Such an animal as a pig is very much appreciated in Ukraine, and Ukrainians have always been considered and considered saloids. In the old days, lard was a source of energy for people, which needed to be restored after hard work, but today it is a traditional exclusive dish. Probably all this was the reason that it was Ukrainian breeders who managed to breed one of the best breeds of meat and greasy pigs, which is called Mirgorodska.
This breed is more than 75 years old, however, it still enjoys great popularity among both professional farmers and amateurs. If you are also interested in these pigs, we are happy to share useful information about their features and characteristics.
Before you go to the market: how to choose the right piglets of Mirgorod breed?
Buying piglets is an extraordinarily demanding task, since the success of your pig breeding will depend on them. Therefore, it is important that the selected individuals be not only purebred representatives of their breed, but also be completely healthy. Thus, before going to the market for such an interesting purchase, read in detail the generally accepted and specific rules for the selection of pigs.
It is better to buy pigs when they are at least 1 month old. By this time, pig breeders usually already have time to train them to eat regular food, often completely weaning from sows. This factor is very important, since it is impossible to sharply transfer milk farmers to regular food - you will cause them severe digestive disorders, which often lead to death.
Therefore, ask the seller how and what he fed his pets and whether he managed to separate them from the sow. In the future, try to keep for your piglets the same diet that they received before and no problems with adaptation should arise.
Even if the seller claims that the pigs eat free themselves, it is better to observe this process on their own. The point is not even whether the pig sucks, or takes food with its whole mouth (although this is important first of all), but if he chews it, or swallows it whole. It often happens that pigs are born with the wrong bite, as a result of which, due to their physiological deficiencies, they simply cannot eat properly.
It is difficult for such an animal to gain weight, since only a part of the food it absorbs can be fully digested, the rest is simply removed from the body in the same condition as it was before consumption. Do not be lazy and carefully examine the jaws of the pigs and how they close together.
Well, the most important thing is how to determine that it’s a pig of Mirgorodskaya breed before you? Of course, you need to ask the seller about this, and he himself will boast of such a valuable commodity (perhaps he will even beat a higher price). First of all, pay attention to the suit - in Mirgorod pigs, it is usually black and motley, although if piglets with black or black and red coloring are caught, this is not a reason to blame the seller for cheating, such a breed also happens.
It is more important to pay attention to the structure of the body, which should be quite long and very wide. Such characteristics are a sign that in the future the animal will be able to gain a very large weight. Their muzzles are tapered elongated forward. The ears are small, almost erect and turned slightly to the sides.
After the purchase, do not forget to take the seller’s contacts in order to contact him in case of difficulties and ask for advice as a more experienced breeder. After all, like in humans, animals also transmit from each other character and eating habits. Therefore, perhaps some information about the mother of the piglets will help to quickly and better adapt them to the content.
Breeders also recommend buying several piglets at once, preferably pig and hog. First, pigs belong to herd animals and together they will be easier to adapt to new conditions and grow. And secondly - in the future you can get from them the first offspring.
What are the specific features of the Mirgorod pigs: breed description
To obtain representatives of the described breed was carried out rather difficult crossing. Thus, sows of Ukrainian short-eared pigs, with their characteristic variegated color, crossed with the boars of the following no less famous breeds for their productivity:
- Large white.
- Average white.
- Berkshire.
- Temvorskaya.
Initially, the breed had the most widespread distribution in the Mirgorod district of the Poltava region, from which it got its name. Today, these pigs are widely distributed in the central and northern regions of Ukraine, are quite often found in Belarus, but in Russia they are bred mostly only in the south of the country.
The advantages of keeping and breeding Mirgorod pigs
In the section on the selection of piglets, we have already noted that already from a very early age, representatives of the breed are characterized by a very strong constitution with a pronounced tendency to gain greater weight. Their bodies are very harmoniously developed, since adipose tissue grows well in pronounced meat forms, making the animals massive and rounded.
Regarding feeding, the Mirgorod breed is absolutely not whimsical. Its representatives can easily adapt to grazing in the conditions of the forest-steppe zone.
Therefore, starting from early spring and until the first frosts, they are usually kept in the fresh air, driving them into the room only at night. The only caveat in the territory designated for pigs pastures must beat trees that can serve as animal shelter from the scorching sun. In winter, you can also not worry about the diet of this breed, as the Mirgorod pigs successfully gain weight on almost any food.
Representatives of this breed fatten up very quickly, while not dependent on the quality of the feed (only calories are important). Even without the use of special systems of fattening, still at a young age, mumps begin to postpone fat reserves, which only increase with age. Thanks to the opportunity to move a lot, muscle tissue develops, rapidly increasing in size.
Cons of the described breed
In order not to be biased and not only praise the breed of Mirgorod pigs, we want to talk about its minuses. Despite the fact that the breed is considered to be meat-greasy, the meat qualities of its representatives are much worse developed than the greasy ones.
Therefore, the meat output in the carcass is very small. This is due to the fact that the more weight gains an animal, the less it shows the desire to move. As a result, one type of productivity begins to exceed the other and the pig is completely covered with fat. In order to avoid this, try to walk your pet as much as possible and more often, as well as build a diet solely on protein feeds.
Also, if with heat these pigs can cope, hiding in the shade, then they endure the cold much worse. If the pigsty is not heated in winter, the animals will suffer from hypothermia, growth rates will decrease, various unpleasant diseases may develop. It is especially important that small piglets, which are especially susceptible to this, are not exposed to hypothermia. For them, it is even recommended to install special heating lamps or transfer them to other heated premises.
