Tallow breeds of pigs are raised for both meat and lard. Accordingly, animals are distinguished between tallow, meat and meat-greasy breeds. They differ in the speed of weight gain and the nature of the gain: greasy pigs stop building muscle tissue at 6 months and continue to intensively form a fat layer.
There are many different sebaceous breeds. General characteristics are the volume of fat obtained from one carcass - up to 42%, high fertility, early maturity - 8-11 months, and exterior.
Pigs in this category are omnivorous, unpretentious, usually not afraid of the cold and have a peaceful disposition.
Features of tallow pig breeds
These animals stop building muscle mass quite early (around the time they reach a weight of 130 kg), but fat is formed in an intensive mode over a long period. Thanks to this, after slaughter the breeder receives a large amount of fat, it often amounts to about 55% of the carcass weight.
Tallow breeds of pigs have low popularity on the world market. The reason, first of all, is that there is a regular demand for pork meat, but lard is consumed in smaller quantities.
It is rarely bought, so pig breeds often do not even pay for their maintenance - they are not always profitable. As a rule, they are bred at enterprises that use lard for subsequent processing, sale to large factories, and production.
And although the benefit from a tallow pig is small, it is very convenient to grow, as it is not picky about nutrition and maintenance. It’s much easier with them than with meat types.
Females are distinguished by multiple births and a shortened gestation period (100-112 days), and males have a calm disposition and are very intelligent.
Feeding
Proper fattening of tallow piglets is of decisive importance and it is not even a matter of how quickly the young animals will gain weight and how much weight they can achieve. The fact is that with an incorrect diet and free movement of animals, fat simply will not be formed in the required quantity, and the greasy pig will turn into a meat pig and not too fattened.
Fattening tallow pigs requires a large amount of carbohydrates in the diet. Corn concentrates and wheat are added to the piglets' feed. For older young animals, barley, potatoes or millet are used.
Pigs are omnivores. However, this does not mean that the livestock is fed only waste. A balanced diet should include:
- 50–60% green feed;
- 10% juicy;
- 5% herbal flour;
- 25–35% animal products.
Only with proper organization of the diet and daily routine can pigs be fattened to the desired condition, and in the shortest possible time.
Mirgorod breed of pigs
Mirgorod breed of pigs
Mirgorod breed of pigs was bred by complex reproductive crossing of local short-eared black-spotted pigs that were bred in the Poltava region with Berkshire, medium white, large white breeds of pigs. In addition, Big Black pigs and Tamworths were used for crossbreeding.
Description:
- Mirgorod breeds of meat-fat type pigs are quite long, wide, have a deep chest, strong legs;
- the head is of medium size, not coarse, with wide fleshy ganaches, with small ears directed forward;
- the profile is concave, the snout is of moderate length;
- the body is wide and deep;
- hams are long, wide, full;
- the skin is elastic, not rough;
- The bristles are long, thick, and shiny.
The color is black and speckled, less often black or reddish-black.
Live weight of whips is 230-250, sows - 200-220 kg, fertility - 10-11 piglets, milk production - 48-50 kg. Gilts reach a live weight of 100 kg at the age of 180-185 days.
The slaughter yield is 80-85%. Growth reaches 680-700 g, feed consumption per 1 kg is 4.1-4.2 feed. units
The breed is widely used for crossing with other breeds. Work to improve the pig breed was carried out with the Mirgorod breed and three breed groups - Podolsk speckled, Krolevets and Pridneprovsk. They are bred in Poltava, Cherkasy and other regions.
Breitovskaya breed
Breit breed of pigs
Strictly speaking, these animals belong to the meat-fat breeds, that is, when fat accumulates, the growth of muscle tissue does not stop, so that both lard and tasty, not too fatty meat appear.
However, a distinctive feature of the Breit breed is the large size of the animal, which allows it to be considered the best among both sebaceous and universal breeds.
The main advantage of the Breit breed is the high productivity of the animal, as well as excellent adaptation abilities to cold and sudden temperature changes. Pigs rarely get sick and tolerate winter well.
