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Pig breeding at home is one of the ways to provide a family with environmentally friendly meat and lard at minimal cost.
Benefits of raising pigs at home
Pigs are not demanding on keeping conditions, omnivorous, practically not prone to diseases. Having made the decision to raise pigs, you need to carefully consider the diet, conditions of detention, decide on the breed, and choose the right room for pigs. The main advantages of pig breeding are considered to be:
- poor susceptibility of pigs to diseases;
- high fertility of pigs (a sow can bring 2 offspring of 10-14 piglets per year);
- one pig is capable of producing a large yield of meat and lard;
- pork is in great demand in the food market;
- rapid growth, high productivity of pigs (the weight of a newborn piglet is 10 kg, by six months it reaches 100 kg).
Pigs and piglets are unpretentious, but this does not mean that they do not require care at all.
Breed selection
It is impossible to determine which breed of pigs is the best for raising piglets at home, since anyone can adapt to nutrition and maintenance. You need to figure out which direction of productivity this or that breed of pigs belongs to. There are 3 main types of productivity:
- greasy type of pigs;
- meat (bacon) type of pigs;
- universal type of pigs.
Greasy breeds of pigs are distinguished by a massive front part. The growth of muscle tissue slows down somewhat by six months, and adipose tissue continues to grow actively. The amount of meat on the carcasses of such pigs reaches only 50%. Popular breeds of greasy pigs: Ukrainian, Large black, Berkshire pig.
The muscle mass of meat or bacon breeds of pigs grows very quickly, fatty lags behind in development. With the correct feeding ration, by the 7th month the weight of the pig can be 100 kg. The amount of meat from the carcass of one animal is from 60 to 70% of the total mass. Representatives of the meat type of pigs: Landrace, Estonian bacon, English large white pig.
Representatives of the universal (meat-sucking) type of pigs produce a large amount of meat before reaching adulthood. Pigs gain weight well even with standard fattening. Breeds: North Caucasian, Murom, Breit pig.
What to look for when buying piglets
Novice pig farmers planning to raise pigs at home need to know that the best age to buy a pig is 2.5 months. By this period, they are weaned from their mother, taught to eat on their own. It is worth observing how the babies behave during feeding. Healthy animals greedily pounce on food, actively eat adult food. In appearance, they should be mobile, strong, with clean skin, eyes, hair.
It is also necessary to pay attention to the parents in order to understand what to expect in the future from the individual.A sow, for example, must be quite fertile and have a high milk yield.
Piglet rearing room preparation
Growing piglets at home requires the construction or re-equipment of a room for a pigsty. It is desirable that it is located at least 10 m from a residential building. It is worth highlighting a site for walking or stall-walking piglets.
Requirements for the pig breeding room:
- room temperature 10-20 ° С;
- heating system;
- good ventilation;
- windows for ventilation and light;
- the height of the room is not less than 2.5 m;
- boardwalk floor with a slight slope;
- for ceilings, walls, it is better to use lime as a disinfectant.
The area for walking pigs and piglets should have a canopy from the sun and rain, as well as protection from the wind.
Pig keeping methods
The successful breeding of pigs at home largely depends on the way the animals are kept. The most common ones are:
- a cage method for keeping pigs;
- walk-free;
- walking.
Large pig farms use the cellular method of raising pigs. Each of the cells contains about 3 individuals, there is a small angle of inclination, with the help of which excrement, the remnants of liquid food flow down into a special channel. The microclimate on such farms is regulated by automated systems.
Pig-free keeping is also used in large farms, as it is the most economically profitable. But this method negatively affects the physical condition of pets. To avoid health problems in the livestock, it is necessary to pay attention to feeding and caring for the pigs.
For breeding piglets by novice farmers at home, the walking method of growing is best suited. Animals, being in open areas, actively move, receive the required amount of air and light. Such sites need to be equipped with sun canopies, drinkers and feeders. This rearing method is not suitable for suckling pigs and newborn piglets.
Pigsty requirements
Pig quarters should be bright, warm and well ventilated. Only farrowed sows with newborns are best kept separately. In large farms, fixing machines are organized for farrowing and the subsequent maintenance of pigs with offspring. In the summer, it is necessary to moisten part of the floor in the machines. Humidity should be 70%, more than 85% is already dangerous for newborn piglets. If several machines are expected, then the minimum passage between them needs to be made about 1.5 m.
The area for one pig should be up to 5 sq. M. The norm of the area for walking (for 1 head sq. M.) Of a sow is 5 sq. M., For heavily sucking (one week before farrowing) and suckling queens with offspring - 10 sq. M.
How to raise a pig
Young growth goes through several stages of development:
- the period of feeding by the mother;
- weaning from the mother;
- fattening.
Caring for piglets at home is quite simple, but it is necessary to take into account their characteristics at each stage. For suckling pigs, they equip a separate place in the pen of about 1.5 square meters. m. The recommended room temperature is not lower than 15 ° C, since the piglets are not yet able to regulate the body temperature on their own. Up to 25 days of age, newborn piglets feed only on mother's milk. On the 3rd day, they are given an injection with iron-based drugs to prevent anemia.
Weakened babies are placed in a warm pen, soldered with milk and concentrates, then substitution with roughage begins.
Absence is carried out from the age of one month, when the weight of an individual reaches 17 kg. This happens gradually, over 4 days:
- 1 day - contact with the mother about 6 times a day;
- 2 day - 4 times;
- 3 day - 2 times;
- 4th day - 1 time.
