Pigs are omnivores. They are among the ten most intelligent animals, because... showed high results in both intelligence and observation. They are good swimmers.
Many people think that pigs love to wallow in mud. In fact, they bathe in puddles to get rid of parasites: the mud dries, forms a crust and falls off, along with the parasites. The same crust protects them from mosquitoes and midges, and cools the body in extreme heat.
Pigs are bred for meat, fat, and skin. The largest breeds of pigs were bred specifically to produce these healthy products, and we will tell you about them. In addition, pigs are used to search for truffles and drugs; dwarf breeds are kept at home as pets.
Vietnamese potbellied, 120 kg
The breed originated in Southeast Asia, but then spread to Romania, Canada, Ukraine and other countries. Its peculiarity is early ripening, because Sexual maturity in a Vietnamese pot-bellied pig occurs at the age of 4 months, and in a wild boar - at 6 months.
They differ from other breeds and have high immunity. They have their own characteristics of the digestive system, so roughage (up to 50%) can be included in their diet.
Sows are very clean, with a well-developed maternal instinct, give a lot of milk, are balanced, and have about 6 to 18 piglets in a litter, i.e. one pig can give birth to about 24 babies a year.
At birth, a piglet weighs from 450 to 600 g. An adult boar can gain weight of 120-140 kg, occasionally up to 150 kg, while a pig weighs less: from 100 to 120 kg, rarely - 140. Most often, representatives of this breed are black, There may be small white spots.
Boars have tusks that grow up to 10-15 cm. The bristles can reach 20 cm in length, forming something like a “mohawk.” If the animal is frightened, or, conversely, pleased, it rears up.
Features of cultivation
The habitat of wild pigs is very extensive. Their distribution area begins in Siberia and ends in the tropical jungle. Giants are not seen as often as we would like, but hundreds of eyewitnesses testify that they still exist.
Wild or domestically raised pig is a tasty morsel for any gourmet, because there is no such thing as too much lard. Therefore, farmers do not give up attempts to breed a large number of huge piglets using selective breeding.
World history knows a lot of examples when giant pigs, without even realizing it, became champions in weight and size, bringing glory and fame to their owners. Let's hope that the pigs lived their short lives with pleasure, eating as much food as they wanted.
Pietrain, 260 kg
The breed was bred in Belgium at the beginning of the twentieth century. She is of the meat variety. Became especially popular in the 1950s. They are variegated in color: white with black spots, but are sometimes born pure white.
Pietrain pigs is dense and muscular. They grow up to 80 cm at the withers and can weigh from 220 to 260 kg. These pigs are raised for their meat, and their body structure eliminates the possibility of large amounts of fat.
They have delicious meat; they get up to 140 kg from one animal. Pietrains are picky eaters, they give birth to few piglets, they need good conditions, because... They do not tolerate extreme cold and heat well. Without proper care, they quickly get sick and die.
Pig diseases
The most dangerous diseases of pigs:
- Poisoning: chemicals, herbs, toxic substances, salts, medicine.
- Plague. Red spots appear on the animal's skin, the eyes become red and inflamed, and the pig is eventually paralyzed. In case of illness, quarantine is imposed.
- Teschen's disease affects the nervous system. Accompanied by cramps and vomiting. There is pathology among the disease in piglets.
- Erysipelas. The disease is caused by a bacterial bacillus. Young piglets also get sick, starting from 3 months. Dark red spots appear on the body.
- Vesicular disease. White blisters appear on the animals' ears, heels, and udders, which later turn into ulcers.
- Mites that cause allergies in pigs. Ulcers and wounds form that can easily become infected.
Diseases of piglets:
- Hypoglycemia. The reason is a lack of glucose in the blood. The piglets become apathetic, the temperature drops, and the skin turns pale. If convulsions occur, the piglet may die.
- Anemia. Appears due to iron deficiency. The skin and ears turn pale.
- Edema disease of piglets. Edema disease in piglets is caused by E. coli. The cause of edema is the large amount of protein additives in the feed. Convulsions, fever, and swelling of the head may occur.
If a large pig or pig shows the following symptoms, you should urgently call a veterinarian:
- lethargy;
- heat;
- loss of appetite;
- pale skin;
- vomiting, diarrhea, constipation;
- decreased sucking reflex;
- the appearance of a rash;
- convulsions;
- bloating.
Pig diseases cannot be treated on your own; you must always consult a specialist.
Large white, 270 kg
The breed was bred in the 19th century in England, and at the end of the 80s it was brought to our country. The Large White is a meat-fat breed, the sow weighs from 200 to 270 kg, and the boar weighs from 290 to 370 kg.
She is unpretentious to food and quickly acclimatizes. They are pale pink in color, covered with smooth and light bristles. They grow up to 170-190 cm in length. These are calm animals that easily get along with both people and other breeds of pigs.
