Breeding and keeping pigs is quite a profitable business in financial terms. Although not only financially. By eating meat from pigs raised on your own farm, you can be sure that it is free of antibiotics or other chemicals. Thanks to man, the pig has turned from a wild animal into a domestic one and populated almost all countries of the world.

Pig information

Domestic pigs are cloven-hoofed animals characterized by a long snout with a snout, with which they loosen the earth in search of food. There are bristles on the skin, the four limbs of the animal end in hooves.

Interesting fact. The pig and the hippopotamus are the closest relatives.

Contrary to the general opinion that pigs are dirty animals, they are very clean, falling out in the mud is due to getting rid of skin parasites that fall off the skin along with dried pieces of mud crust. In addition to this factor, the crust protects the animal from overheating in the summer and from hypothermia during frost. The pig loves and knows how to swim in reservoirs. Unlike other domestic cloven-hoofed animals, pigs do not eat too much. Most of the non-domesticated species live in forest belts.

These animals are smart enough. They are included in the top ten smartest animals.

These artiodactyls began to be kept at home about 30 centuries ago. The mention of some types of pigs today remains only in myths and legends. For example, the crommion pig is referred to in Greek legends as a wild monster. According to legend, this animal kept the whole Cromion city in fear until Theseus fought with her.

Pig

A pig is an almost waste-free animal. Meat and bacon are used in cooking, leather in the garment industry, pancreas in pharmacology, etc. Hair is used in the manufacture of paint brushes and other construction equipment. Pigs have a good sense of smell, amenable to training. In the search for drugs, pigs are not inferior to specially trained dogs.

The internal systems and organs of the animal are similar to those of humans. To date, scientists are studying the question of the possible transplantation of pig internal organs into the human body.

In some countries, the pig is perceived as a sacred animal, the meat of which should not be eaten.

Hunting is common for wild pigs. But before eating the meat of wild animals, it must undergo a good heat treatment, because the inhabitants of wild forests do not sort out their food and can eat carrion. This, in turn, provides a good breeding ground for bacteria and parasites that can be transmitted to humans.

TOP 10 best pig breeds

Pigs are distinguished by a variety of breeds. There are animals that are bred to obtain lard, other breeds are called meat, they are specially bred to obtain a large amount of meat, there are meat-feeding breeds. There are also breeds of wild animals that are endangered. The brush-eared pig belongs to this category. This red pig can be found in the forests of Africa, it is also called the river pig.

There is an endangered breed of pigs called Mongolian, or Hungarian. A thoroughbred individual is distinguished by a thick, curly coat, in most cases of white color.

Those pigs that are raised for lard differ from other breeds in appearance. In most cases, the front part of the breeding boar's body is more voluminous than the bottom one, it shows that the pig has large reserves of adipose tissue. But even the greasiest pigs will have a meat content of at least 53% of the total body weight.

Greasy breeds of pigs differ from meat ones

The direction of cultivation of meat-lining breeds is distinguished by a bias towards obtaining high taste qualities of meat, which is used in cooking. For example, Iberian pig meat is considered the most suitable for making jamon. In adulthood, these breeds are able to accumulate large fat layers, which make up no more than 37% of the total body weight.

The meat breed of pigs, or bacon, according to its external characteristics, has an elongated body, with a medium-sized chest region. The back is much more massive than the front. Muscle fibers develop rapidly; by the age of six months, the weight of a piglet can exceed 100 kg.

There are the most common breeds of pigs that are raised at home in the climatic zones of Russia in order to obtain high-quality meat:

  • Duroc;
  • Pietrain;
  • Hampshire;
  • Landrace;
  • Tamworth;
  • Early ripening;
  • Yorkshire;
  • Dwarf home;
  • Vietnamese;
  • Donskaya.

Characteristics and features of rocks

Duroc

A large beef breed of piglets with an arched back. The male can reach a length of 1.7 meters, the female is somewhat smaller in size. According to the description, this breed has rather strong limbs. Animals exhibit increased activity during puberty. Since they gain muscle mass extremely quickly, their activity decreases over time. Animals have a wide palette of skin tones. The hair does not differ from the skin in color. The weight of an adult pig can reach 260-280 kg. The amount of meat is 82% of the total carcass weight.

Pietrain

They differ in a wide but short body. The rib cage is not deep, wide enough. Small ears, small head. The drunken pig has developed muscles, a wide back part. Those sows that have a spotted skin are highly valued in the farmer's market due to the fact that it is the spotted representatives of the breeds that carry the genetic feature of the minimum accumulation of subcutaneous fat. The weight of males varies around 250 kg, females - 230 kg.

