Quantitative indicators of pig breeding in Russia. Pig breeding business plan: enterprise profitability

home breeding pigs, contrary to the well-established notions of its complexity, is a profitable and interesting business, which, like any other in the agricultural industry, requires the investment of labor and funds. The key to success and quick payback of the meat products produced will be a well-written business plan, a properly organized pig farm and the right investment.

Meat own production is high quality, healthy and natural product, which causes its demand in the consumer market and increased interest.

Pig breeding: benefits

A pig, in comparison with other domestic animals, is more endowed with such qualities as:

  • High productivity, high rate of meat growth and its significant volumes. The weight of a newborn piglet is approximately one kilogram, after a week - 2-3 kg, after a month - 20-30 kg. A one-year-old pig weighs 150 kg, and it crosses the mark of 100 kg at the age of seven months.
  • Omnivorous. Pigs eat almost all plant and animal feed, including food waste.
  • Good breeding rate and high fecundity. At good conditions maintenance, one sow is able to please the farmer with offspring twice a year, that is, for one farrowing of 12-14 piglets, each of which will give more than 100 kg of good meat per year.
  • High digestibility of food - up to a third of the substances contained in the feed. For example, poultry can absorb only a fifth of it. That is, a pig will need less feed to gain weight than any other animal.
  • Popularity. Pork, like chicken, enjoys special love and popularity among consumers.

Home for a pig farm

How to raise pigs, if the conditions are home? Breeding pigs in the first place requires the availability of suitable premises. It should be a dry, warm and well-ventilated barn (or shed), reliably protected from piercing winds, especially in winter period. In order to comply with sanitary and hygienic conditions and prevent various infections, the barn needs to be whitewashed from the inside.

Laying a foundation 50-70 cm high above the ground before building a room will ensure its dryness. Particular attention should be paid to the location of groundwater, the depth of which should be deeper than 1.5 meters from the ground level. Otherwise, the room will be humid, which will adversely affect the health of the pigs.

The walls should be thick enough to keep the room warm and protect the animals from freezing. It is desirable to insulate ceilings from above; as an inexpensive insulation, you can use a 20 cm layer of sawdust and a 5 cm layer of sand above it.

For the roof, which must be waterproof, warm and strong, slate or corrugated board is most often used. The floor is often made of concrete (without depressions and cracks to avoid accumulation and decay of animal waste products). It is easy to clean and non-slip, which prevents possible injuries to the pigs. Drainage ditches must be equipped to remove excrement.

Comfort for pigs: the key to success

The barn must be equipped with pens, which, in turn, must be divided into a zone where the pigs will be fed (with a food trough located in it) and a den - a place where the animals spend the rest of the time. The pig is a rather large animal, and it is prone to destroying partitions and undermining the floor, so special attention should be paid to the strength of these parts of the room. Ideally, if the fences of the machines are metal. Be sure to have a drinker located on a small hill. Otherwise, pigs will contaminate drinking water.

Also, the pigs need a shallow pit filled with water for bathing, and a space equipped with a canopy for walking in the warm season. Moreover, such an area should be quite extensive (at least 10 sq. M), especially if it is planned to let a sow walk with offspring or a large number of individuals.

The pigsty should be provided with electric lighting used during the period of farrowing and feeding of young offspring by the sow. For small piglets, heating devices will be required.

Breeding pigs: choosing a breed

Consider another important issue in domestic pig production. This is the choice of breed of pigs. There are three types of them: greasy, meat (bacon) and meat-fat (universal).

Greasy breeds of pigs are aimed at obtaining high-quality fat. Naturally, there is meat on the carcass, but at a certain point, starting from the age of six months, the growth of muscle tissue slows down, causing an intensive accumulation of fats. One carcass of a pig of this type contains 40-45% fat, meat, respectively, 50-53%. Outwardly, greasy-type pigs are characterized by a wide and rough body; its front part is an order of magnitude heavier than the back. The most popular breeds of greasy direction are Ukrainian steppe, Berkshire, Hungarian "Mangalitsa", Large black.