They are indiscriminate in food, mature early (they are already able to bear offspring a year), very fertile (10-12 piglets are born, sometimes more). They do not tolerate frost and sun rays well, and can easily catch pneumonia or get burns.
Giant wild boars
Boars are aggressive and cunning animals. A large individual weighs on average two hundred to two hundred fifty kilograms and is two meters long. The height at the withers can reach one meter and twenty centimeters.
A huge wild pig weighing about 300 kg
The largest wild boar was shot in 2004 in the USA in the state of Georgia. Its weight exceeded three hundred kilograms, and its length was more than three meters. The length of the giant's fangs is about seventy centimeters. After research by scientists, it was discovered that this individual was a cross between a wild boar and a domestic pig. They concluded that this boar had grown up on a farm, since it simply would not have survived in the wild with tusks of this size.
The largest wild boar in the world was shot in America, in the state of Alabama. The monster weighed four hundred and eighty kilograms and its length was three and a half meters. The tusks of this boar were thirteen centimeters long, and the shoulder girth was one meter and ninety centimeters. This record holder was killed by an eleven-year-old hunter named Jamis, who believes that he was just lucky and he most likely could not shoot such a giant again. This boy started hunting very early. His first big kill was a deer, which he shot at the age of five.
some large boars can be lured
Another giant wild boar was discovered in Turkey. His name is Attila. The wild boar belongs to the subspecies Sus Scrofa. His weight is more than three hundred and fifty kilograms.
Urzhumskaya, 300 kg
The Urzhum breed appeared in the 50s of the twentieth century, in the Kirov region. Got this name because... was withdrawn to the city of Urzhum. It was approved in 1957. She is white in color, body length is from 170 to 180 cm.
It is a breed of bacon type. An adult pig weighs 250 kg, and a boar weighs even more - 350 kg. It is considered a prolific breed; in one farrow a sow can produce from 11 to 13 piglets; already at 7 months they weigh 100 kg.
The bulk of the weight is meat, about 55%, but there is also lard - up to 36%. The meat is good and is used to make bacon. The result is an unpretentious breed that can be kept in the northern regions. These pigs are excellent mothers and are calm.
Big record boars
The world knows the record-breaking boar named Big Bill. He was a cross between Polish and Chinese breeds and lived in America in the state of Texas. The giant's weight reached one ton, one hundred and fifty-three kilograms, and its length was two meters and seventy-four centimeters. Bill's height at the withers was one meter and fifty-two centimeters. This boar died in 1933. They made a stuffed animal out of him.
The huge hog who went down in history, Big Bill
Chun-Chun boar is a resident of China. It weighed nine hundred kilograms and its length was two and a half meters. The animal lived only four years. Today his stuffed animal is one of the most valuable exhibits of the Museum of Agriculture.
The largest pig in China, Chun Chun, weighed 900 kg
Another record holder from America is known - this is the boar Big Norma. Its length is two and a half meters, and the weight of the record holder was about one ton and two hundred kilograms.
Mirgorodskaya, 330 kg
The Mirgorod pig appeared in the Poltava region, it was recognized as a separate breed in 1940. This is a meat-and-fat breed, black and white in color.
Work on developing a new breed began in the 1890s; selection work was carried out under the leadership of A.F. Bondarenko.
The body length of a boar is 165-175 cm, they weigh from 280 to 330 kg. Sows are slightly smaller, 155-160 cm, weighing from 200 to 220 kg. One pig can give birth to 10 or more piglets. Migorodsky pigs are especially valued for their lard: it is very tasty, up to 4.5 cm wide.
Walking area arrangement
Raising Vietnamese breed pigs requires creating opportunities for the animals to walk during the warm season. To do this, you will need to allocate an area of 1 acre per 1 grown individual for them.
An exercise yard must be specially arranged for pot-bellied animals:
- You need to bury 1-3 logs in the soil, on which the pigs can scratch their backs;
- Create a shelter to protect pigs from the merciless sun and rain;
- Animals will really enjoy having a mud pool as they enjoy taking a dip in mud baths. Such a pool will help the pigs get rid of clingy and blood-sucking insects, and will also cool them down during the summer heat.
Landrace, 330 kg
The breed was developed in Denmark, is a bacon-type pig, and was registered in 1896. Landrace breed was so productive and produced excellent bacon that it made Denmark one of the main suppliers of bacon in Europe.
Fearing competitors, Landrace dogs were not exported abroad, and only in the 1940s did this breed appear in other countries. Pigs of this breed grow up to 2 m, sows – up to 1.6 m. They are pink in color, but they also come with a pockmarked color. They are peaceful, obedient, non-aggressive. Weight they can reach: sows - 200-220 kg, and wild boars - 280-300 kg.
