I kept my own first herd of pigs in woodland in the 60’s.
Now I put 4 weaners into the cattle shed in spring, on top of the winters cow crap and by the time they are fat they have turned the cow manure into great compost.