The external appearance of the Breitovskaya is impressive: these are very large animals with a proportional head, a muscular body with pronounced hams, and straight short legs. The neck is well defined, the head has a curved profile, large ears hang over the eyes. The skin is covered with dense white bristles; spotting is very rare.
An adult male is a boar, weighs up to 330 kg, a sow – 240 kg. In 7 months, piglets gain more than a hundred kg: with proper nutrition, the daily gain is 680 g. For 1 farrow, a pig gives 11–12 piglets, very rarely – 13–14.
However, on average, every 2 sows give birth to piglets twice a year. The meat of animals with medium fat content is very tender, the lard is white and dense.
These greasy breeds of pigs have a calm, peaceful disposition: they do not chew partitions, do not overturn stalls, do not rush at people, and care for their offspring very carefully. During the warm season, you can keep pigs outside in special facilities. During the cold season, animals are moved indoors.
Ukrainian steppe speckled
Ukrainian Steppe Speckled
Breed was bred specifically for cultivation in the Ukrainian climate. It appeared in the Kherson region, in the process of crossing Berkshire, Mangalitsa, and Ukrainian steppe white breeds.
These tall breeds of pigs are large, have a powerful build, and are highly adaptable to heat and drought. They have a deep and fairly wide chest, a straight back, rounded, highly developed hams and a medium-sized hanging rump. The color is very diverse: from black with white spots to spotted black and red and spotted brown and white with various shades.
An adult boar can gain weight of more than 300-310 kg, and the length of its body reaches 180 cm. A sow weighs a little less - about 200-230 kg, with a body length of 150-160 cm. She is distinguished by good prolificacy.
In one farrow, a pig can produce up to 14 piglets. In babies, the average daily weight gain is 700 grams. By 6-7 months, they reach a weight of 100 kg. Ukrainian Steppe Speckled is a fairly popular breed among farmers. But it is grown mainly in Zaporozhye, Nikolaev, Kherson and Odessa regions of Ukraine.
Large black breed of pigs
Large black breed of pigs
Large black breed boar reaches 400 kg. The breed was born in England at the beginning of the 19th century. Several breeds took part in its creation: long-eared English, Neapolitan and Chinese pigs. Today, large black pigs are successfully raised in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Germany and England. It is not only highly productive, but is also often used to improve other breeds.
The large black has a proportionally built, large body with a long body. The head is short, medium in size, with long ears hanging over the eyes. The neck is short, powerful and prominent. The chest is wide, barrel-shaped, the back is wide and straight. The legs are short, strong and level, with straight hooves. The sacrum sags greatly, and the skin has numerous deep folds.
A wild boar can easily reach a weight of 400 kg, an adult pig will pull 280-300 kg. Depending on their diet, pigs of this breed can be either greasy or meat-greasy. Under certain conditions, the percentage of meat in the carcass can be 51-52%. Sows are quite fertile (up to 12 piglets per farrow). They have high milk production and high safety of young animals.
conclusions
- Tallow breeds differ from meat breeds (Duroc, Karmaly) in the content of fat and meat: up to 42% fat.
- Pigs of this category are characterized by high fertility - from 9 to 15 piglets in each litter. With a different diet, a greasy pig, and even more so a meat-greasy breed, can turn into a meat pig.
- Animals are omnivorous and unpretentious. However, to achieve the desired condition, their diet must include a lot of carbohydrates: cereals, root vegetables, potatoes.
- Each tallow breed has its own advantages and disadvantages: boars of the Belarusian white breed reach 400 kg, but are afraid of cold weather. Meishan are exceptionally fertile and grow quickly, but are susceptible to disease.
Belarusian black and white breed of pigs
Belarusian black-and-white breed of pigs
To breed black-and-white pigs of the meat-fat breed in Belarus, the local species of pigs were crossed with such breeds as large black, large white, Berkshire, and Landrace.
The bred breed quickly adapted to local pasture conditions. It has accelerated fattening qualities and multiple births.
According to external features, the Belarusian black-and-white breed of pigs is characterized by:
- long body with a wide back;
- medium sized head;
- ears drooping over the eyes;
- stable short legs;
- moderately developed hams.