The downside is that they are very demanding in terms of conditions and food, and they need a walking area. The advantages are high fertility (10-12 piglets) and a peaceful character.
The biggest hog in the world today
The largest boar in the world is named Old Slot. It is known that he weighed more than six tons, namely six tons three hundred and ninety-five kilograms. The giant's height at the withers was almost one and a half meters. The boar was only six centimeters short of reaching three meters in length.
The largest pig in the world was a Gloucester breed
Old Slot or Old Slot lived in Great Britain, and was raised in Cheshire by a farmer named Joseph. This is a specimen of the Gloucester breed.
Unfortunately, pigs are not among the largest animals on earth. But the largest bird in the world, according to uznayvse.ru, can grow up to 2.8 m.
Poltava meat, 350 kg
It was bred in 1993 in the Poltava region, it has taken root in Ukraine. This is where productivity is greatest, while in other regions it falls.
The Poltava meat pig is large, with a very long body - 185 cm. The weight of an adult pig is 330-350 kg. It has a fairly high meat yield - up to 62%, and it turns out very tender. Lard is nutritious and has a pleasant taste. Another plus is high productivity: from 10 to 15 piglets, almost all of them survive.
Poltava meat breed is not picky about food, produces high-quality meat and lard, and has good immunity.
Summary
Although livestock breeders are primarily interested in their own charges, and owners make every effort to ensure that they grow up strong and healthy, it is still interesting to know how others fared.
We talked about the largest representatives of the pig breed, and gave examples of those breeds from which pigs of impressive size and volume can be raised.
Unlike other domestic animals, pigs are valued as a source of meat. They cannot be ridden, milked or used in any other way. Among the breeds there are real record holders, however, some individual specimens were even included in the Guinness Book of Records.
Ukrainian steppe, 350 kg
It was bred by academician M.F. Ivanov in 1928-34. He worked on a breed that would be highly productive, but at the same time unpretentious in terms of conditions and food.
The Ukrainian Steppe is similar to the Great English White, but with a larger build. She is also white, with a pink tint, and thick stubble. It has a calm and friendly disposition and easily adapts to temperature changes.
This is a meat breeding breed, the sows of which weigh from 210 to 230 kg, and the boars - from 300 to 340 kg. Quite prolific, from 11 to 12 piglets. It is characterized by high early maturity, good meat mass, resistance to diseases, and adapts to different conditions. High productivity at low financial costs.
Farrow
Let's consider how farrowing of Vietnamese pigs occurs? In the Vietnamese breed, pregnancy lasts for 4 months.
When pregnancy occurs, animals become calm and gain weight quickly. 2-3 days before farrowing, her nipples enlarge and her stomach drops.
Chunya shows fussiness and prepares a place for future offspring. On the day of birth, she does not touch food. It is worth removing unnecessary items from the barn and providing a thick layer of straw lining.
In winter, the barn will need to be heated. Childbirth takes 3-5 hours. Newly born piglets are wiped off mucus, their nose is wiped for free breathing and they are placed on the nipples. The last thing to come out is the afterbirth, which needs to be removed without letting the mother eat it.
Large black, 350 kg
It was obtained in the 19th century in England and is considered a meat-and-fat breed. As the name implies, their skin is black and has the same stubble. Males weigh from 300 to 400 kg, females are 100 kg less.
The body of a large black pig is like a barrel, the head is small, and the neck is arched. The sow gives birth to 10-12 piglets, which already weigh 100 kg at 6 months. You can get up to 52% meat and about 40% lard. They are omnivores and easily adapt to heat.
The most popular bacon breeds sold in Russia
In addition to those pigs that were bred in the CIS and distributed in Russia, the following foreign breeds bred for meat production are considered popular.
Landrace
The breed has been known since the 19th century, but began to spread in Russia in the mid-20th century. For 1 kg. weight gain should be up to 4 kg. feed mass. The breed guarantees rapid fattening to slaughter weight, which is important for breeding on large pig farms. Used for quick and guaranteed profit.
Pietrain
A distinctive feature that has made the breed widespread among domestic businessmen is the genetic inability to accumulate large amounts of fat.
They are widespread in areas with temperate climates, as they are poorly acclimatized to sudden temperature changes.
Despite the fact that meat gain is slow, the breed produces high-quality gourmet products.
Hampshire
The breed guarantees rapid weight gain, which occurs spasmodically. In the first 6 months the piglet reaches up to 100 kg. weight, the next month growth slows down, but after that, in 3-4 months, the boar can reach a weight of up to 300 kg . They quickly get used to climate change and new conditions and can easily tolerate transportation.
