Habitually pigs are raised to produce fat. But still, pork meat has no less nutritional and taste.
Pork is widely used for cooking many dishes from around the world, only Muslims do not eat it. In popularity, it competes with chicken, but the latter is much inferior to pork in juiciness.
In addition, in the modern world, where many are struggling with obesity, it is more profitable to raise pigs for meat.
Therefore, we will acquaint you with those breeds of pigs that produce the greatest amount of this product. Do not forget to acquaint you with the features of the appearance of each breed, its performance and the rules of the necessary care.
What are the differences of pig meat breeds?
In pig breeding there are three main directions in the production of these animals, according to which the whole division of rocks occurs.
The first one includes breeds of grease type pigs.
These breeds can easily be distinguished even by their external exterior, since they have a very deep and wide body. Their front part looks heavier than the back, although the ham is also rather fleshy. By the very name of this type it becomes clear that he has rather high reserves of adipose tissue.
The fact is that already in half a year the growth of muscle fibers in an animal stops a little. The carcass of such a pig may contain about 40-45% fat from the whole mass of carcass, while the meat on it will be less than 53%.
To a separate type include universal breeds of pigs, or meat.
Such pigs at a young age can produce very high quality meat. Meat pork very quickly gaining a live weight, and adults even without any problems accumulate a lot of fat tissue. Thus, the amount of meat of one carcass can be from 53 to 65%, and fat - from 29 to 37%.
And finally, those pigs, about the breeds of which we want to tell - meat or bacon.
Externally, such pigs usually have a long body and not particularly deep sternum. In contrast to the sebaceous breeds, the front part of them is much smaller than the back, which is represented by very massive ham.
Gauge measurements of the whole body of such individuals usually show greater indicators than measurements of the chest. Another difference from sebaceous pigs is that the bacon type is able to develop muscle tissue very intensively, while the fat is deposited somewhat slowly.
Little ones piglets such breeds grow very fast and already by the age of six to seven months, the indicators of their live weight can reach 100 kilograms (if you follow all the rules of feeding). Depending on the breed, one carcass can consist of 58-67% of meat, while the fat in it remains only 21-32%.
Consider the most prominent representatives of the meat type of pigs.
Bacon pig breed Duroc: get acquainted with all the characteristics
The appearance of the representatives of the pork breed Duroc
This breed is very large in size. The length of the body of adult male biennial individuals can reach 1.8 meters, sows are slightly smaller in size.
In the general characteristics of pig meat breeds, we mentioned that they have a more characteristic elongated shape, however, in this case, not all is so.
Carcass pigs duroc very massive and wide, with a slightly arched back shape. At the same time, the head is very small, with sharp ears sticking up or hanging forward.
These pigs are quite active, especially at a young age. This is greatly contributed by their very strong and enduring legs, which raise the carcass high above the ground: no matter what weight the animal reaches, the belly on the ground will not drag it.
Externally, this breed can also be distinguished by skin color. It may have different shades of red: there are pigs and light golden and dark brown, actually brown. The bristles are of medium length, the color is the same as the skin of the animal.
Of course, pigs become less active with age, as they begin to gain weight very quickly. So, one adult can even weigh 250 kilograms. At the same time, the maximum thickness of the fat can be only 3 centimeters.
It is worth noting that even for bacon-type pigs, this is a very low indicator. However, due to this the amount of meat on the Durok carcass can be 80%.
How high is the productivity of Duroc pigs and how to increase it
Under the productivity of pigs, it should be borne in mind how much meat and grease products can be obtained from a single carcass, with minimal economic costs. We mentioned above that this breed is capable of producing up to 80% of meat from a single carcass, however this is possible only with purposeful meat feeding.
In particular, in order to obtain such results, it is very important to give animals a lot of protein foods. But do not be disappointed in Duroc pigs, because with proper feeding you will be surprised how pigs will quickly gain in size and weight.
That is, a few months of intensive feeding - and you will have at least 100 kilograms of beautiful young meat. With age, the process of gaining body weight almost does not stop, if you do not take into account sows.
It has been experimentally proven that the conditions of detention are very strongly reflected in the productivity of pigs. We are talking about sufficient space for animal life, airing and clean pens, their warmability in the cold season and the absence of extraneous noise and irritants.
So, having created absolutely ideal conditions for pigs of Duroc, both in terms of housing and in terms of feeding, American breeders were able to grow 400-kilogram individuals, the percentage of the ratio of meat and fatty tissues of which turned out to be 6: 1.
Briefly about the main advantages and disadvantages of the breed
Most important merits This meat breed of pigs should include:
- The ability to grow very quickly and gain live weight.
- Good adaptability to various conditions of detention, even on constant walking in pens.
- The ability to get large quantities of meat good taste.
- The almost complete absence of subcutaneous fat.
- The calm disposition of animals: they do not bite either the owners or each other and do not show aggression towards their offspring.
We will not mislead you that Duroc pigs are simply the ideal variant of bacon type pigs. Nevertheless, these pigs have their own limitations:
- At one time, the sow is able to produce a small number of piglets, the maximum number can be 10. However, this has its advantages, since a small number of offspring show a higher survival rate.
- Animals of this breed are very susceptible to diseases of the upper respiratory tract.
- The rate of weight gain, especially the development of muscle tissue, will depend on the quantity and quality of protein feed provided to pigs.
Properly care for Duroc pigs
- These animals are not whimsical to the content; the content in open pens during the 5-6 warm months is quite suitable for them.
- Feeding needs to be balanced, with a high content of protein. The frequency of feeding in the winter period should be 3 times a day, in the summer - 2.
