Large white pig breed is the most common throughout the world. Their number is not in vain greater than other breeds, because these pigs have high productivity, and in addition, they quickly grow to large sizes. In addition, in the process of selection, animals did not lose their best qualities.
The history of the breed
The birthplace of a large white pig is England. First, long-eared pigs were bred, and then regularly improved, creating favorable conditions and providing thorough care for the animals. So the breed of Leicester pig was bred.
In the 19th century, the breed of English pigs was increasingly improved. Pigs of local origin were crossed with foreign breeds at once in many farms. As a result of such mating, many new breeds appeared, but their heredity was not stable.
Later, in the 30s of the 19th century, a British cattle breeding scientist nevertheless bred a stable breed of pigs, of which the rapid maturation was a huge plus. However, they were small in size. Another clearly noticeable minus was that the animals were very whimsical in the care and conditions. In farming, this breed is not widespread.
However, after 20 years, farmers mixed this breed with Leicester pigs and presented such a crossed version at an agricultural exhibition. This breed already had good fecundity, excellent meat qualities and one of the main advantages is its unpretentiousness to the conditions of detention.
The breed was named Yorkshire in honor of the place where it was bred. It became very popular and in 1885 developed a single standard to avoid the disappearance of the breed. Since that time, the breed began to be called large white.
These pigs were brought to European countries in the late 80s of the 19th century. However, due to the war, the breed almost completely disappeared in Russia.
Again, the breed of large white pigs was exported to Russia in the 20s of the 20th century. Then they brought in 600 thoroughbred animals. It was they who became the basis for breeding domestic pigs in the country, which soon began to improve. Therefore, now pigs are much different from their own breed before. They are even more prolific, larger in size and well adapted to any weather conditions and almost any climate.
Now large white breed makes up 80% of all pigs in Russia. At the same time, the remaining 20% carry genes of this breed.
Description, features and productivity of large white breed
The breed of large white pigs refers to meat-greasy. Pigs of this breed are large, the head is medium in size, of an irregular shape, light, the forehead is wide, and the snout is quite small, although the neck is thick and long. The back of animals is wide, curved up. Their ears are small, elastic, do not hang, but are directed upwards.
The trunk and chest are long and fairly wide. The length of the body in males can reach 2 meters, and in females - 1 meter 70 centimeters. The loin in pigs is also wide with a transition to the sacrum, and the ribs are rounded. The sides and belly do not hang. Sows have at least 12 nipples. The hooves of the breed are even and very strong. On the skin of pigs, the bristles are soft, there are no wrinkles on the body. In general, the breed is very different, and confusing it with another is difficult. The most important difference is the large size of the animal.
The milk capacity of the uterus reaches 90%. The nature of the animals is calm, without aggression, also the females are good mothers and carefully look after the offspring. The weight of a small piglet at the age of 2 months is approximately 25 kg, at 6 months - 100, and adult animals weigh 270 kg female and about 400 male. Such a weight, of course, is only healthy animals that are properly cared for.
At one time, sows usually bring up to 12 piglets.
We offer you to see what a large white pig looks like, and also learn more about its features in the video:
The main advantages and disadvantages of the breed
The breed has a lot of advantages:
- animals are well adapted to climate change;
- early maturity of pigs is one of the most important advantages of the breed;
- sows are very fertile;
- animals are unpretentious to the choice of food;
- pigs have a flexible genetic structure.
However, the breed also has disadvantages:
- Animals often suffer from obesity.
- Pigs have a white coat, so they suffer from the scorching sun in some regions. Farmers should carefully monitor this, provide the premises with fresh air and ventilate. And during the walk there must be a canopy so that the pigs do not receive a sunburn or blow.
- They do not tolerate frost very well.
How to choose a pig when buying?
In order to choose healthy piglets, pay attention to their growth: they differ from their fellow tribesmen in high growth and weight, if they are well looked after. If you reach out to the piglet, a healthy animal will run away, while screaming. If the pig does not respond to touch, this is an indicator of the disease.