Comparative table of meat breeds
A comparison of breeds according to a number of parameters is presented in the table:
| Breeds | Boar weight | Sow weight | Lard, mm | Multiple pregnancy | Milk content, kg | Meat yield in carcass | Killer exit |
| White short-eared | 250-300kg | 200-250kg | 35-40 | 9-10 | |||
| Belarusian black and white | 300-350kg | 230-260kg | 26-31 | 9-11 | 50-56 | 57-58% | |
| Duroc | 350-370kg | 260-320kg | 18-22 | 9-10 | 55-60 | 86% | |
| Kemerovo | 290-330kg | 240-250kg | 27-29 | 11 | 60-65 | 58-59% | |
| Large black | 300-350kg | 220-280kg | 33-36 | 10-11 | 60-72 | 50-53% | |
| Landrace | 300-310kg | 250-255kg | 20-22 | 11 | 60-64 | 55-69% | 75-76% |
| Livenskaya | 300-310kg | 230-240kg | 28-33 | 10-11 | 60-80 | 52-53% | |
| Mangalitskaya (barbecue) | 300-350kg | 290-310kg | 5-6 | ||||
| Vietnamese pot-bellied | 120-170kg | 100-140kg | 20-30 | 1st parity: 5-10, 2nd parity: 10-18 | 85-90% | ||
| Poltava meat | 320-350kg | 230-260kg | 24-25 | 10-12 | 58-64 | 60,5-62% | |
| Pietrain | 240-250kg | 180-210kg | 7-10 | 7-9 | 60 | 62-70% | 78-80% |
| SM-1 | 300-320kg | 230-2400kg | 25-27 | 11-12 | 55-60 | 58-60% | |
| Tamworth | 250-370kg | 200-300kg | 18-25 | 6-10 | |||
| Ukrainian steppe white | 300-350kg | 230-260kg | 27-33 | 10-12 | 65-75 | 54-55% | 77-78% |
| Urzhumskaya | 310-320kg | 240-250kg | 27-33 | 11-12 | 65-70 | 57-58% | |
| Cornish | 290-320kg | 215-230kg | 27-28 | 10-12 | 65-75 | 58-60,5% | |
| Estonian bacon | 320-330kg | 220-240kg | 8-30 | 11-12 | 75-90 | 56-60% | |
| Hampshire | 300-320kg | 220-250kg | 6-8 |
Duroc, 400 kg
The breed appeared in 1883, was originally called the Duroc-Jersey, and is a representative of the meat breed. You can recognize it by its red bristles, which darken as the animal grows, but retains this shade.
The body length of a Duroc reaches 180 cm, it is muscular, with strong, strong legs. An adult boar weighs from 360 kg, females are lighter. The main advantage of this breed is the highest quality of meat; it is called “marbled”.
They have a calm character, are not picky about food, and are early ripening. Disadvantages - number of piglets (7-8, no more than 10), low resistance to disease, demanding conditions for walking.
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Castration
Every farmer has encountered castration of pigs, in other words - castration. The boar's gonads are removed. Castration of piglets is carried out in animals at the age of 10 – 45 days. Purposes of castration:
- If a pig is being prepared for slaughter, heat spoils the taste of the meat, and weight decreases due to loss of appetite. Castration of piglets solves this issue;
- a pig that is not fit to reproduce may accidentally breed larger pigs;
- Uncastrated boar meat has a specific smell.
Castration of piglets allows you to obtain high-quality products, increase the weight of the animal, and facilitates the group keeping of animals on farms.
Farmer's Piggy Li Shun
Perhaps the largest pig in the world belonged (and hopefully still belongs) to 87-year-old Japanese farmer Li Shun. It was not possible to establish the name of the animal for certain, since in the short interview where information about the pig appeared, such data was not listed. It is known that in 2013 the weight of the grunting creature reached 600 kg. And at the time the “baby” was purchased by the farmer, she weighed only 20 kg.
After 10 months, Li Shun decided to sell the pig for meat, but was unable to get more than $3 per kilogram of live weight for it. Then the cunning farmer decided to fatten the pet to a weight for which he could get the maximum amount. As a result, he became so carried away that his favorite gained more than 500 kg.
Li Shun's neighbors from Yunnan province claim that they have never seen such a huge animal before. They assure that the friendly record holder had a sizable waist, which in volume reached 200 cm.
Old Slot: fact or fiction
It is a fact that Old Slot, a huge Gloucester boar, existed. Its size raises doubts. According to recorded data, with a length of 2.94 meters and a height of 1.43 m, it weighed 6395 tons.
And the question arises, do the indicated dimensions really correspond? Of course, the living pig Rumba weighs almost 5 tons, but her body length is 7 meters. But the size of the Old Slot raises doubts. Most likely, an error crept into the data, and the weight of the boar is only 639.5 kg. Otherwise, you have to believe that the density of a living creature was similar to the density of concrete or asphalt, and these are mind-boggling values.