Increase the diet 7 days after absence.
Caring for newborn piglets
Piglets are considered newborns from the moment of birth to the separation of the umbilical cord stump. This period is the most dangerous, since the basic functions of the body are still unstable. Therefore, when caring for newborn piglets at home, it is necessary to carefully monitor the needs of the babies at this stage.
From 4 days after weaning, young animals are taught to eat chalk, charcoal, toasted grains, red clay. The water should be changed twice a day, drinkers must be washed before changing the water.
Often a first-time pig does not produce milk. In this case, the piglets are transferred to artificial feeding, using ready-made mixtures prepared by themselves. To 1 liter of cow's milk add 30 ml of boiled water, a homemade chicken egg, 1 tsp. sugars, vitamins A and D (1 ml each), ferrous sulfate 1% - 10 g, aminopeptide 2.5 g.
Piglets accustomed to feeding are more active from an early age, they massage the pig's mammary glands better, thereby improving milk flow. The first feeding is given from 4 days. This is cow's milk, reverse, acidophilic milk. From day 5, they are given porridge made from barley, oatmeal or wheat, cooked on skim milk.
Walking starts from 3 days of life in summer, in winter from 5-7 days, starting from 10 minutes. The air strengthens the body, the sun allows the accumulation of vitamin D.
Growing weaner pigs
Weaners are very sensitive to gastrointestinal infections, so they are fed 5 times a day at regular intervals. The result of the correct feeding technology should be a daily weight gain of 400 g. The diet usually contains fish meal, bone meal, clover, alfalfa, necessarily milk return. Boiled vegetables should also be present; in the summer, the piglets are fed legumes along with the tops.
Up to 3 months, dry food is steamed with hot water so as not to injure the gastric mucosa.
With early weaning, you should feed about 15 times a day at regular intervals with boiled cow's milk. Complementary foods are administered in the same way as for piglets at a later weaning.
How to raise piglets for meat
When raising pigs for meat up to 70 kg (while muscle mass is growing), the diet should consist of protein-rich feeds: peas, legumes, skim milk, fish meal. After the diet should be enriched with cereals, juicy feed.
When fed bacon (a type of meat), the diet consists of barley, vetch, legumes, and various additives of animal origin.
Many pig farmers use a simplified feeding system when they choose one of the options - dry or wet. In the wet version, piglets are fed with mash (boiled potatoes, food waste, herbs), crushed grain, cake, pea flour are added. The dry option is more costly. Piglets are often constipated (especially if they do not consume enough water). But this method is the most effective and simplest.
How to raise pigs
Pigs belong to the non-ruminant artiodactyl family. In the society of their relatives, they absorb food much more actively. Thus, when animals are raised in a group at home, they gain weight faster. When forming groups, it is necessary to take into account the age, sex, live weight, physiological state of the pigs.
It should be taken into account that the pigs are negatively affected by temperature changes, high humidity, noise, vaccination, transportation.
Breeding pigs at home for beginners should be based on knowledge of the behavioral and physiological characteristics of animals.
Raising pigs for meat
With proper fattening, a pig at 7 months should weigh about 100 kg, of which 70% of the useful weight. If the goal is to raise pigs for meat at home, then you need to choose from two main types of feeding: intensive and low-intensity.
With intensive fattening of pigs, you can get meat in the shortest possible time. To do this, it is better to purchase purebred four-month-old pigs weighing about 30 kg. With proper nutrition of the pig with combined feed, legumes, the daily addition to the weight will be 650 g. The output is juicy meat with a thin layer of fat.
With low-intensity fattening, the pig grows more slowly, reaching 100 kg in a longer amount of time. The essence of fattening is that the pig eats more, but inexpensive feed.
Features of the maintenance of sows
The maintenance of the sow depends on its physiological state. If we talk about the period of preparation of a pig for pregnancy and bearing healthy offspring, then you need to create all the conditions for successful fertilization.
Before mating, pigs are kept in small groups. In the warm season, it is necessary to equip a walking area to keep sows in good shape and prevent obesity. Hunting females are settled in separate pens until pregnancy is determined.
But the main thing is a special feeding regime. It should be varied (include all types of feed) and balanced. Issuance is carried out 2 times a day and the amount eaten is monitored. If food remains in the trough, then the amount of food is reduced during subsequent feeding.
Raising pigs using Canadian technology
The main thing that is necessary for raising pigs at home using Canadian technology is a hangar with a transparent roof and large rolls of straw.
Technology advantages:
- there are no costs for heating, lighting, since a thick layer of straw (20 cm) and moisture will maintain the temperature up to + 15 ° С, in addition, pigs will be able to bury themselves in the straw;
- increased immunity of pigs due to greater mobility, light, environmentally friendly straw;
- fast building of the premises.
When cleaning, only the top layer needs to be removed. The straw is completely removed twice a year - in spring and autumn.
Cons of keeping: unpleasant odor, high humidity, early weaning of piglets from a pig, which is stressful for them.
Conclusion
Pig breeding at home is a fairly profitable and uncomplicated activity that a novice farmer can master with the right organization and competent approach. The success of breeding largely depends on the creation of good living conditions, balanced nutrition for pigs. Much depends on the personal qualities of a person, his hard work, ability to work with animals.
It is necessary to take into account the disadvantages of raising pigs: the complexity of caring for pigs, the laboriousness of the process, risks (animals can get sick, and this will lead to mass death), certain means. The main requirement: an extremely serious attitude to all stages of raising pigs.
