Pig breeding rules
The profitability of the pig farm is relatively high. Today, pig farming is one of the main branches of agriculture. All methods of breeding and keeping pigs can be mastered even by novice farmers. Is there a single technology, is there a ban on any actions?
Growing pigs at home
How profitable is pig breeding
Is it profitable to raise animals? Pig breeding is a livestock industry that has many advantages:
- animal productivity indicators are high, in six months the piglet gains 100 kg;
- unpretentiousness in feeding makes piglets economical, because animals are omnivorous and can eat any feed;
- pigs are highly fertile, many breeds, starting from the second pregnancy, give up to 30 piglets per farrowing;
- the pigs 'body assimilates one third of the substances that enter the pigs' body with feed, which shortens the feeding period.
First of all, the breeder must know exactly what he is going to do with the fattened pigs in the end, for what periods he is going to bring his idea to life.
Most often, pigs are sold in live weight after fattening. It is very easy to feed young animals for sale, but getting a pig with a large mass and good quality meat is a complex technological process.
How to choose an animal of a suitable orientation
Raising pigs at home is, first of all, a competent approach to choosing a breed. All gilts are divided into 3 production groups:
- greasy focus;
- meat;
- universal.
Sebaceous breeds are raised on farms in order to obtain large quantities of high quality pork fat. The carcass of such representatives is 45% fat. Their body has a rough structure, and the front part looks very heavy. Among the most popular representatives, the Ukrainian, large black, stands out.
In meat breeds, the carcass consists of 70% meat. Representatives of the breeds are distinguished by a rapid set of muscle mass. Their bodies are elongated, with a shallow sternum and a well-developed fleshy back. Among the most popular varieties are representatives of the Danish breed, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean pigs.
The versatile breeds are characterized by rapid weight gain, even with standard feeding. They are grown for high quality meat and greasy products. Almost any breed of pig can be completely adapted for keeping at home. Representatives of the Canadian breeds are quite widespread throughout the world and are especially popular.
Breeding features
Pig breeding technology implies the implementation of certain rules aimed at maintaining health, obtaining the maximum amount of high-quality meat and lard.This is a whole complex of measures for the arrangement of the territory, selection of the breed, vaccination, fattening and much more.
Raising piglets in the early stages requires maintaining a certain microclimate in the room. The optimal temperature regime is from 18 to 25 ° С, the air humidity should be kept within 80%. It is unacceptable to keep young animals in rooms that are blown through and through with high levels of humidity. Room hygiene is one of the most important points.
For animals to grow and develop well, they must have constant free access to clean drinking water. Pigsty disinfection is perhaps the most important part in keeping pigs. If you want to raise a healthy herd, it is important to take care that there is no environment in the room in which pathogenic bacteria can quickly multiply, provoking infection of the pigs with all kinds of infections.
Today, the method of keeping pigs on a fermentation bed is becoming more and more popular. This method is economical because it does not require changing the litter and can last for about 4 years. The essence of her work is to use a biomaterial like sawdust or straw in combination with a preparation containing coprophages, bacteria that convert feces and urine into heat. Even young animals can be kept on such a bed. In the deep layers of the litter, the temperature remains at 40 ° C and above, which prevents the appearance of rodents and other carriers of infection in the stable.
One of the important aspects is the illumination in the pigsty. The light should be dim, otherwise the pigs will be restless, which will lead to a loss of appetite, and, accordingly, a decrease in weight gain. Newly acquired individuals are never immediately added to the already existing livestock, they are kept in a specially designated quarantine room for about a week.
Feeding
Raising piglets from suckling age is painstaking work, it is during this period that animals need special care. It is advisable to immediately start feeding the pines with vitamin supplements, so that in the future there are no problems with development. Already at the age of one month, young pigs are fed with root crops and weaned from their mother. Weaners are gradually transferred to adult food and from the third month of life they begin to feed them for slaughter.
