Pork is the basis of the diet for many, so a large number of people decide to start breeding pigs at home. This case is not at all tricky, especially if you choose the right breed. A lot really depends on the breed - and maximum performance, and feeding characteristics, and conditions of detention.
Below we will discuss the features of Duroc breed pigs, which is representative of the meat direction of these animals. In order to give you more confidence that it is still worthwhile to engage in pig breeding, we will tell in detail about the care of this breed, as well as the rules for choosing piglets.
Valuable advice on how not to make a mistake in choosing a pedigree and healthy piglets
Before you start breeding pigs, it is important to choose healthy individuals that will lay down the pedigree of your pets. This is quite a crucial moment, because you can make a mistake not only with the breed, but also get on an unscrupulous seller who will sell you weak and unproductive animals. That is why, before sending to the market for piglets of the Duroc breed, It is important to familiarize yourself with the following generally accepted rules for selecting healthy porcine offspring:
- Piglets become suitable for sale already at the age of 1 month. At the same time, they should already learn how to eat regular food, and not just mother's milk. The main problem related to the lack of such a skill is that when switching to feeding on cow's milk and other feeds, the pigs can begin to be very strongly bruised, since this should be done gradually even with a sow. Therefore, ask the seller in detail about how and what he fed his pigs. It is very desirable to observe the process of food consumption by the young piglets: they should grab the food with their whole mouth, and not try to suck it out of their mother's nipple.
- An important characteristic of any breed of pigs is the correct bite. It depends on how well the pig can chew, and as a result, digest the food offered to her. If the bite is not correct, that is, when a pig jaws closes between them, a large gap is seen or they are generally directed in different directions, then the animal will not be able to chew food at all and will simply swallow it in large pieces. On large farms, such animals are usually immediately rejected, although unscrupulous vendors may also try to make money on them.
- When choosing pigs of a certain breed, it is imperative to find out in advance which constitutional features are characteristic of adult individuals of this breed. Usually they appear from birth. So, when choosing piglets Dyurokov, first of all it is worth paying attention to their color - it should be reddish. The length of these pigs can not be called not too long nor too short. Their backs have a characteristic arcuate curved shape. If these piglets are sold together with pigs of other breeds, then you can immediately notice that Duroks have significantly higher legs. You can distinguish them by the rather large size of the ears, which seem to hang over the eyes.
- Many recommend to start several individuals at once. This position is argued by the fact that pigs are herd animals, therefore, with a single content, the growth can significantly deteriorate: it will either be reduced to zero altogether, or the animal, on the contrary, will suffer from obesity. Also, the purchase of several piglets at once will greatly facilitate the process of taking the animals from the sow and adapting to a new place of residence. It also affects nutrition, since young piglets compete very strongly for food, as a result of which they gain weight very quickly.
Distinctive characteristics of representatives of the breed Duroc
This breed went from American pigs, which originally had an extremely greasy direction of productivity. But, as a result of breeding and careful breeding selection, Duroki became beef pigs. Such a reorientation is associated with a higher demand specifically for the meat of a given breed, and not its fat.
Having proved to be very hardy and well adapted to different conditions of keeping animals, the representatives of this breed very quickly became known around the world. And although today their population in our country is not significant, more and more amateur farmers and breeders choose this form for divorce.
The advantages of keeping and breeding Dyurokov
It is clear that for the growth of popularity, certain reasons are needed and they consist in a number of important advantages characteristic of Durocam. The most important among them are the following:
Duroki are the most enduring pets. They can be kept in specially equipped pigsty, and on the clock run. They are almost not afraid of any temperature drops. - after all, Duroki can easily adapt to a hot climate, and to a rather cold one. For this reason, the described breed is considered particularly promising for breeding throughout Russia.
In the summer time, you can never spend on feed for these pigs. They are unusually well adapted to grazing in pastures. Green fodder is quite nutritious for meat-bearing pigs, so the animals feel excellent on pastures. Another plus is that in good weather, Dyurokov can even not be driven into a pigsty for the night, if there are specially built sheds in the pen for protection from rain and wind.
Undoubtedly the most important advantage of the described breed over all other pigs are their meat qualities. what's more, it is not only about the great weight of the carcass obtained as a result of slaughter, but about the quality of this meat. Due to the low ability of pigs to accumulate adipose tissue, their pork is different dietary and special taste. Also, the quality of Dyurokov meat remains unchanged and with different ways of feeding these animals and crossing them with representatives of other breeds.
The dignity of pigs of the Duroc breed, like carcass uniformity, somewhat echoes the previous point. The organism of these animals is mainly focused on obtaining protein structures from food, therefore the muscle mass of animals grows very quickly. If there is an opportunity to move a lot, pigs burn even the small amount of fat that they can accumulate.
An equally important feature is the calm temper of the Duroks. Although they are quite active and can go long distances across the pasture, in general, they are very friendly to the person, not showing aggressiveness even after farrowing. When kept in pig houses, they very rarely try to break the cage, even if they are hungry and in every possible way try to demonstrate this to the owner. This characteristic is also important because sows show themselves very caring and, even without human intervention, are able to fully leave their offspring.
Breed minuses: what are they and how to fight them?
Although, in general, Duroki are fairly easy to maintain, they require special attention to feed. The fact is that their body is in great need in the rolls, so the food they offer should be appropriate. Thus, to grow a full-fledged and healthy animal with characteristic meat characteristics is unlikely to turn out exclusively on food waste. Although in general, you can simply buy special protein supplements, although it is not always cheap.