Hampshire

According to the classification, it belongs to meat breeds. It is characterized by a black skin color, with a wide white stripe that defines the breed. This breed has a long body with a small head and erect ears. The maximum weight of a male of this breed is 310 kg, of a female - 260 kg. Up to 8 months, the development of muscle tissue is slow, the main weight is gained after this age.

Hampshire pig breed

Landrace

Refers to bacon breeds. It has gained wide popularity due to the large weight that boars can reach. Sows are capable of producing up to 12 piglets per litter. They are distinguished by light skin. In length they can reach up to 1.5 m.

Tamworth

The breed is characterized by a reddish color. Ginger pigs have a dense body, pronounced chest. At the age of 7 months, the weight of a piglet can reach 110 kg. The body length is about 1.3 m. The limbs are short and muscular.

Early ripening

What do early maturing pigs look like? The maximum body weight of a pig of this breed is 320 kg. They differ in a variety of colors. The muzzle is slightly elongated, the ears are small and erect. Sow farrowing contains at least 10 piglets. Already at the age of 6 months, the weight of piglets can be 130 kg.

Yorkshire pig

Differs in high taste of meat. Yorkshire farrowing has at least 10 piglets. In terms of external parameters, the animal differs in size. Yorkshire is rather short in stature, with smooth skin. The color is light. This breed belongs to the noble ones.Marble meat, which is in high demand among consumers. Within 5 months, piglets are able to gain 150 kg of weight.

Yorkshire breed

Dwarf domestic pigs are characterized by small weight and body length. Most individuals weigh less than 150 kg. They differ in a variety of skin colors: marble, brindle, red, sand, etc.

Vietnamese

The characteristic features of the Vietnamese pig are:

  • Erect ears;
  • Sagging belly;
  • Flattened muzzle;
  • Black color.

Adults can reach a maximum weight of 150 grams, but the pig is ready for slaughter with a weight of 90 kg. These pigs are popular for their early maturity. Already at the age of 6 months, the piglet is ready for slaughter, as it is gaining the required muscle mass. One litter can have up to 18 piglets, the sow has a strong maternal instinct.

Don breed

Bred by Chelyabinsk breeders relatively recently. The standard body weight of a Russian pig ranges from 300 kg. It is resistant to many diseases, thanks to strong immunity, the pig has good indicators of farrowing and early maturity.

Features of keeping pigs

In order for the pig farm to bring financial benefits, the animals must be properly kept. They are not very whimsical to conditions and food, but you still have to pay attention to them.

First you need to decide on the habitat of the pigs. This should be done before the first piglets appear. In the room where the pigs will live, there should be pens, which consist of two sections. One section is for eating and drinking, the other for spending the rest of the time. Also, the room should contain an area for walking the herd. If it is supposed to walk in the summer season, then part of the territory should be covered with a canopy that can cover the animals from the rain, since the animals will be in the fresh air in warm weather almost around the clock.

Note! It is recommended to provide lighting indoors, which will be needed around the clock when the sow is farrowing.

Despite the fact that pigs are unpretentious in food, it must be fresh and of high quality. They eat in small portions, but often enough.

The peculiarity of feeding these animals is that they should not be given foods high in fiber, since their digestive system is not able to process it. There are two types of pig food: dry and wet. Dry food includes grain, flour, purchased fortified formulations. Wet mash is one that is prepared at home and includes waste from the human table.

Important! Piggy must have access to water around the clock.

In order for the meat of a pig to be tasty and of high quality, it is not recommended to feed it with fish waste, soy, and bran.

Advantages and disadvantages of different breeds

The advantages of bacon pig breeds are a lot. This is resistance to many diseases, and rapid weight gain, and high palatability of meat, and a thin layer of fat, friendliness, etc. Some of the virtues are due to genetics, others will have to be trained. This is not so difficult given the fact that pigs are easy to train.

Note! The biggest disadvantage of meat breeds is obesity. In order to avoid this disease, pigs should be fed a diet at a relatively young age. Already from 2 months it is recommended to ensure that the pigs do not overeat.

A breed like Landrace is prone to injury, since these animals have a poorly developed musculoskeletal system.

Duroc pigs have the lowest farrowing productivity of all the varieties listed above. In addition, with a very rapid weight gain, they begin to suffer from shortness of breath.

The main advantage of the Hampshire breed is its increased immunity. The disadvantage is low stress resistance. Due to the state of anxiety, they can lose body weight, which makes them very difficult to maintain.

Pig breeding is an interesting and not troublesome business. Even a novice farmer can handle the maintenance of these animals with minimal knowledge of the characteristics of the breeds.