The average weight of a sow ranges from 200-220 kg. A boar weighs much more - up to 340 kg. During one farrow the sow gives birth to 9-10 piglets, which she feeds without fail. Babies grow, gaining up to 700 g of weight per day. After 6 months the piglet weighs 100 kg or more.
Growing rules
Having decided to raise piglets at home, you must first become more familiar with some of the rules in rearing.
In order to achieve a good result, it is important to take care of the decent maintenance of animals. Pig pens must be kept clean, which means daily cleaning will have to be done.
In addition, after cleaning, the surface should be sprinkled with sawdust or small straw. This is necessary in order to avoid illnesses and possible injuries.
There must be a walking area where purebred meat pigs can not only lose excess fat, but also get all the necessary vitamins that are found in vegetation. And in the fresh air they will grow faster. You will also need to conduct regular examinations with a veterinarian, who will be able to see the onset of the disease and stop it in the early stages.
A special place is occupied by the selection of proper nutrition. Almost all meat breeds are grown weighing up to 100-140 kilograms. However, at home the weight may be higher. Feed must necessarily consist of potatoes, beets, zucchini or pumpkin, as well as various grain additives. The latter can be made based not only on corn, but also by adding wheat or oats to the feed. In addition, do not forget about greens, for example, nettles.
All feed must be balanced. After all, if only green mass predominates, the growth will immediately decrease. And if you feed only mixed feed, the pigs will be more greasy. Therefore, everything should be in moderation. It is best to buy feed already prepared, because in this case all the necessary substances that will be needed for the rapid growth of pigs will be added to them. But using cheap feed will lead to a decrease in growth and the onset of all kinds of diseases.
When feeding these animals, special attention should be paid to babies, because they require special care. Until the piglets reach 50 kilograms, their diet must contain not only high-quality feed or potatoes, but also beets and skim milk, which together will give a good result
To summarize, we can only say one thing: having decided to start raising meat breeds of pigs, you must first become familiar with their characteristics and study what kind of care they should take. After all, not every breed of pig is adapted to the weather conditions of a particular region. In addition, the correct selection of feed will allow you to raise animals in a short time.
The following video explains how to feed pigs.
Mangalitsa breed of pigs
Mangalitsa pig breed
This is one of the most ancient pig breeds in the world. Appeared in 1833 in Hungary, as a result of crossing wild boars with Carpathian pigs. The breed came to the Russian Federation in 1945 and quickly spread in the North Caucasus and the Moscow region. Currently, it is grown in England, Hungary, Spain and certain regions of Ukraine. In the Russian Federation, the population is small and is found only in the North Caucasus.
The Mangalitsa pig has curly hair.
A distinctive feature of this breed of pigs is their thick, curly hair. Externally, the mangalitsa is very similar to a sheep. These pigs are small in size, have strong bones, and a small, neat head with a straight snout. The legs are long, with straight, even hooves. During the molting period (spring), most of the fur falls out, and the bristles curl into thin rings. Coloration varies from white and red to black and mixed. The main part of the breed is white or pale cream in color.
An adult pig can gain up to 300 kg of weight. One-year-old piglets weigh about 160 kg. Sows begin to mature late, only after a year. The first farrow is usually 5-6 piglets, and the second and subsequent farrows are up to 12 piglets. Typically, little piglets are born striped, like wild boars.
These greasy breeds of pigs are extremely hardy, immune to frost, not picky about food and undemanding to living conditions. The Mangalitsky is a typical breed of the sebaceous breed. The meat and lard of such pigs is considered a delicacy and is highly valued throughout the world. Disadvantages include the rarity of the breed and the high cost of acquiring it.
Red-white-belted pig breed
Red-white-belted pig breed
To breed the red-white-belted pig breed, livestock breeders used genetic material from the Poltava breed, as well as large white, landrace, and Hampshire breeds. The result is a highly productive breed, which is happily bred in private households and large livestock farms.
Pedigree pigs of the red-white-belted breed are distinguished by:
- red color with a wide white stripe covering the body;
- resistance to harsh climatic conditions;
- a strong constitution, which protects against various diseases;
- good appetite, so they grow, actively gaining weight.
