Elite Duroc pigs are bred to produce marbled meat. In it, fat layers are evenly distributed in muscle tissue. Due to the peculiarities of keeping this breed, it is more profitable to breed it in the warm southern regions of the Russian Federation; in Siberia there are also farmers raising Duroc pigs.
History of the Duroc pig breed
For this breed we must thank the farmers of America and the settlers who brought pigs to the continent from different parts of the world.During the colonial era, emigrants coming to the United States brought with them all varieties of domestic animals. There was a lot of genetic material. The breeding base of the breed was red-skinned pigs imported from West Africa and their relatives who came from Europe. The descendants of modern Durocs lived in England and the French provinces. The breed was selected spontaneously at the discretion of farmers.
Thanks to her, a late-ripening breed called Jersey appeared in the state of New Jersey, and farmers in the state of New York have an early-ripening Duroc breed. By crossing animals of these varieties, a purebred hybrid was obtained.
Back in 1883, the Duroc-Jersey breed was officially registered and classified as greasy. All subsequent selection was aimed at improving the quality of meat. Now the breed has the single name Duroc, it is considered a meat breed; it is grown on an industrial scale in Europe, China and at home in the USA.
Description and characteristics
It is not difficult to recognize Duroc pigs by the original color of their skin and the ears that droop over their eyes. Not only do animals have brown skin, their bristles are also colored, their color repeating the golden-brown shades of their skin. The color can be uneven and spotty; there are no light white tan marks.
External characteristics
Sows and adult boars have a massive, proportional body, straight, stable legs, with pronounced hams, a large head with a unique profile, it is smoothly concave. Long hanging ears partially cover medium-sized brown eyes.
The skin is covered with coarse, medium-length bristles. In piglets and females it is lighter and does not grow as densely as in boars. On the heels the skin is dark, almost black, with a slight bluish tint.
Weight and dimensions
A strong constitution is normal.Dryness and friability are considered a deviation from accepted breed standards. Pigs are tall, their legs are long, their back is flat or with a slight hump (arched). The rounded chest is wide.
| Floor | Torso length (cm) | Weight, kg) |
| Boar | 185 | 320 |
| Sow | 175 | 240 |
Newborn piglets weigh 1.1-1.6 kg.
Productive qualities
The early maturity of the offspring is 165 days. With an average daily weight gain of 700-950 g, fattening piglets are kept for up to six months. By 6 months, the total weight of young animals reaches 100 kg. High precocity is the genetic characteristics of the breed plus good maintenance, plentiful feeding and a balanced diet.
| Index | Meaning |
| Killer exit | 75-76% |
| Lean meat yield | 57% |
| Lard thickness | 14-16 mm, on the ridge up to 18 mm |
A Duroc suckling pig gains 300 g per day. By the time of weaning, the average weight of the young pig is 14-17 kg.
Advantages and disadvantages
The second largest number of livestock in the world does not allow one to doubt the merits of the breed, but Duroc pigs also have disadvantages.
| Advantages of the breed | Disadvantages of the breed |
| Cost-effective in warm climates, animals are allowed to walk around the clock | Low fertility - maximum 20 piglets per year, instead of 30, like other breeds |
| Dietary properties and special taste qualities of meat | In the northern regions, the costs of keeping pigs are increasing; animals spend most of their time in the pigsty |
| Calm disposition, adults do not show aggression | Productivity is 100% dependent on the diet; it decreases sharply if there is little protein in the feed |
| Sows have a well-developed maternal instinct, which simplifies the care of newborn offspring. | Tendency to rhinitis |
Animal conditions
The Duroc breed is economically profitable to breed in regions with a warm climate. As long as the average daily air temperature does not drop below 10 °C, pigs are kept on pasture. Under natural conditions, animals move actively (this improves the quality of meat) and find additional food.
In the summer, the paddocks are equipped with canopies, where the pigs escape from the intense heat. To prevent overheating, skin and other diseases, places for swimming in liquid mud are arranged. During winter, Duroc pigs need dry bedding. They burrow into it at night and during the day while resting. When kept in a pigsty, one adult animal needs a space of 5 m².
Features of feeding
In order for piglets to quickly gain weight, they are given feed containing protein. The diet includes dairy products and animal meal (bone, fish, blood). In summer they feed 2 times, in winter 3 times. For 1 kg of growth, 4 feed units are consumed. The basis of a high-protein diet for Duroc pigs:
- legumes;
- silage;
- potato;
- food production waste;
- buttermilk;
- serum;
- return;
- beet.
The percentage of oats, barley, and corn in the feed is low. Grain crops contribute to an increase in the layer of fat, which worsens the quality of meat and reduces its yield. When it is economically profitable, farmers prepare their own feed, otherwise the young animals are fed with specialized feed.
Breeding
It is not profitable to breed the Duroc breed for sale due to the low fertility of sows. In one litter there are only 8-10 piglets; in a year one sow gives birth to from 16 to 20 cubs. Farmers mate sexually mature individuals to increase the size of their herd.
The rut lasts 2 days, the boar is launched twice into the pen with the sow.If the mating was successful, after 15 and a half weeks the sow bears offspring. During pregnancy, the following conditions are created for her:
- fresh air (open paddock);
- enhanced nutrition;
- separate stall in the last stages.
The viability of Duroc piglets is high. 93-95% of the entire offspring survives. Sows have little milk, so the young animals are first fed with cow's milk, then they begin to give porridge, root vegetables, and vitamins. At 1-1.5 months, piglets are transferred to self-feeding and weaned from the sow.
Diseases and their treatment
Health problems in piglets arise when the rules of keeping are violated. The most common disease of the breed is atrophic rhinitis. The disease is recognized by its characteristic symptoms:
- sneezing, snorting, wheezing;
- lacrimation;
- redness of the whites of the eyes;
- discharge from the nostrils.
Animals recover quickly, but lose weight during illness. The same symptoms occur with bronchial pneumonia; it is treated with medication by veterinarians. Livestock farmers cope with atrophic rhinitis on their own: the nostrils are cleaned of crusts, washed with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, an antibiotic is instilled, the nasal passages are lubricated with petroleum jelly, and piglets are inhaled with turpentine and ichthyol.
Prospects for breeding in Russia
There are few farms in Russia engaged in breeding Duroc pigs, so it is difficult to find and buy piglets of this breed. Farmers raise breeding pigs for their needs and improve the quality of their livestock by crossing other breeds with Durocs.
You can purchase a purebred piglet at specialized complexes. Its origin must be confirmed by an appropriate certificate. Piglets are sold for $20, breeding pigs for $200.
