Breeding methods for farm pigs
Pigs are considered highly profitable pets. These representatives of artiodactyls quickly gain weight, are unpretentious in the selection of the diet and conditions of detention. When breeding pigs, livestock breeders try to maximize the productive qualities of the breeds. However, before crossing pigs, you should decide on the ultimate goal of mating. There are several breeding methods for these animals, which depend on the number of different breeds and representatives of the same species on the farm.
Crossbreeding pigs
Pig crossing methods
There are several methods for selecting mating partners among pigs. Some crossing methods allow you to maximize some productive qualities to the detriment of others. There are also methods that allow you to average the breed of pigs in order to get all types of products from one individual in equal quantities. Among the most popular are the following:
- purebred;
- interbreed;
- absorptive
- introductory;
- reproductive;
- industrial.
Most often, breeders use purebred crossbreeding. In this case, the offspring retains all the characteristic features of the breed. With this method, livestock breeders regulate the quality of meat, the rate of gaining weight and the fertility of animals.
Pigs are selected for breeding that meet strict criteria. First of all, they affect the appearance of the animal, physique, the absence of congenital diseases and behavioral characteristics.
Purebred crossbreeding
Purebred crosses are also divided into related and unrelated. Relative crossing means mating of pigs from one sow or next of kin.
Often a pig and a breeding boar, which is its descendant, can be bred. Livestock breeders carry out such crossbreeding in order to form certain qualities in the breed and consolidate them at the genetic level.
Related crossing
Related breeding should not be used on a permanent basis as it leads to inbreeding. The result can be breed degeneration, genetic failures in piglets and external defects.
In order to dilute the blood and thereby increase the viability of the offspring, unrelated crossbreeding is carried out among pigs. It is used much more often, as it preserves the genetic stock of the breed and does not lead to degeneration. For this type of breeding, males and females of the same breed are used, but from different offspring.
Interbreeding
There is also interbreeding pig breeding. These types of crosses are used to breed animals with high productivity.
However, often with an increase in some characteristics, other qualities of animals can decrease. Therefore, piglets from interbreed breeding are rarely left for divorce and allowed to slaughter. There are several types of this crossing method:
- Absorption dilution.Productive breeds are crossed with weaker individuals so that the piglets get average characteristics. However, this method can improve the breed only after several generations. The most common method of absorption breeding is used by owners of small farms.
- Reproductive breeding. Livestock breeders will use this method to breed a new breed. For this, representatives of already existing breeds with certain characteristics are selected, the offspring from which usually have high productivity. However, with reproductive crosses, only one characteristic is improved. Three-breed crossing is used to maximize productivity. Representatives of 3 breeds with the same orientation in breeding are selected.
- Introductory crossing. This method is used to change or correct the internal qualities of the breed. It is used to improve the palatability of meat in meat species or to increase the percentage of lard if the pig is slaughtered for fat. The main characteristics of the breed are preserved during this crossing. For this, representatives of the improved third generation are crossed with the queens of the first, thereby changing the quality of the species. Often in this case, three-breed crossing is also used, but this time representatives of different species should have different qualities.
- Industrial breeding. In this case, the external signs of the breed lose their value. Farmers try to get the most out of their animals. Pigs are crossed in order to improve the breed characteristics, without worrying about disrupting the gene pool. Industrial crossing of pigs is used on large farms or enterprises. Piglets from such a mating go to the slaughter.
All crossing methods are aimed at improving the fertility of pigs, but their use depends on the size of the farm, the number of breeds and representatives of the same line.
Selection of pigs for mating
The characteristics of the offspring largely depend on the parental qualities. The selection of wild boars and sows for mating is an important process in animal breeding. It should be borne in mind that one uterus can give birth to piglets with different characteristics if several males have fertilized it.
Breeders use 2 methods of matching mating partners:
- Individual selection. One male is assigned to each sow.
- Group selection. One male is used to fertilize several females.
Individual selection is more often used for breeding pure breeds, while in industrial crossbreeding, group selection is preferred.
Also, the selection of animals for breeding can be heterogeneous or homogeneous, but a heterogeneous economy is more resistant to diseases and gives the maximum percentage of survival. With a homogeneous selection, the pig has the same characteristics, which strengthens certain qualities in the piglet gene pool. It is often used for breeding rare breeds: males are crossed with cheaper sows. Thus, the new generation can gain weight faster or increase the percentage of body fat.
Heterogeneous selection usually increases the health of animals. Hybrids are distinguished by good endurance, they are easier to tolerate infectious diseases, and in some cases they have greater productivity. However, very often an admixture of different breeds can impair the taste of meat or the fertility of the uterus. This method of collection is typical for industrial pig breeding.
How the pig crossing scheme is selected
Very often, the selection schemes for boars and sows alternate. This dilutes the blood and keeps the herd from inbreeding, while at the same time the characteristics of the gene pool are passed from generation to generation.
A feature of crossing in pigs is the selection of animals by classes. A middle class sow can be bred with a tall boar.The offspring from such a mating more often takes the genes of the paternal line. However, a high-class female is not confused with lower-class boars: piglets lose many of the qualities that are characteristic of this breed. Also, breeders do not recommend breeding animals with similar disadvantages. If both parents are poorly gaining weight, then their offspring will not be suitable for fattening and will not pay for their maintenance.
Conclusion
When selecting partners, attention is also paid to the age of the animals. Young females are bred with experienced males: this facilitates and speeds up the mating process. For middle-aged sows, you can pick up any boar, but a young male will be the guarantor of healthier offspring.
Unlike wild pigs, domestic breeds may not cope with mating without human intervention. It is very often necessary to guide the male, since the animal, due to its heavy weight, is not able to correctly fertilize the female. Beginners should consult with experts or watch training videos.