All breeds of pigs are divided into three main groups: greasy, meat-greasy and meat. Growing the last two varieties is a bit more expensive than growing the first. In any case, careful care requires any breed of piglets. There are several beef breeds with excellent productivity indicators that are bred in Russia, just like greasy meat.
Key Features
Meat pigs differ from greasy pigs in that their fat layer is evenly distributed throughout the carcass. Hence their second name - bacon. Breeds of meat pigs have:
- an elongated body, slightly stretched to the withers;
- long limbs;
- narrow sacrum, back and withers;
- elongated ribs and ham;
- lightweight head.
Meat and greasy breeds are also very popular in our country. Growing them is a little easier than bacon. At the same time, not only high-quality meat can be obtained from such pigs, but also lard, which is also a valuable product. This group of animals has a second name - universal.
The division of breeds into meat and meat-sebaceous is somewhat arbitrary. The quality of the carcass of a grown animal largely depends on the characteristics of the diet. Sometimes a lot of fat is obtained from a bacon pig. And vice versa, from greasy - meat.
What breeds of pigs are bred in our country?
In Russia, as in many other countries of the world, pig farming is widespread and is one of the traditional types of agricultural activity. The most popular among farmers are meat breeds such as landrace, precocious meat and Estonian bacon.
Also, many farms are breeding hybrids derived from duroc pigs. The Urzhum breed of piglets is quite widespread in our country. Of course, more meat breeds are bred. However, these 5 are the most popular. As for meat and greasy breeds, of these, most often in Russia, large white, Breit and Siberian northern varieties are grown.
Duroc pigs and their hybrids
This breed was registered in 1883 in the United States. Its main distinguishing feature is an unusual red-brown color. The Duroc breed has:
- deep and wide body of moderate length;
- very strong high legs;
- slightly curved head profile;
- ears with downcast ends.
Duroc sows in Russian conditions are characterized by relative fertility and can bring up to 7-9 piglets. Hybrids of this breed are usually obtained by crossbreeding with a red-belted pig. Moreover, young F2 of the second generation has the greatest value.
Landrace pigs: features
This species was bred in Denmark around the last century. A large white and fold pig became her parent for her. Distinctive features of the Landrace breed are: white skin with soft bristles, well-developed dense hams and dorsal muscles, long, drooping ears. Landrace pigs earned their popularity among farmers primarily for endurance, multiple fertility, and good weight gain. Breeding them is easier than many other varieties. The fact is that Landrace is very resistant to stressful situations.
Early white
These pigs were bred in Russia. The breed was registered in 1993. Its distinctive features are:
- very wide torso;
- large meaty hams;
- slightly saggy ears.
This breed is called precocious because it is possible to feed such piglets to slaughter weight faster than animals of other varieties. The benefits of these pigs include stamina. It is possible to breed precocious white in any regions of our country.
Estonian bacon
Animals of this breed were obtained by crossing landrace, European long-eared, Finnish, German and large white pigs. This species has incorporated all the popular traits of its brothers. Characteristic features of the Estonian bacon breed are landrace-like ears, pink skin, well-developed hams and slightly thin bones.
The Estonian bacon breed of pigs is characterized by unpretentiousness in food, rapid weight gain (up to 330 kg), fecundity (up to 12 piglets) and endurance. The weakness of the headstock and the sagging of the sacrum are considered some of its drawbacks. This breed has several lines: picker, siberian, pirate, etc. The Estonian pig, among other things, is often used for hybridization in some areas of our country.
Urzhum pig
This breed was created in the Kirov region and registered in 1957. Its main distinguishing features are as follows:
- massive, rough skeleton;
- dry head with an elongated snout;
- deep, long body;
- narrow back;
- voluminous prominent belly.
This breed is popular primarily because of the early maturity and very good qualities of meat. Urzhum pigs may be kept including on pasture technology. The pluses of this breed, among other things, include the calm disposition and care of sows in relation to offspring. The average weight of the boars of this breed is 310 kg. A sow can bring up to 12 cubs at a time.