Meat (bacon) breeds of pigs are characterized by an increased intensity of development of muscle tissue in comparison with fat. In breeds of this type, there is a rapid growth of offspring, which, with proper intensive fattening, reaches a weight of 100 kilograms by the age of 7-8 months. The amount of meat obtained from such pigs is 58-68%, less often - 80%, fat - 21-32%. The shape of the body in beef pigs is somewhat elongated, characterized by a shallow chest and a strongly developed rear, larger than the front. Most prominent representatives meat type are English large white breed pigs, Estonian bacon, Vietnamese bellied, Tamworth, Duroc, Pietrain, Landrace.

The meat breed is considered universal, because it produces delicious meat and tender fat. Even with standard feeding (food waste), pigs of this type quickly gain weight, the meat index in which varies from 53 to 65%, fat - 29-37%.

Feeding

Feeding animals can be done in two ways: wet and dry.

Wet feeding is traditional and involves the preparation of mash - feed diluted with water. Pigs are given food scraps and boiled root vegetables. This method is low-cost, as it does not require the purchase of additional feed, however, the weight gain of the animal will not be particularly intense. Therefore, in order to quickly obtain meat, emphasis should be placed on dry feeding, with which there is less trouble, and the result will become more noticeable. Dry food for pigs needs to be combined with a lot of water. You should also take into account the characteristics of each feed; so, it is better for pigs to give a lot of grain in a ground form, which will become the basis of nutrition. As an addition, you can use boiled potatoes. Raw root vegetables can be given in small amounts as vitamin supplements.

Feeding is best done in small portions, because with significant one-time volumes, part of the food will remain in the trough in an unclaimed form for further use.

Fish and bone meal, leguminous crops, fodder yeast, cake and skimmed milk are sources of protein that will be excellent additions to the main feed, especially for meat breeds of pigs.

Often, for breeding pigs, young animals are purchased on the market (which is quite expensive), but you can also keep your own sow. Puberty in a female usually occurs no earlier than 8 months, farrowing occurs after 110-115 days from the moment of fertilization. For mating, it is required to use a pig that has reached a mass of 100 kg. It should be well fed, significantly enriching the diet with vitamins. For the implementation of mating, it is necessary to determine the period of the start of hunting in a pig, the signs of the onset of which are the restless behavior of the animal, lack of appetite, the appearance of redness on the genitals, discharge and estrus. The pig should be brought together with a boar within 12 hours. The period of ovulation in an animal lasts for one and a half days, so it is important to determine it in a timely manner. Within 17 days from the moment of mating, the behavior of the animal should be observed: if fertilization has not occurred, the pig will behave calmly, if there are signs of hunting, then the procedure must be repeated.

In the first 3 months from the moment of fertilization, the pig is given normal food, later it should be made more concentrated, preferring coarse and juicy feed. The animal should not be overfed in order to avoid complications during childbirth. A couple of days before farrowing, the pig begins to behave restlessly; her sides are strongly lowered, the mammary glands swell, and the genitals are swollen.

During the birth of an animal, the presence of a person is desirable, especially if the sow is young. Perhaps the birth may be delayed, and the animal will need help. Piglets that appear one at a time with each attempt should immediately be wiped with hay, and the mouth should be freed from mucus. The piglet may appear in the amniotic sac, which must be immediately torn open and the baby released.

piglet care

Piglets are born weak, therefore, in order to avoid the loss of young animals, it is necessary to create as much as possible comfortable conditions; the temperature of the pigsty should be at least 18 degrees Celsius, the room should be well ventilated and dried, without traces of dampness, the presence of electric lighting is mandatory. During the first three weeks of life, little piglets feed on mother's milk, which can increase their immunity and gain the necessary weight; further, the young should be accustomed to other foods aimed at intensive stimulation of growth. Weaning piglets from the sow is recommended no earlier than 4 weeks from the moment of farrowing. In the absence of a sow, young animals are fattened from the nipple with cow or goat milk. At a young age, it is also important to give them vitamin injections with iron content.

Caring for pigs is not particularly difficult. It is important to provide them with appropriate living conditions, timely feeding of pigs and quality care for young animals. The air temperature in the barn should vary from 12 to 16 degrees, for young animals - 18-20 degrees. Optimal Humidity indoors 70%. It is important to observe the sanitary and hygienic standards for keeping pigs, regularly clean the floor in the pigsty, and clean the feeders from food debris.