Red-white-belted piglets cannot be confused with another species, thanks to their bright color. Pedigree boars of the white-belted pig breed fertilize queens of other breeds.
At the same time, positive changes are observed:
The genetic pool is strong, so red piglets are often produced;
The fertility of sows of other breeds increases;
The red pig grows much faster and reaches maturity 2-3 weeks earlier;
For every kilogram of growth, 0.5 less feed units are spent;
The red pig, when crossed with another breed, increases productivity.
When breeding, the red-belted pig breed requires:
Keep in a dry and clean room. The red and white-belted pig is a clean animal and requires attention from the owner;
There should be no drafts in the pigsty, especially if offspring have appeared there;
Provide a free run for the pigs;
Walk small piglets separately from adults.
Otherwise, the red white-belted breed of pigs is unpretentious in terms of living conditions. Boars grow up to 300 kg, and sows – up to 250 kg. Some individuals are quite large, so they require a spacious room.
Sows are fertile and give birth to 10-12 piglets. The young animals grow actively; at 6-7 months the weight of an adult piglet is 100 kg. The pigs continue to grow further without slowing down.
For feeding, pig farmers use dry food (cereal mixtures, bone and fish meal, cake, vitamin supplements). At the same time, you need to ensure that the pigs always have water next to their dry food. In this way, livestock breeders achieve high average daily growth of animals.
Factors for choosing piglets for fattening and breeding
When choosing a breed, you should not rely only on characteristics, even if they turn out to be tempting and promising. The qualities of the animal must be considered in conjunction with the following criteria:
- climate of the breeding area;
- the possibility of arranging infrastructure for breeding;
- availability of necessary feed.
Based on their characteristics of a particular breed, it is necessary to calculate the economic feasibility. It is calculated in the ratio of expenses to income.
When choosing meat pigs, you also need to consider the following nuances:
- many varieties require complex care and feeding. For example, Landrace pigs absolutely cannot stand stressful situations and are picky about feed, and Vietnamese pigs are susceptible to strong drafts;
- The higher the quality of the food, the higher the quality of the meat. It is best to select concentrates rich in minerals and vitamins for meat breeds;
- sows do not have large volumes of milk to feed piglets, so their feeding depends 40-50% on the owner;
- Meat breeds are easily crossed, and the litter absorbs most of the positive qualities. For example, litter from Landrace and Duroc gives an increase in quality meat with easier maintenance.
Rules for purchasing piglets
The selection of piglets and their transportation is a responsible event, which will greatly affect further care and the process of gaining meat mass.
It is best to purchase piglets in your region , as this will save them from long travel and subsequent stress, in addition, the piglets will be more prepared for specific climatic conditions - acclimatization will not be required.
However, it is best to purchase piglets from special pig farms for a number of reasons:
- Hundreds of piglets are sold at the breeding plant, which opens up wide prospects for choice;
- The development of piglets on farms is carried out in accordance with all the rules and nuances. The actual weight of piglets corresponds to the calculated ones;
- Young animals are required to be vaccinated. Upon purchase, you can receive all relevant certificates.
Experienced pig breeders have no problems when choosing a pig, but beginners should adhere to the following recommendations regarding the appearance of the animal:
- eyes and ears should be clean, teeth intact without plaque, and the oral mucosa should be pink;
- the stubble evenly covers the body;
- breathing is even, no wheezing or snuffling is heard;
- high activity, mobility and good appetite.
In healthy piglets, the tail always sticks up.
It is recommended to purchase piglets in the spring , and individuals with average body parameters : small ones are often weakened, and large ones may have vegetative or genetic abnormalities. The most sought after piglets are those with upturned snouts and long legs.
If piglets are selected for breeding, then it is strictly not recommended to purchase individuals from the same litter. When crossed, the offspring will come out sick, weakened, and in addition, conception will be difficult.
Meishan pigs
Meishan pigs
Of all the tallow breeds, Meishan is the oldest. It got its name from the name of the Chinese province. Later, Meishan spread throughout Asia and was exported to America and Europe.