Large white pig
Representatives of this breed were introduced to Russia in the 80s of the XIX century. However, they did not receive much distribution at that time. Secondly, a large white pig in our country began to be bred in the 20s of the last century. For several years it was the only pig breed in Russia. Today there are, of course, much more meat breeds bred in our country. However, large white is still the most popular.
Its distinctive features are: white suit, strong constitution, light head with a massive forehead, large ears, a long broad back, well-developed hams and low, correctly set legs. The white breed of pigs is valued primarily for precocity. The live weight of adult boars can reach 350 kg. The uterus at a time brings 11-12 piglets.
Breit meat and greasy breed
This variety was bred in the Yaroslavl region. Danish landrace, large white and local breeds were chosen as parent breeders. The main distinguishing features of Breit's meat and greasy pigs are:
- white color;
- large sizes;
- head with a curved profile;
- long drooping ears;
- wide and deep chest;
- muscular back.
The main advantage of this pig is its high fecundity. One uterus can bring two litters per year for 11-12 piglets.
Siberian North
This breed was bred in the Novosibirsk region. Parents for her became local, not very productive, but at the same time pigs well adapted to the cold climate, and large white boars. The distinguishing features of the Siberian northern are: harmoniously folded body, strong constitution, broad back, elongated sacrum, strong legs, well-developed hams. Pigs of this breed are valued primarily for fertility (up to 12 piglets), calm disposition and quick weight gain (up to 360 kg).
Features of the content of meat and meat-fat breeds
Fattening of such animals is carried out according to two main technologies: meat and bacon. Until the age of 2.5-3 months, the daily diet of piglets consists of the following products:
- compound feed - 1.3 kg;
- potatoes - 250 g;
- back - 1 kg;
- beets - 250 g.
Further, the young growth is actually transferred to meat or bacon fattening. Slaughter is usually done when the weight of the pig reaches 100-120 kg.
Features of meat fattening
This content technology includes two main periods. At the preparatory stage, the basis of the diet for meat fattening is green and succulent feed (30%). This can be root vegetables, melons, legumes, etc. In winter, silage and grass meal can also be used . Proteins for each feed unit in this period should be about 115 g.
At the second stage of fattening, concentrated feed (85-90%) becomes the basis of the diet. Most often used grain mixtures (wheat, barley, corn, oats). In order to save, bran can also be added. Sometimes in the second stage pigs are fed potatoes. But in this case, at least 50% of the diet should be concentrated. At the final stage, any additives and products that can impair the taste of meat (fish, bran, soy, millet) are necessarily excluded from the “menu” of pigs.
Bacon Feeding
This content technology allows you to get very tasty pork meat with thin fatty layers. Piglets for such feeding are selected at the age of 2.5 months. In this case, wild boar must be castrated. The daily diet of animals with this technique is approximately as follows:
- waste and concentrates (barley required) - 1.5 kg each;
- green feed - 3 kg;
- root crops - 2 kg;
- salt - 20 g.
In the last months of keeping pigs, as with meat fattening, soy, bran, fish, etc. are excluded from the diet.
Fattening pigs to fatty conditions
This technology is often used in the cultivation of meat and sebaceous breeds. In this case, the pigs are slaughtered after they reach a weight of about 200 kg. For fattening to fatty conditions, hundred-kilogram piglets are selected. The basis of their diet in the future are products containing a large amount of carbohydrates. It can beets, corn, potatoes, molasses, etc. Also give concentrates. At the beginning of fattening, wheat and corn are usually used as the latter, and millet and barley at the end.
When organizing a farm, first of all, of course, you need to decide which, in your particular case, will be the best breed of piglets. There are many beef breeds characterized by excellent productivity, fecundity, and endurance. Good care and proper feeding with the right choice of young animals will make the farm profitable and profitable.