Of the most common diseases that Duroc breeds usually suffer from, aspirated rhinitis. This is a runny nose, which mainly manifests itself as an allergic reaction to various kinds of weather changes. It is difficult to fight this, but you can try to exclude additional allergens that will irritate the already damaged mucous membrane of the nose of animals: cereals, flour, hay, dust.
Another disadvantage of the breed is the infertility of sows. A record number of pigs, which one pig is capable of producing to the light - 11. Although on average this figure is much lower and the reproducibility of generations is rather low.
Important features and distinctive characteristics of representatives of the described breed
Duroks are distinguished by a rather strong constitution of the body and rather large size of the body. Although the body of these pigs and not long, but still very deep and wide, which indicates a well-developed muscle tissue and clearly indicates the meat qualities of representatives of the breed. The length of the body is quite difficult to distinguish boar from sows, since they are almost identical. In the boar it is 180-185 centimeters, and in sows it is 175-185 centimeters.
Especially brightly distinguished breed Duroc their ears. They have a rather large size, hanging slightly to the sides and forward. The head is of medium size, well overgrown with muscle tissues, the snout seems to come forward at an angle to the forehead.
As we have already noted when describing recommendations for choosing piglets, Durorocks are characterized by an arcuate shape of the back, as well as fairly high and strong paws. Ham is very fleshy, which with good fattening will be noticeable even with the naked eye.
Regarding the color, in general, these pigs belong to the red breeds. However, as a result of multiple crosses, blending and breeding selections, one can meet Dyurokov both in golden color and dark red.
Pigs Duroc and the most important aspects of their performance
The productivity of the breed is quite high, with which its popularity is connected. First, the Durokes are very quick. Secondly, they have simply unrealistically high daily weight gain - from 750 to 950 grams. Thus, by the age of six months, the piglets easily reach a weight of 100 kilograms, which is usually characteristic of greasy and meat-greasy breeds.
At the same time, only 3.7 feed units are consumed per kilogram of growth. In adulthood, the weight of the boar reaches about 330-370 kilograms. Sow weighs much less - only 240-320 kilograms.
When pigs of the Duroc breed are allowed for slaughter, the amount of the total yield obtained on average is about 80%, and only meat - from 58 to 70%. At the same time, the thickness of the fat is only 17-18 millimeters.
However, the meat itself has quite a lot of intermuscular fat, the amount of which in relation to the total amount of meat is 3.93%. Due to this, the meat is quite caloric, but it has good juiciness and unusual taste. Such a structure of meat is rare and much appreciated. For example, beef with the presence of such fatty layers, and which is called marble because of this, is considered an elite meat.
The most important aspects of the maintenance and care of animals
There is usually no problem with the content of this breed. This is facilitated by a good endurance of animals and the ability to adapt. You can keep them both in closed pig houses and on pastures. It all depends on your personal capabilities and time of year. Regular walking to improve the quality of meat.
It is important for dairy and already grown-up piglets to include in their diet foods that contain a large amount of protein. Most importantly, they get plenty of milk.
Fattening piglets can be started from the moment they reach two months and until the animals have gained 100 kilograms. With the use of correct and balanced feed, as well as respect for the correct mode of feeding, this weight is achieved in a very short time. So, the best feeds will be:
Potatoes (it is recommended to give boiled, pre-decanted water).- Combined silo.
- Legumes (both grain and stalks).
- Cake.
- Cereals (oats, barley, corn), but in limited quantities, because they lead to obesity of animals, loss of meat qualities.
- Exclusively to improve meat qualities, it is very important to fill the ration of pigs with bone and fish meal, as well as various wastes derived from meat and fish production. An important role is played by protein-rich dairy products. Of root vegetables, sugar and fodder beets are of great value for fattening Dyurokov.
- You can use obraty.
Potatoes (it is recommended to give boiled, pre-decanted water).Food should be given regularly at the same time, but the frequency of feedings will depend on the season:
- In winter, food is given to pigs three times a day.
- In the summer - twice a day.
Immediately, we note that keeping Duroc pigs solely for the sale of piglets is impractical. Grow them exclusively for good and high-quality meat. But in order for the result to be really good, it is important to observe the following rules:
- Pigs very early, literally from the first days, you need to start to lure, otherwise they may lag behind in development, may develop rickets.
- It is important that they receive products containing iron, copper, vitamins.
- Provide young animals with space for movement, which will also positively affect their growth and development.
Farrow sows: how to save litter?
Sexual hunting occurs in pigs of the described breed rather early, however, it is better to carry out the mating after the animals have reached the age of at least 10 months. Earlier pregnancies can cause a lot of harm to a sow's health, draining it severely. When a hunt appears, the pig will behave quite nervously, it will blush the external genitals. Such activity usually lasts about 48 hours, however, it is better to let the sow to the boar on the second day of the appearance of the described signs.
Since offspring at Dyurokov is not numerous, pig breeders try to make as much effort as possible to preserve them. In general, the sow itself takes good care of this, which shows a lot of attention to its offspring and feeds every piglet well. Although it is better to be present at the farrowing itself: it will be necessary to remove the piglets from the sow, cut the umbilical cord and soak it with iodine, clean the nose, ears and mouth from mucus.
The milk yield of sows Duroc is approximately 41 kilograms, and the mass of the nest at two months of age reaches 141 kilograms. The average percentage of survival of piglets is 92-93%. In order to improve it, it is important to feed the sow quite abundantly and efficiently during the period of gestation. Also, she must often walk a lot.