Features of the exterior and parameters of Mirgorod pigs
And so, the representatives of this breed are most often motley, rather large, have a very long and wide body. Boars are far ahead of sows in length, since their body is on average equal to 180 centimeters, while sows are only 170.
The fact that the Mirgorod pigs are really wide is indicated by an indicator of the girth of their shoulder blades, which usually equals the length of the body, and sometimes even exceeds it by 5 or 8 centimeters. In general, their bodies are very deep, the back is straight and wide, with a characteristic manifestation of greasy characteristics.
But the size of the head relative to the whole body is small. The profile is slightly concave, but not so much as, for example, in the Duroks or Large White breed. Also, Mirgorod pigs are characterized by very well developed ganashes, which also accumulate a large amount of adipose tissue. The ears are small, sometimes hanging slightly, but usually stand upright.
Regarding all other characteristics of the appearance of the Mirgorod pigs, the following should be noted:
- Their legs are of medium height, but quite strong and durable. Because of this, they are able to carry their impressive weight and overcome large distances without any problems.
- Ham is very well developed, they accumulate not only a large amount of fat, but also a lot of muscle tissue.
- The skin is very dense, but elastic, has no folds. Thanks to its characteristics, the animal is able to constantly gain weight.
- The skin of Mirgorod pigs is covered with thick and shiny bristles, which protects them from sunburn. However, it helps a little to fight the cold.
- What profit can bring the content of Mirgorod pigs or the productivity of the breed
- In adulthood, the average weight of boars of the described breed can reach 330 kilograms, and sows - about 220. From the very birth, these pigs begin to gain their weight very intensively: the average daily gain is usually 670-700 grams. The output of meat in the carcass is about 54-55%, and fat - from 37 to 38%. Thus, the total productive yield can be almost the entire weight of the animal. The average thickness of the fat is usually 2.8 centimeters. It should be noted that the fat of the Mirgorod pigs is considered to be a reference, because it has a very high taste.
- An important role is played by the multiplicity of sows, so you can not only successfully breed these pigs, but also earn money by selling pigs. For one litter the pig usually brings not less than 10 pigs, and the weight of each of them is about 1.2 kilograms. But by the age of 6 months the weight of pigs increases to 100 kilograms.
For a good increase in the animals also need to take good care. In general, the Mirgorod breed cannot be called whimsical and there are no problems with its content, but still it is worth mentioning some features. .
Essential nutrition: about feeds and feed frequency
The maintenance of Mirgorod pigs is very cost-effective, since it does not require special costs for feed. Regardless of the time of year, the basis of their diet can be potatoes in combination with other seasonal products. However, the potato is best given in boiled form, pre-drain with it all the water. You can add to it:
- Various cereals, but always in a ground form. Grinding should be of medium size. It is generally not recommended to give whole grains, as his pig cannot fully chew.
- Other root vegetables: beets, carrots, rutabagas.
- Fresh grass and hay - also better to give in finely chopped form.
- Food waste.
- Products of dairy origin.
- Flour fish, meat and bone origin.
- Seasonal fruits.
- Vitamin supplements.
You can feed these pigs 2-3 times a day, in the summer only two are better. Pigs are fed more often - about 5 times a day. At the same time, it is important that pigs always have access to clean and fresh water.
Important nuances in breeding piglets and adults
Such nuances should include the fact that Mirgorod pigs definitely need to provide regular and nutritious food, walking in large spaces and cleanliness in pig houses. Thanks to such conditions that are very comfortable for animals, they will gain weight without any problems and will not get sick. Also, the pigsty must be equipped so that all the liquid released by the animals can flow out. Cages with pigs should be cleaned regularly, spreading enough hay or straw to them.
Pigs are usually kept separately from the sow, but with the possibility of running into her cage. It is very important that they have a lot of space for movement, otherwise animals can develop rickets. Also, since birth, they are pierced with a special complex of vitamins, which make the nominal system more stable and help the full development. From the age of 2 weeks they are already given additional food.
In winter, dairy pigs should be kept in well-heated and ventilated areas. All troughs with food for them need to be washed regularly, the remnants of food to throw away. When grazing in pastures, the sow with piglets is kept separately from other individuals.
Farrow: What is important to know and what actions to implement?
As we have already noted, the fecundity of sows of this breed is very high. The case can be carried out quite early, from the age of 10 months. However, it is believed that the older the animal at the time of mating, the better the future offspring. You can understand the beginning of the hunt of a sow by the following features of its behavior:
- Nervousness, throwing from side to side through the cage.
- Redness of the external genital organs.
- Desire to stand in front of the boar.
The process of carrying piglets takes place in pigs usually without problems. By the beginning of the second half of the term, it should be transferred separately from other individuals and not released to pastures.
At the same time, feeding it at this time should be particularly rich in nutrients, especially green fodder. Before the beginning of farrowing, the sow will start preparing for this event by itself: it will begin to take down the straw into one of the corners of the cage and to pave a nest from it. She will go to bed very often, you can notice that her genitals reddened and her mammary glands swelled..
Farrowing usually takes place rather quickly and without complications. It is only important to cut the umbilical cord connecting the piglets with the uterus and burn it with a solution of iodine. Also, be sure to clean the ears, mouth and nostrils of the remaining mucus in them. After 30-40 minutes after farrowing, the piglets are brought to the uterus so that they suck some milk, which activates the vital processes.
Also, it is important to monitor the condition of the sow, whether its droppings have moved away. To have enough milk, it is important to provide her with good nutrition.