- The breed is prone to diseases, therefore one should not allow large amounts of dirt and dust, lack of fresh air and drafts to accumulate in the barn and pens.
All the features of bacon pigs Pietren
What distinguishes this breed of pigs in their external characteristics?
This breed can even be distinguished by the shape of the body, since it is short, but rather wide. Also, despite the thin and light bones, the musculature is very well developed, the ham is also quite massive.
The head is small, light, with a straight profile. The ears of the Pietrens are erect, in accordance with the size of the head are also small. The chest of animals is wide, but not deep.
Their backs are also wide, very muscular. Boca rounded, also indicate a large stock of meat, and not fat tissue.
The skin color of the described breed of pigs can be found both white and variegated. However, it is believed that spotted sows are still more suitable genetic carriers for breeding qualities. For this reason, during the mass breeding of Pietrens, it is recommended to let white-sowed sows for slaughter.
The main feature and advantage of this breed is that pig Pietren is just not genetically predisposed to accumulating fatty tissue.
At the same time, the breed is characterized by the following important parameters:
- The weight of adult males can reach from 240 to 260 kilograms, and sows - from 220 to 240.
- The length of the body is short, and the average daily gain is only 700-750 grams.
Productivity of the breed or what quantities of meat can be obtained with its breeding?
It is difficult to say how profitable or not profitable it is to say to breed pigs of a given breed in a household. Everything will depend on whether you can provide the necessary food for the animals and the necessary conditions for the animals.
In general, it is worth noting that the sows of Pietrain breed have a small farrowing - only up to 8 piglets. At the same time, one sow alone is able to feed only 6 piglets.
And although the younger generation has a very high viabilitythey grow slowly. If you apply to them fattening, then only at the age of 210-240 days, pigs will be able to gain 100 kilograms. But still, the cost of 1 kilogram of growth is not so high - 4.5-5 feed units.
As a result of attentive care and intensive feeding, the amount of meat in one carcass on average reaches 62%, while the amount of fatty tissue is equal to only 28%. Only the gammon of an adult can weigh about 8-9 kilograms.
What kind of care is required for pigs of Petroc breed?
The greatest difficulty in keeping this breed arises in matters of care. The fact is that these animals very poorly tolerate acclimatization - they neither like the cold nor the heat. On the usual feed, these pigs will not give the desired result, so they need to be given food not only nutritious, but also balanced in relation to various trace elements and other nutrients. Stress also has a very negative effect on the growth of animals.
It is also interesting to read about breeding guinea fowls.
Hampshire pig meat breed: on parameters and productivity
What is different and what is special about the breed?
This breed is distinguished most of all by the color of the skin characteristic of these animals: it is almost black, but it necessarily has a wide white band that practically surrounds the body in the area of the shoulder blades and forelegs.
A specific feature of the breed is its characteristic light head with straight snout small sizes.
The ears are also small, upright. The body of the described breed of pigs is elongated, with a sufficiently wide and strong back. The legs of animals are not very long, but strong, hooves are straight.
The Hampshire pigs breed shows the highest efficiency when crossing it with other breeds and creating new hybrid meat-type pigs.
With pure crossing, high productivity does not appear, however, among the main parameters of the individuals of this breed, the following should be noted:
- Animals usually have medium size, although in comparison with the above described breeds they are at a height. The boar can reach a maximum weight of 310 kilograms, and a sow - at 250.
- Although the younger generation of the Hampshire breed show themselves to be quite strong, until they reach the age of 8 months they show a rather slow growth, although they later very quickly begin to gain body weight.
How profitable it is to breed Hampshire pigs: the main arguments and counter arguments
Arguments for the use of this breed in the household will be that the breed is very adaptive. It can be maintained in almost any conditions, in any case, it will be able to give maximum results (if, of course, do not forget about the necessary feeding).
Moreover, these animals can even be grazed on pastures. As a meat breed, Hampshires give almost completely carcasses of meat, with very thin layers of fatty tissue. If you use for their feeding high-quality and balanced feed, the daily increase can range from 900 to 950 grams.
The complexity of the content of the described breed lies in the fact that these animals are extremely shy. Stressful situations in general can cause weight loss, a slowdown in growth.
Also, sows of Hampshire pigs are characterized by average fertility. Usually in one litter there are no more than 8 piglets, only in rare cases this figure can reach the number of 10-12 individuals.
But, despite this, sows manifest themselves in the role of very caring mothers, able to go out and feed well any number of offspring.
We provide animals with proper care.
The big plus of this breed is that they are very hardened. Even with their content in open pens do not be afraid that the animal may get sick.
Drafts are not terrible for them either. But nevertheless, you should not forget about hygiene and other measures of cleanliness, since dirt in any case will be a direct source of diseases.
Other breeds of meat pigs that are worth paying attention to
Pigs Landrace: general characteristics
No less popular and productive is also the breed of pigs of the bacon type Landrace.
In adulthood, a boar can easily reach 310 kilograms.
Sows are capable of giving very numerous farrowing - about 12 pigs.
Per day weight gain can be about 700 grams, while the cost per 1 kg of weight gain is only 3.9-4 units of feed.
Externally, these pigs have a light color.
This breed belongs to one of the most common among the meat type.
The main advantages of the Tamworth pig breed
The pigs of the Tamworth breed are also noteworthy.
Like all bacon pigs, they have a strong body structure and well-developed muscles. The length of the entire body of an adult individual can vary from 1 to 1.4 meters.
This is another one of the variegated breeds of meat pigs, and the color can vary from a rich red to dark red, and you can also see individuals with white skin, which is covered with black spots on the back.
For 7-8 months, pigs can easily reach a weight of 100 kilograms.