When buying, pay attention that the piglet has a good appetite and high activity. When buying a 2-month-old baby, keep in mind that he must weigh at least 20 kilograms.
Before buying, be sure to check with the seller what feeds, mixtures and vitamins the animals ate, so as not to encounter the fact that the piglets refuse to eat and lose weight.
The price for a white pig breed starts at about 3,500 rubles, depending on the seller and place of purchase.
How to keep pigs?
The pigsty for large white breeds should be warm, well-ventilated and lighted. Grooves for waste disposal must be made on the floor of the room. In addition, there must be a place for swimming, as well as walking pigs.
Three young square meters are enough for young pigs, 4 for a sow, and 6 square meters for a nursing sow. The construction for pigs must be strong and solid, because if the fence is not strong, then the pigs can break it and run away.
Also, the breed needs walking on pastures, this will help them stay healthy. And besides this, fresh air and activity will help pigs avoid obesity and get the necessary vitamin D.
Feeding
Adult pigs should be fed 3 times a day, and do not forget to feed the animals. Water for drinking pigs should be 20 degrees to prevent indigestion.
Food for pigs should contain many vitamins and minerals. Only in this way will animals be healthy and resistant to changes in weather conditions. Vegetables are well suited for feeding: carrots, potatoes, beets, radishes; fruits: pears, apples, as well as dairy products, barley, wheat, oats, peas, rye. For a full-fledged receipt of nutrients in the diet should be zucchini, corn, beans and cabbage.
About how to properly feed a pig meat - read here.
Breeding
Pig maturity occurs at 6 months of age. However, experts advise conducting the first mating of animals 8 months after birth.
The most healthy offspring are brought by sows, which at the time of mating weighed about 120 kg.
For the best mating result, you should check that the pigs are ready for mating. Only then the mating will be successful, because the female will not run away from the male. The moment of excitement of a female large white pig can be identified by such signs:
- The animal becomes restless, screeching.
- Appetite decreases.
- The external genitalia blush and swell.
- There is a slight bleeding.
- At the peak of sexual activity, the female ceases to move and calmly lets the male in.
Pregnancy in large white pigs lasts approximately 100 days and two weeks. It is possible to understand that the female will soon give birth by the fact that the genitals turn red, swell, and the belly goes down.
During childbirth, the sow needs human help. Newborn piglets need to clean the piglet, ears and mouth from mucus. You also need to cut the umbilical cord and smear it with iodine, wipe the piglet. After giving birth, in no more than 40 minutes, you need to substitute the babies to the mother’s chest. So piglets get colostrum, which provides them with immunity, and this helps the mother to relieve pain during labor.
Offspring
Piglets should be fed three times a day with boiled root crops, and also add to the diet plant foods and wheat with milk whey and 10 grams of salt per day. About 2.5 kg of feed should be used per piglet in 24 hours.
After the sow gives birth to piglets, they need to be heated, despite the time of year and weather. This is done with the help of special lamps, a fireplace or a heater. The air temperature for babies in the first hours after birth should not be lower than 28 degrees so that the animals do not catch a cold or are not blew, because newborns piglets have low immunity and high susceptibility to disease.
After birth, during the first feeding, piglets should be held by the muzzle, directing to the nipples of the mother. After eating, they should be placed in a separate room from the pig and brought only for feeding. Piglets of large white breed gain weight quite quickly.
From the third day after birth, babies can be fed with other food than mother’s milk, and slowly introduce adult food into the diet. And also they can already be released into the pen for walking. The first in lure is to introduce boiled potatoes and wheat with whey.
Disease Prevention and Treatment
The pigs of the breed are large white and have fairly good immunity. However, they can also suffer from diseases such as pneumonia, scabies and helminths.
To get rid and prevent the appearance of worms, it is necessary to carry out processing from them in time. Also, prevention will be the separation of piglets and adult pigs, and in the pigsty should be cleaned regularly.
So that the pig does not pick up the scabies mite, it is necessary to maintain cleanliness in the premises and feed the animals only with the right food. Also, pigs must be bathed every season. And if the infection did occur, then anti-scabbing solutions will help cure the animal.