Home pig farming business plan

Drawing up a business plan when planning to create your own pig farm requires the inclusion of such costs as the construction of a pigsty and the purchase of equipment necessary for operation, staff salaries, the purchase of feed, veterinary services. A number of different factors can affect the cost side. For example, you can build a pigsty yourself from scratch, or you can buy an old pig farm and make repairs in it. The use of modern equipment will significantly reduce the cost of wages which will make breeding pigs more profitable. Although most businessmen prefer to use manual labor, saving on maintenance automation.

Pig farming - always profitable

The profitability of pig breeding as a business is estimated at 30%, but if you wish, you can achieve higher rates. This requires:

  • Stop your choice on the breed of pigs that is most suitable for the purpose of keeping and its conditions. Particular attention should be paid to the selection of young animals, which are recommended to be purchased from different suppliers in order to avoid genetic mutations. The acquisition of sows requires taking into account their milk production, productivity, teat condition and brood safety.
  • Periodic disinfection and prevention of dampness and drafts in the pigsty.
  • Creating optimal conditions for pregnant sows.
  • The experience and professionalism of the farm workers.
  • Providing animals with nutritious, high-quality, vitamin feed, taking into account all the features of animal feeding.
  • Vaccination and regular inspection of animals to prevent the occurrence of diseases, timely treatment of pigs when they appear.

Pig farming as a business, taking into account the above recommendations, can turn out to be a very profitable occupation, because high-quality pork is always in high demand.

Breeding pigs is the most profitable business in the field of animal husbandry, so keeping even one pig in your backyard is always profitable!

The majority of people who have any plot in countryside sooner or later think about starting their own business. As practice shows, pig breeding is the most popular direction for beginning farmers. Firstly, even during a crisis, people will buy meat, and pork, especially high-quality pork, is always in demand on the market.

Secondly, in order to make a profit, it is necessary to raise an animal and sell meat. But, as in any other business, there are difficulties here. Before you start breeding piglets, you need to carefully consider all the nuances: from the choice of breed to the rules of care and feeding.

Statistically, domestic pig breeding ranks second (after poultry) in the ranking of the most profitable agricultural activities. Sows give birth up to three times a year and "bring" about thirty piglets. But this result can be achieved only if the animals are properly cared for.

The benefits of raising pigs at home should be considered in several aspects:

Selection of piglets

There is no single answer to the question: “Which breed of pigs is better?”. The farmer himself must make a choice based on what goal he set when starting to raise piglets. Several types of breeds can be distinguished: greasy (lard predominates), meat (meat predominates), bacon (the same amount of fat and meat) and universal. The advantage of the latter is that the farmer himself can regulate the content of meat and fat in the carcass. It depends on the conditions of detention and.

Igor Nikolaev

Reading time: 13 minutes

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Pig breeding in Russia has always been one of the most important branches of animal husbandry. Yielding in importance to breeding large cattle, this industry nevertheless means a lot for the food security of the country.

This year, 2016, is characterized by high growth rates of domestic pork production.

A significant increase in the number of this livestock in our country and, as a result, an increase in the production of this meat in recent times, is explained by the devaluation processes of our national currency, which caused a significant decrease in the number of imported products, as well as by the restrictions imposed by our government in August 2014 on the supply of pork from some countries.

Russian herd size in 2016

As of October 1 this year, the number of these animals in Russian Federation in all categories of farms amounted to 23 million 256 thousand 800 units.

Compared to last year, the growth amounted to 1 million three thousand heads, or 4.5 percent. Compared to the same data for 2014, this figure increased by 2 million 543 thousand 500 livestock units, or by 12.3%, and if we take the data of 2013, then by all 14.6 percent or (in numerical expression) by 2 million 963 thousand 600 heads.

If you look at the structural component, then out of the total number of the domestic herd, 83.5% is in the commercial sector (agricultural enterprises - 81.5%, peasant farms - 2%). The remaining 16.5 percent are pigs kept in private farms.

