Description of the breed of pigs Duroc
The Duroc pig breed is a rarity on private farms. The breed was bred in America. The pigs are distinguished by an unusual sandy-red coat color. Often novice breeders do not know which breed is best suited for breeding, but after meeting these affectionate red representatives, they immediately lose all doubts.
Duroc pig breed
Exterior and productivity
Duroc breed of pigs appearance characteristics are as follows:
- large dimensions, meat orientation;
- the body is chunky, knocked down;
- body length in males is 185 cm;
- the dorsal section has an arched shape, the limbs are straight, long, with fleshy hams;
- hanging ears;
- small head with a curved profile;
- most often, individuals of red color are found.
The weight of adult representatives ranges from 240 to 360 kg. Duroc pigs are in great demand due to their early maturity. Their birth weight is 1.1-1.6 kg. With good care and nutrition per day, Duroc piglets gain 900 g. Accordingly, young animals gain an average of 100 kg per month. The content of Duroc meat in the carcass is 70%. Detailed characteristics and photos will help you get acquainted with all the magnificence of these representatives.
Advantages and disadvantages
Pigs of the Duroc breed were originally classified as greasy. When the demand for pork increased, breeders carried out a selection by crossing Duroc with Mangalitsa, Landros, as a result of which the meat qualities increased significantly. The Duroc breed is distinguished by its endurance and adapts well to any habitat. Even adults are not aggressive at all, which, no doubt, can be attributed to the pluses.
Benefits:
- benevolence;
- fast weight gain;
- meat with high taste;
- adaptability to walking content.
In order for Duroc piglets to quickly begin to gain weight, they need to be provided with a nutritious diet with a high protein content. One of the disadvantages of the breed is its high sensitivity to temperature extremes. In too cold environments, pets often get rhinitis. Even with widespread distribution, it is very difficult to find a purebred individual; in small farms, a cross between with other species is mainly sold.
Features of the content
Breeding pigs of the Duroc breed is usually not particularly difficult. The pig quickly adapts to the walking method of keeping and feeds on pasture on its own, which reduces feed costs. Near the pigsty, they fence off the territory and begin to release piglets for walking in early spring. Free range can significantly improve the quality indicators of meat.
The temperature regime in the pigsty starts from 25 ° С. In winter, a warm biomaterial mat is placed on the floor.Today, a popular method of keeping is fermentation bedding, which involves the use of special preparations containing coprophage bacteria that break down feces and urine. Heat is generated during a chemical reaction.
Inside the litter, the temperature is between 40 °, in the upper layer - at least 5 °. This method allows you to do without additional heating of the room, even in winter. It is important to equip the pigsty with a good ventilation system.
Feeding
Pig Duroc needs a protein diet. In the summer, free-range pigs look for food on their own. The diet includes potatoes, wheat cake, silage and legumes. A greater weight gain can be ensured by introducing meat and bone meal, sour milk into the diet. If the goal is to get a carcass with a little lard, you shouldn't give a lot of grains.
The feeding schedule will differ depending on the season. In warm weather - 2 times, and in winter - 3. In winter, pigs cannot get greens for themselves, they need more energy to heat the body, therefore, the number of feedings increases. For the normal development of the body and the prevention of rickets, vitamin complexes are administered to Duroc from birth as complementary foods.
The basis of the menu should be foods with a high protein content. Lack of protein can cause underdevelopment in Duroc piglets. In order for the carcass to form uniformly, you need to adhere to all the feeding rules, which are described in the video by an experienced breeder who has been breeding Duroc for several years.
Breeding features
Breeding at home involves breeding, keeping all the necessary records. The beginning of the sexual hunt in females can be determined primarily by behavior. Females behave more actively, when they see a boar, they begin to make characteristic sounds, bloody discharge comes from the labia. Most often, fertilization is carried out using two boars, with an interval of 12 hours.
At home, this method is not always possible, so you have to contact the nearest farm. The methods of artificial insemination are also practiced. They are considered to be more effective and allow you to cover several females with sperm from the same breeding boar.
To get healthy offspring, you need to provide the female with a balanced feed during preparation for mating, during pregnancy and after it. Adequate physical activity is an important aspect. Approximately 2 weeks before farrowing, the female is transferred to a separate enclosure. There are various methods for calculating the farrowing date. For example, the farrowing calendar.
During gestation, the female should receive feed with a high calcium content. A month before giving birth, they begin to gradually reduce the amount of feed, exclude foods with a high fiber content. Closer to childbirth, they are completely transferred to nutrition similar to the sucking age.
In one pregnancy, a female can bear 9-11 babies. In connection with the possibility of rickets, it is necessary to introduce vitamin and mineral supplements from birth. In the first week, piglets need additional heating, so incandescent lamps are installed in the far corner of the farrowing crate.
What breeders say
Breeder reviews vary widely. For all its productivity, Duroc is not very common in the territory of the Russian Federation. The first thing that confuses our breeders is the rather high price for purebred individuals. Genetic predisposition to rhinitis and rickets, as well as a protein diet make the breed very expensive to maintain.
With a lack of protein food, pigs gain weight unevenly, which affects the taste and quantity of meat. And in our climatic conditions it is quite difficult to keep pigs of this breed.Negative reviews are most likely triggered by incorrect content.
Young growth care
A piglet is born with a weight of 1100 g to 1600 g. The survival rate of the offspring is quite high and amounts to 95%. Feeding with vitamin complexes begins from birth. Due to the fact that the breed does not have good immunity, the piglets need to be vaccinated accordingly.
At first, the piglets are kept in a box under the lamps. Babies should receive colostrum no later than an hour after birth. The weakest individuals need to be supported near the mother's breast on their own, otherwise they will receive less milk.
With normal care and balanced nutrition, piglets gain 900 g per day, an average of 100 kg per month. The diet should include juicy greens and mostly protein foods. With a lack of protein, piglets grow thin and weak, often get sick with colds.
Final part
The Danish piglet is one of the most demanded breeds in the world, its meat is famous for its nutritional value and high taste. However, on the territory of our country, the breed did not take root and are rare. Duroc is a red pig. In the photo, they look very attractive, and therefore are in high demand abroad. In addition to an interesting appearance, the pigs are distinguished by high productivity and early maturity.
The survival rate of offspring is 95%, which is a very good indicator. True, due to its overall dimensions, a female can endure only 9-11 piglets in one pregnancy, while other breeds carry up to 30. But Landrace pigs of the Duroc breed have a well-developed maternal instinct. Among the disadvantages of the breed, the high price of purebred individuals is noted. Animals are genetically predisposed to rickets and rhinitis. Also, many breeders are intimidated by the need to keep gilts on a protein diet. A detailed description and characteristics are given in the video clip, where an experienced breeder talks about all the pros and cons of the breed.
Duroc piglets quickly adapt to free-range housing. It is important to observe the diet: in the summer, 2 times a day, in the winter - 3. The diet must contain calcium-containing products, meat and fish waste. Duroc is very often used in breeding work to improve the quality indicators of other breeds. The mixes have worked very well. For breeding on the territory of the Russian Federation, it is better to purchase a crossbreed than a purebred Duroc.
Hybrids are distinguished by stronger immunity and are absolutely in no way inferior in quality indicators. Negative feedback from our breeders about poor performance is most likely caused by inappropriate content. Duroc is a thermophilic animal and with inadequate care in winter can get cold.