Description and characteristics of Landrace pigs, housing conditions and breeding

Denmark is a leader in the introduction of new technologies in pig farming. The profitability of farms depends on the quality of breeding material; there are more than 250 breeding centers in the country. Work to improve the elite breed of Landrace pigs does not stop.

History of appearance

Pig farmers in other countries learned about the promising meat breed bred in Denmark at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Landraces owe their genetics to European fold pigs and boars and sows of the Berkshire breed imported from England.Many years of selection work have yielded remarkable results. From the crossing of local and English breeds in Denmark, bacon pigs appeared, which quickly build muscle mass and accumulate a small amount of fat.

Breeding animals were brought to Russia in 1948. Two domestic enterprises were engaged in acclimatization and breeding of a new meat breed:

• Kaluga region - breeding farm named after Tsvetkov;
• Novgorod region - breeding farm "Krasny Bor".

It took more than 40 years to adapt to local breeding conditions. In 1993, the Landrace breed was included in the State Register. Landrace pigs are raised by farmers and owners of private farms in all regions of Russia. Danish purebred pigs are found in New Zealand and Australia, and they are bred in Ukraine.

Characteristics and description of the Landrace pig

Landrace piglets cost 4-6.5 thousand rubles and are in stable demand. From the table, which shows the weight of pigs by month, it can be seen that already at 9-10 months of age, live weight exceeds 100 kg.

Such results are achieved if concentrated vitamin and mineral supplements are included in the menu. It takes 250 kg of feed per year to fatten one Landrace piglet. Below is a table of the daily feed requirements of pigs. External characteristics of the breed:

• the stubble is whitish, not thick;
• the skin is white and pink, sometimes with black spots;
• the body is elongated, torpedo-shaped, 2 m long in boars, 1.6 m in sows;
• chest volume of a boar is 1.9 m, of a sow - 1.5 m;
• the neck is fleshy;
• hams are pronounced, wide;
• medium sized head;
• The ears are large, wide, hanging over the eyes.

Pigs are not prone to aggression and are active. Animals, despite their heavy weight, move easily on short, straight legs. The average weight of an adult boar is 300 kg, a sow is 250 kg.

Advantages and disadvantages

When choosing piglets for personal farming, livestock breeders evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the breed.

Features of care

Raising Landrace pigs is profitable if the diet is formulated correctly. In this case, the food goes to build up meat, not fat. A good effect is achieved by using succulent feed (pumpkin, potatoes, rutabaga, carrots) and protein sources (alfalfa, clover).

Conditions of detention

Landrace pigs are adapted to the Russian climate, so pigsties are not insulated for the winter. In the cold season, Canadian technology is used. Animals are kept on deep, permanent bedding (straw, sawdust).

The heat that is released when the lower layers overheat warms the animals. The temperature in the depths of the litter reaches 40 °C; in the pigsty it does not drop below 5 °C. Organic matter in the litter is treated with biological products. They activate the activity of bacteria, destroy the smell of ammonia, and process pig excrement.

How mating is performed

The inseminating boar is selected in advance, kept in comfortable conditions, and provided with regular, long-term walking. An adult sire is mated no more than 30 times a year, a young sire 2 times less often. Frequent use of boars degrades the quality of seed material.

The female’s body is ready for fertilization within 2-3 days; she is also prepared in advance and given food containing vitamins, minerals, and protein. During sexual hunting, the male is brought near her twice with an interval of 12 hours. The breeder controls the entire mating process in order to stop possible manifestations of aggression in time.

After successful fertilization, the female behaves calmly, does not go on sprees, and farrows occur 115 days after mating. Landrace pigs are bred on an industrial scale, crossed with other breeds, and on private farms.

How to care for piglets

The weight of newborn Landrace piglets is 1.5-2 kg. It's not easy to get them out. Thoroughbred offspring have high demands on the quality of their diet and living conditions. Immediately after birth, the piglets are wiped dry with a rag, the umbilical cord is removed, the wound is treated with iodine, and placed on a clean bedding. After an hour, the piglets are brought to the mother's nipples, the weakened ones - to the front ones, and the larger ones - to the rear ones. Colostrum strengthens the immune system of newborn piglets.

Landrace sows often show aggression towards their offspring, so they are kept in a separate pen or separated from newborns by a partition.

For the first 7 days, the air temperature in the stall is maintained at 30-32 °C, then it begins to gradually decrease. Every 5th day reduce by 2 °C. At the time of weaning of piglets, the temperature in the pigsty does not exceed 18 °C.For the first week, sucklings feed on mother's milk, then they are fed with warm (37 °C) cow's milk 4 times a day. A single dose is 10-15 g. Starting from the 3rd day of life, sucklings are given a 0.25% solution of ferrous sulfate. This serves to prevent anemia. Water is introduced into the diet on the 4th day, toasted grain - on the 10th day.

Diet of Landrace piglets for fattening:

• compound feed;
• porridge with skim milk, milk;
• grass in summer;
• carrots in winter;
• fish fat;
• milk.

The sucklings are weaned from the sow at the age of 30-45 days. The piglets are fed 4 times a day; skim milk, meal, cake, fish and meat waste are gradually introduced into the diet.

Feeding at home

At home, bacon breed pigs are fed with compound feed, and herbs, vegetables, and mineral supplements are added to the diet. During the first fattening period (it lasts 4.5-5 months), the average daily weight gain is considered to be 450 g. During the second fattening period, the average daily weight gain is 600 g. At this time, the percentage of feed that worsens the quality of meat (meat flour, cake) is reduced to 5%. , fishery waste, soybeans, oats). To improve the quality of bacon, pigs are fed a mixture.

946 g of this mixture is equal to 1 feed unit. During the second fattening period, the time for walking pigs is reduced. In winter, they feed 3 times a day with 8-hour breaks; in the warm season, animals are fed 2 times a day.

Possible diseases and their prevention

Pig barns are disinfected 2-4 times a year. One procedure lasts from 3 to 5 days.Spore-forming microorganisms are destroyed with solutions of active chlorine (5%) or formaldehyde (4%). For an area of ​​1 m², 3 liters of disinfectant liquid are consumed.

Common diseases of Landrace pigs:

• scabies;
• erysipelas;
• ringworm;
• plague;
• cysticercosis;
• dysentery.

Sick animals are isolated and treated under the supervision of a veterinarian. The infection is carried by rats, mice, and insects. Infection carriers are combated in two ways:

• rodents are deratized, mice and rats are poisoned with poisons (monofluorin, bactocoumarin, zinc phosphide);
• Pigs are saved from flies, ticks, lice, fleas by disinfestation; the pigsty is sprayed with chlorophos.

To prevent diseases, piglets are vaccinated. The first vaccinations against colibacillosis and salmonellosis are given on the 3rd day. At the age of 1.5 months they are vaccinated against leptosporiasis. Piglets are vaccinated against this disease twice at weekly intervals. The vaccine against erysipelas is given to piglets at 2 months of age, and against plague at 3 months. Vitamins are prescribed to pigs in the first week of life.