In order to choose the right diet and be able to provide proper care, it is necessary to determine the ultimate goal of growing. Pigs are allowed to slaughter at the age of eight months when the animals reach a body weight of 100-150 kg. If you plan to raise gilts for meat, all males on farms must be castrated, except for 1-2 breeding boars. This is done in order to accelerate weight gain as well as reduce anxiety in the herd. Upon reaching puberty, a powerful release of hormones occurs in the animal's body, which contributes to the appearance of a specific smell in meat products in the future.
The castration procedure should be carried out at the age of one month. The main thing is to carry out manipulations before the first sexual hunt, otherwise, even after castration, the male will have a sexual reflex, and although he cannot fertilize the females, the herd will be agitated by his behavior. Pigs are omnivores, so literally anything can be introduced into their diet, even waste from the table. Although some breeds, such as the Duroc, need a special diet that should include mostly protein foods.
When choosing a feed, the following factors should be taken into account:
- breed;
- age;
- financial opportunities;
- the periods of the year in which the fattening takes place;
- the time the breeder expects and the necessary condition of the animal.
To accelerate weight gain, pig growth promoters are very often used. They can be very different. They are conventionally divided into hormonal, non-hormonal and biostimulants.It is best to give preference to biological products that do not accumulate in the liver and kidneys, but are quickly excreted by the body and can be used right up to slaughter.
Premises and its arrangement
It is worth paying special attention to the territory where the pets will live and exercise during the day. Growing pigs at home requires a fairly large area for arranging a pigsty. All pigs have a large body, so they will need a lot of space for comfortable living. The first step is to plan a ventilation system. High-quality ventilation of the room is the key to good immunity in animals.
For the construction of walls, wood is most often used. It is upholstered from the inside and outside with moisture-resistant material to retain heat inside the room. Maintaining a certain microclimate at an appropriate level will depend on the correct construction and insulation of floors. The inside of the roof must be insulated without fail. This can be done with mineral wool.
For the floor, it is best to use a slotted coating: this move will greatly facilitate cleaning and hygiene. When using fermentation bedding, it is also recommended to install a crevice mat. Before laying the bedding in the room, you need to carry out a general cleaning and disinfect the floor.
Breeding features
How to raise pigs correctly at home? First of all, every breeder thinks about how to increase the livestock. Accordingly, you need to start preparing individuals for mating, selecting the most fertile. In females, in almost all breeds, sexual maturity occurs at 8 months of age. Earlier this period, females are not allowed to fertilize, and, in addition to the age category, attention is paid to the weight of the pig: its mass must be at least 100 kg.
On small farms, natural fertilization is practiced. For large farms, the method of artificial insemination is characteristic. It has many benefits. For example, semen of one breeding boar can cover several individuals at once. Simultaneous coverage makes it possible to significantly save energy on caring for young animals. Piglets will be born at about the same time.
Females for fertilization are taken only by those who have begun to hunt. It is very easy to find out by the behavior and external signs of the genitals. Intense libido is observed in pigs every 17-24 days. To increase the livestock and improve the quality data, after weaning the babies, the female is fertilized again within a month.
Final part
A pig-breeding complex is a profitable investment. Today, pork meat is in great demand. A properly grown piglet produces meat that is almost as good as beef in terms of dietary quality. Novice pig breeders on small farms most often raise piglets for sale in live weight.
The video shows how to properly formulate a diet for young animals and create proper care conditions. Important points in the breeding of gilts at home are the equipment of the living room, the walking area, feeding and reproduction. Novice breeders can learn about all these nuances from the video.
How much does a piglet cost? - frequently asked question. The price for a young individual will depend on the purebred, production orientation and other indicators. If you plan to grow piglets for yourself, it is not necessary to select the most purebred representatives, you can get by with hybrids, they have proven themselves very well. For example, the Duroc breed does not have a high immunity and does not take root well in the cold climate of Russia, however, hybrids with the participation of the species are distinguished by the same production qualities and are perfectly adapted to our conditions.