Since the breed of a large white pig is very influenced by cold, these animals often suffer from pneumonia. At the first signs, be sure to consult a veterinarian, he will give the pig injections and prescribe the necessary drugs. Do not choose drugs yourself, so as not to harm the animal.
This ailment has visible symptoms:
- cough;
- tears
- heat;
- increased salivation;
- heavy and frequent breathing.
Inflammation of the lungs is especially dangerous for piglets, they have a high probability of death with this disease, therefore, at the first symptoms, you should immediately consult a veterinarian. Before his arrival, you can give the pig paracetamol to lower the temperature by mashing the tablet and mixing it with water. Per day - no more than 1 gram. Subsequent treatment is determined by the veterinarian.
If you notice stress or depression in your animal, this may be a symptom of overheating. And such an ailment is very dangerous for a pig of this breed. Also, indicators of the disease can be ignoring irritating factors, gait changes, uneven breathing, rapid pulse.
If the condition is extremely serious, then convulsions, vomiting, and foam from the nose may occur. Be sure to provide first aid before the arrival of the veterinarian. During heatstroke, you should transfer the animal to a cool room, open the windows, if any, to let in fresh air, and also let water get drunk (temperature about 23 degrees), pour the same water over the pig’s head and chest. If the condition worsens, inject a solution of caffeine with glucose.
Additionally, read the article on pig diseases.
Is it profitable to start a white large breed?
To obtain products of good quality, it is necessary to properly care for the animals, this is possible both in the conditions of the pig complex and in personal production.
The breed of large white pigs has become the most popular in Russia, and experts believe that it can replace all other breeds. After all, she has very good characteristics.
For growing on farms a huge plus is the fecundity of the pig and its precocity. Piglets grow quickly, after 6 months you can lead to slaughter, because the animal has sufficient weight. The product has excellent characteristics, it has a good ratio of meat and fat. This, of course, allows farmers to make big profits without spending a lot of money on creating suitable conditions and on food for animals.
For your own breeding, the advantage is that the animals are very easy to maintain, because they are unpretentious and care, and to climatic conditions.
Farmers Reviews
Victor Sergeevich.Indeed, meat and lard of large white have excellent tastes. The only thing I would like to supplement is the direct relationship between the diet of piglets and the taste of the finished meat. The fact is that you should never forget about the mandatory introduction of the maximum amount of natural feed in the diet. On some artificial feeds, the result is meat with an impersonal taste and fat with a strange flavor, which many then refuse to eat.
Alexey, a farmer. This breed was and will be the most popular, because it is not very demanding of courtship for it, moreover, it can easily tolerate our conditions, most importantly, to be vaccinated at an early age. The taste of meat and smell directly depends on what it is fed. At such minimal cost to the diet, they grow quite quickly and the meat is very high quality. And if there is fat, then it is also in demand, or it can simply be processed.
Margarita Vall, 45 years old.We kept pigs, fed boiled barley + compound feed and water. 4 month old piglets weighed 120-150 kg, 6 month old pigs weighed 220-250 kg. Piglets were given 1 bucket in the morning, one bucket in the evening. A bucket of 10 kg - 5 kg of barley, 1-2 kg of compound feed, 2-3 liters of water. Boil the potato separately. Pigs are not afraid of the cold. The main thing for them is dry clean litter. Feeding should be fresh. Good luck to you.
Oleg Ivanov, a farmer.Another tip: temporarily for walking you need to cut a hole for free passage in the wall or cut the bottom of the entrance doors and limit the top to the board. Hang the bottom with any warm cloth. In general, the heater can be put into the chicken coop, it will be more intact, like pigs that can be killed by electric shock, when they begin to gnaw it during the rut, which will begin at 5-6 months of age, every 15-20 days.
Hide
Add your review
Farm care for pigs is easy. The breed of a large white pig is unpretentious. The animals are funny and very friendly. Observing only the basic rules for the care, feeding and maintenance, you can easily grow large animals, and in the end you will get tasty meat and lard.