Content
Pig farming at home is one of the ways to provide your family with environmentally friendly meat and lard at minimal cost.
Benefits of raising pigs at home
Pigs are not picky about living conditions, are omnivores, and are practically not prone to diseases. Having decided to raise pigs, you need to carefully consider the diet, living conditions, decide on the breed, and choose the right premises for the pigs. The main advantages of pig farming are considered to be:
- low susceptibility of pigs to diseases;
- high fertility of pigs (a sow can give birth to 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 will not require any care at all.
Breed selection
It is impossible to determine which pig breed is the best for raising piglets at home, since any one can adapt to nutrition and maintenance. You need to figure out which area of productivity this or that breed of pig belongs to. There are 3 main types of productivity:
- greasy pig type;
- meat (bacon) type of pigs;
- universal type of pigs.
Tallow breeds of pigs are characterized by a massive front part. The growth of muscle tissue slows down somewhat by six months, while adipose tissue continues to grow actively. The amount of meat on the carcasses of such pigs reaches only 50%. Popular breeds of tallow pigs: Ukrainian, Large black, Berkshire pig.
The muscle mass of meat or bacon breeds of pigs grows very quickly, while the fat mass lags behind in development. With the correct feeding ration, by the 7th month the pig’s weight can be 100 kg. The amount of meat from the carcass of one animal is from 60 to 70% of the total weight. Representatives of the meat type of pigs: Landrace, Estonian bacon, English great white pig.
Representatives of the universal (meat-eating) type of pigs produce a large amount of meat before reaching adulthood. Pigs gain weight well even with standard fattening. Breeds: North Caucasian, Murom, Breitov pig.
What should you pay attention to when buying piglets?
Beginning 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 separated from their mother and taught to feed on their own. It is worth observing how babies behave during feeding.Healthy animals greedily pounce on food and actively eat adult food. In appearance, they should be agile, strong, with clean skin, eyes, and hair.
It is also necessary to pay attention to the parents in order to understand what to expect from the individual in the future. A sow, for example, must be quite fertile and have high milk production.
Preparing the premises for raising piglets
Raising piglets at home requires the construction or conversion of premises into a pigsty. It is advisable that it be located no closer than 10 m from a residential building. It is worth selecting an area for walking or stall-walking piglets.
Requirements for premises for raising pigs:
- room temperature 10-20 °C;
- heating system;
- good ventilation;
- windows for ventilation and light;
- room height of at least 2.5 m;
- plank flooring with a slight slope;
- For ceilings and walls, it is better to use lime as a disinfectant.
The area for walking pigs and piglets must have a canopy from the sun and rain, as well as protection from the wind.
Methods of keeping pigs
Successful breeding of pigs at home largely depends on the way the animals are kept. The most common ones are:
- cage method of keeping pigs;
- without a walk;
- walking
Large pig farms use the cage method of raising pigs. Each of the cells contains about 3 individuals, there is a slight angle of inclination, with the help of which excrement and the remains of liquid food flow into a special channel.The microclimate on such farms is regulated by automated systems.
Free-range keeping of pigs is also used in large farms, as it is the most cost-effective. But this method negatively affects the physical condition of pets. To ensure that the livestock does not have health problems, it is necessary to pay attention to feeding and caring for pigs.
For beginning farmers to raise piglets at home, the free-range method of rearing is best suited. Animals, being in open areas, actively move and receive the necessary amount of air and light. Such areas need to be equipped with sun canopies, drinking bowls and feeding troughs. This growing method is not suitable for suckling pigs and newborn piglets.
Requirements for a pigsty
Premises for pigs should be bright, warm, and well ventilated. Only farrowed sows with newborns should be kept separately. In large farms, fixing pens are organized for farrowing and subsequent maintenance of the pig with its offspring. In 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 there are supposed to be several machines, then the minimum passage between them should be about 1.5 m.
The area per pig should be up to 5 sq.m. The norm for walking area (per 1 head sq.m.) for sows is 5 sq.m., for heavily pregnant sows (a week before farrowing) and suckling uteruses with offspring – 10 sq.m.
How to raise a piglet
Young animals go through several stages of development:
- mother's breastfeeding period;
- separation from 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 piglets, a separate place in the pen of about 1.5 square meters is arranged. m. The recommended room temperature is not lower than 15 ° C, since piglets are not yet able to regulate their body temperature on their own. Until 25 days of age, newborn piglets feed only on mother's milk. On day 3, they are given an injection of iron supplements to prevent anemia.
Weakened babies are placed in a warm pen, given milk and concentrates, and then replacement with roughage begins.