Regional structure of domestic livestock (October 2016)

If we consider the geographical aspect of the placement of these farm animals on the territory of our country, then the ranking of the leading regions looks like this:

  1. Belgorod region. This region of our country deservedly ranks first with a herd of 4,240,200 pigs, which is 18.2% of the total domestic livestock. From last year, the increase was 217,500 individuals, or 5.4%;
  2. Kursk region. If we compare the number of pigs in this region as of the specified period of 2016 with the same date in 2015, then it increased by 103,700 animals (or 7.7%) and amounted to 1,447,400 units in quantitative terms. Based on this, the share of the Kursk region in the Russian livestock is at the level of 6.2%;
  3. Tambov. It closes the top three with a herd of owls of 1,010,600 heads. Share in Russian population these animals - 4.4%. The growth compared to the same period in 2015 amounted to 29,100 animals, or 3.0%;
  4. Chelyabinsk. An impressive increase in the number of these animals in 2016 by 11% (relative to the same reporting period in 2015) allowed this region to come close to the top three. In quantitative terms, the number of these animals has reached 922,300 heads, which allows them to occupy 4% in the herd of pigs in our country;
  5. Pskov. Fifth place in Russia. The number of the herd is 805,900 individuals. The share in the domestic livestock is 3.5%. The annual increase is 35.4% (the best growth rate among all regions of the Russian Federation), which in quantitative terms is 210,600 animals.

Places from sixth to twentieth were distributed as follows:

PlaceRegionLivestock (pcs.)Share in the Russian herd (%)
6 Voronezh region804 800 3,5
7 Krasnoyarsk region656 200 2,8
8 Altai region619 000 2,7
9 Omsk610 000 2,6
10 Lipetsk583 400 2,5
11 Tverskaya511 900 2,2
12 Republic of Tatarstan497 600 2,1
13 Republic of Bashkortostan481 400 2,1
14 Rostov457 200 2,0
15 Kemerovo438 200 1,9
16 Krasnodar region432 800 1,9
17 Novosibirsk407 500 1,8
18 Stavropol region403 900 1,7
19 Tyumenskaya364 500 1,6
20 The Republic of Mordovia354 300 1,5

The number of animals in the herds of the regions that were not included in the top 20 rating, according to Rosstat, as of October 1, 2016 (regardless of the category of the farm) consisted of 7,207,400 animals, which is 31 percent of the total domestic livestock.

The volume of pork produced in Russia in the period from January to September 2016 amounted to 2,357,000 tons in terms of slaughter (net) weight. In live weight, a value of 3,030,600 tons was reached.

If, according to tradition, we compare with similar figures of the past, 2015, then the increase was 10.9 percent or 231,900 tons in quantitative terms (carcass weight was considered). The increase in this indicator compared to the same time period in 2014 reached a value of 16.5% or 333,200 tons, and relative to January-September 2013 - 23.2% and 443,900 tons, respectively. The entire quantitative increase was achieved due to the products of the commercial sector (in particular, agricultural enterprises).

In numerical terms, the increase in the number of products manufactured at these enterprises over the past three years amounted to 562,800 tons, or, if in percent, then 39.4. In personal subsidiary plots, on the contrary, production decreased by a quarter (more precisely, by 25.3%) or, in numerical terms, by 113,800 tons (for the same time period). The volume of production of peasant farms for last years also decreased (by 5,200 tons or 14.6%).

If we consider the structure of the distribution of meat produced by categories of farms, then it looks like this:

  • agricultural enterprises - 84.4%;
  • personal subsidiary plots - 14.3%;
  • peasant farms - 1.3%.

Geographically, the main quantities of pig meat produced in the Russian Federation were distributed as follows:

  1. Belgorod region. Possessing the largest number of these animals, this Russian region naturally became the leader in the ranking with a slaughter weight of 450,700 tons, which is 19.1% of all domestic pork produced. Growth from the previous year, 2015, reached 4.1% and amounted to 17,800 tons.
  2. Kursk. Having produced 165,700 tons or 7.0% of the total volume produced in Russia, this region rightfully occupies the second line of the rating. The production of this product compared to the same period in 2015 showed an increase of 11.4%, or, in kind, by 16,900 tons.
  3. Tambov. Honorable third place in Russia. The number of products in slaughter weight is 110,600 tons, which is 4.7% of the total Russian production. In the Tambov region, an increase in manufactured products was also noted compared to the same time period in 2015. Its indicators are 9,800 tons or 9.7%.
  4. Pskov. Quantitative values ​​- 86,200 tons or 3.7% of the total arbitrariness, the increase in quantitative values ​​relative to January-September 2015 - 27,500 tons or 46.9 percent.
  5. Voronezh. During the period from January to September 2016, Voronezh pig breeders supplied 81,900 tons of meat to the market, which allowed them to take a share in total production at the level of 3.5%. In this Russian region, the production of this type of agricultural product increased by 23,500 tons, or by 40.2% (in relation to the same time period of the previous year, 2015.