The appearance of pigs is very memorable: the body is very massive, thick, with a wide chest and short legs. The skull is short, small compared to the length of the body, the ears are very long and almost completely cover the eyes.
The main distinguishing feature is wrinkled, folded skin covered with black stubble. There are folds on the muzzle even around the eyes and nickel. European and American pigs may have white markings.
The differences between Meishan pigs and other species are their completely black body color, very long ears, large size and short head.
The fertility of Meishan is simply fantastic. The sow gives birth to piglets twice a year and up to 15–16 piglets are born in one litter. After only 3 months, the gilts have developed enough to continue conception and reproduction. Meishan is a pure tallow breed.
If 100 kg by 6 months is considered an excellent indicator, then a pig of this breed reaches 170 kg by 8 months. The volume of lard is 42–45%.
The thickness of the subcutaneous fat is 3.5 cm. Another feature is the large internal organs. The fact is that in China, it is the lard and offal - liver, kidneys and lungs - that are valued in pigs, so breeders try to breed animals that are as fat as possible.
Appearance
The pig has its own appearance features that distinguish it from other animals:
- The body length of pigs can reach 1.5 m, sometimes more, depending on the breed.
- The muzzle is quite long; in some breeds, on the contrary, it is short and wrinkled. But at its end there is movable cartilage - the so-called patch. The pig needs it to dig up the ground and get food.
- The skin is covered with bristles; most breeds do not have too much of it, but there are also species that are covered with full, thick hair.
- The fangs of most species are well developed and visible. They are large in males.
- The limbs have hooves and four-toed paws.
- Pigs have a small, pointed tail that is usually curled into a curl.
- Pig eyes are small. Females have much poorer eyesight than wild boars. But this disadvantage is more than compensated by excellent hearing and sense of smell.
- Pigs have 44 teeth in their mouths, 4 of which are slightly upward-curved fangs.
- The weight of adult individuals ranges from 45-450 kg, this depends on the characteristics of the breed, the degree of fattening, age and other factors. But the standard weight of adult pigs is 50-150 kg.
Prospects for lard production and its demand
Prospects for lard production
On world markets, the demand for lard and tallow pigs is slightly lower than for bacon or meat products. This is due to several reasons:
- there is a great need for pork meat (bacon) in cooking: many famous and popular dishes are prepared from pork meat;
- high costs for fattening tallow pigs;
- lower price compared to meat products.
However, raising tallow pigs is much easier.
All animals are picky in their diet, have an easy-going nature, and are easy to train. The gestation period for sows is slightly shorter (110-114 days), and they are characterized by multiple births.
In addition to using lard in natural or processed (dried, smoked, salted) form, it is part of cooking fat. Some types of lard are used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries and are used as a technical lubricant.
Food industry experts count almost 22 breeds of pigs that are currently raised in large complexes and individual farms in the country. A significant share falls on meat-fat (universal) and tallow breeds of pigs on Russian farms.
Suffice it to say that the most common breed that can be found on Russian farms is the large white. Individuals of this meat-and-fat type breed are distinguished by a good immune system that allows them to adapt to any climatic conditions. Animals are bred both in the Krasnodar region and in Siberia.
Well, you have learned all the basic information about tallow breeds of pigs.
Also read: How is pig insemination done?
Who to give preference to and why
When selecting a breed to obtain a high meat yield, you should pay attention not only to quantitative characteristics, but also to quality requirements for care and maintenance.
Requirements, first of all, must be correlated with your capabilities. High rates of increase in meat mass guarantee a large profit, but it should be understood that such breeds are very demanding in maintenance.
In addition, problems may arise with the health of pigs, bearing and feeding piglets.
Pietern sows are physically unable to feed 2-3 piglets from a litter. This means that fattening activities will have to be carried out by the breeder.
You should take into account the size of your own farm and financial capabilities. Having free circulation of finances for breeders will allow them to buy better and richer feeds, automate the feeding process and ultimately reduce the time required for fattening.
The Landrace breed requires heating in the pigsty, but the Vietnamese or Brazier breed is resistant to cold thanks to its thick coat.
But the main thing you need to pay attention to when breeding breeds for meat is the quality of the meat and its competitiveness in the markets.