Weaning is carried out from the age of one month, when the weight of the individual reaches 17 kg. This happens gradually over 4 days:
- Day 1 – contact with mother about 6 times per day;
- Day 2 – 4 times;
- Day 3 – 2 times;
- Day 4 – 1 time.
Increase the diet 7 days after weaning.
Caring for newborn piglets
Piglets are considered newborns from the moment of birth until 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 the 4th day after weaning, young animals are accustomed to eating chalk, charcoal, toasted grains, and red clay. The water should be changed twice a day, and the drinking bowls must be washed before changing the water.
Often, a first-time piglet does not produce milk. In this case, the piglets are transferred to artificial feeding, using ready-made mixtures prepared independently.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 from an early age are more active and better massage the pig’s mammary glands, thereby improving milk production. The first feeding is given from 4 days. This is cow's milk, skim milk, acidophilus milk. From the 5th day they are given porridge made from barley, oatmeal or wheat groats, boiled down.
Walks start from the 3rd day of life in summer, in winter from 5-7 days, starting from 10 minutes. The air strengthens the body, the sun allows you to accumulate vitamin D.
Raising weaned piglets
Weanlings are very sensitive to gastrointestinal infections, so they are fed 5 times a day at regular intervals. The result of correct feeding technology should be a daily weight gain of 400 g. The diet usually contains fish, bone meal, clover, alfalfa, and skimmed milk. Boiled vegetables should also be present; in the summer, the piglets are fed legumes along with tops.
For up to 3 months, dry food is steamed with hot water so as not to injure the gastric mucosa.
During early weaning, the baby should be fed about 15 times a day at regular intervals with boiled cow's milk. Complementary feeding is administered in the same way as for piglets at later weaning.
How to raise piglets for meat
When raising pigs for meat until they reach 70 kg (while muscle mass is growing), the diet should consist of protein-rich feed: peas, green legumes, skim milk, fish meal. Afterwards, the diet should be enriched with grain crops and succulent feed.
When fattening with bacon (a type of meat), the diet consists of barley, vetch, legumes, and various additives of animal origin.
When raising pigs, many farmers use a simplified feeding system when they choose one of the options - dry or wet. In the wet version, piglets are fed mash (boiled potatoes, food waste, herbs), crushed grain, cake, and pea flour are added. The dry option is more expensive. Piglets often become constipated (especially if they do not drink enough water). But this method is the most effective and simple.
How to raise pigs
Pigs belong to the family of non-ruminant artiodactyls. In the company of their relatives, they consume food much more actively. Thus, when animals are raised in groups at home, they gain weight faster. When forming groups, it is necessary to take into account the age, sex, live weight, and physiological state of the pigs.
It is necessary to take into account that pigs are negatively affected by temperature changes, high humidity, noise, vaccination, and 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% is useful weight. If the goal is to raise pigs for meat at home, then you need to choose from two main types of fattening: 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.If the pig is fed properly with combined feed and legumes, the daily weight gain will be 650 g. The result is juicy meat with a thin layer of fat.
With low-intensity fattening, the pig grows more slowly, reaching 100 kg in a longer period of time. The essence of fattening is that the pig eats more, but inexpensive, feed.
Features of keeping sows
The maintenance of a sow depends on its physiological state. If we talk about the period of preparation of a pig for pregnancy and bearing healthy offspring, then it is necessary 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. Females in heat are housed in separate pens until pregnancy is determined.
But the main thing is a special feeding regimen. It should be varied (include all types of feed) and balanced. Dispensing is done 2 times a day and the amount eaten is controlled. If food remains in the feeder, then during subsequent feedings the amount of food is reduced.
Raising pigs using Canadian technology
The main thing you need to raise pigs at home using Canadian technology is a hangar with a transparent roof and large rolls of straw.
Advantages of the technology:
- there are no costs for heating or lighting, since a thick layer of straw (20 cm) and moisture will maintain the temperature up to +15 ° C, in addition, pigs will be able to bury themselves in the straw;
- increasing the immunity of pigs due to greater mobility, light, environmentally friendly straw;
- quick construction of premises.
When cleaning, only the top layer should be removed. Straw is completely removed twice a year - in spring and autumn.
Disadvantages of keeping: unpleasant odor, high humidity, early separation of piglets from the pig, which is stressful for them.
Conclusion
Pig farming at home is a fairly profitable and uncomplicated activity that a novice farmer can master with proper organization and a competent approach. The success of breeding largely depends on the creation of good living conditions and balanced nutrition for pigs. Much depends on a person’s personal qualities, his hard work, and ability to work with animals.
It is necessary to take into account the disadvantages of raising pigs: the difficulty of caring for pigs, the labor-intensive process, risks (animals can get sick, and this will lead to mass death), certain means. The main requirement: an extremely serious attitude towards all stages of raising pigs.