According to the results of the period from January to September 2016, in terms of their performance, it also included:

PlaceRegionPork production (tons)Share in the total volume in the Russian Federation (%)
6 Lipetsk region65 400 2,8
7 Chelyabinsk65 100 2,8
8 Krasnoyarsk region59 000 2,5
9 Tverskaya57 300 2,4
10 Omsk54 500 2,3
11 Republic of Tatarstan54 100 2,3
12 Krasnodar region51 100 2,2
13 Altai region50 000 2,1
14 Republic of Bashkortostan45 800 1,9
15 Rostov40 000 1,7
16 Sverdlovsk38 600 1,6
17 Bryansk38 100 1,6
18 Stavropol region36 400 1,5
19 Mari El Republic36 000 1,5
20 Novosibirsk34 800 1,5

The total amount of this type of meat produced in all categories of farms in the regions that were not included in the top twenty domestic producers for the period from January to September 2016 was at the level of 735,600 tons, which accounted for a share of 31.2% of the total pork produced in the country.

Pig breeding is considered to be the most profitable direction in animal husbandry. This is due to the fact that these animals quickly gain weight and are unpretentious in food. However, do not forget that, like any business, this one will require investment, risk and constant participation in the business.

How to start breeding pigs

Pig farming as a business can only be considered by those who have prepared a specific plan and are ready to engage in raising animals day by day. Despite the fact that the business started will require huge investments and patience, the results that it can bring will fully compensate for all the efforts. Pig breeding is divided into two areas: raising animals for meat and breeding, which is not considered as an independent business. By itself, it is unprofitable. Pork is always a popular product. The result of production is meat, fat, hide and blood. They are purchased by sausage factories, workshops, chains of grocery stores and dealers in the market. Smoked sausages and lard can be stored for a long time, which allows you to increase the duration of the sale of products without worsening it. palatability. It is the sale of meat that makes this business profitable.

If we are talking about for the needs of your family within the same barn, then you can do without complex calculations. But time and money still have to be invested.

Pig farming for beginner livestock breeders should start with a business plan. It should take into account aspects such as the organization of the farm, possible markets, feed purchases, breeds of pigs and their cost, maintenance costs. Separately, it is necessary to identify all possible risks and ways to reduce them. To effectively start a business, it is recommended to attract experienced professionals, among whom should be a livestock specialist.

Farm organization

Considering pig farming as a business, the focus should be on the farm. The room should be bright, clean and without drafts. The optimal area for a 300 head herd is 5000 sq. meters. This will allow to place in it household, office and production rooms, as well as a laboratory.

Special attention when various options farm devices must be given to the removal of manure. This is a very important factor for compliance with sanitary and hygienic standards, and therefore for healthy livestock growth.

Equally important is what equipment will be installed on the farm. Equipment for pig breeding must meet the latest requirements in order to exclude animal diseases. The success of the business depends on how modern it will be. European companies remain leaders in the production and development of such equipment. Modern farms are equipped in such a way that most of process takes place automatically. These include electronic feeding systems, and separate areas for insemination of the sow, for farrowing, growing piglets and fattening. In Russia, such farms are still a rarity. It uses equipment that is 15-20 years old. Half of it doesn't work. The result of such activity is losses.

Purchase of pigs

To organize a farm for a beginner pig breeder, experts recommend purchasing a herd of 300 heads. There should be no more than 10 sires in the herd, at least 150 sows. This will be the main potential for replenishing the herd. Almost half of the livestock will need to be fattened and sold to raise funds. buy pigs dozens better from different owners to prevent mating of animals close in pedigree. The choice must be made with an experienced livestock specialist or veterinarian, who will immediately determine the state of health of the animal. If there are many individuals with an unhealthy appearance on the farm where it is planned to purchase piglets, it is better not to risk it. And look for another farmer. In any case, this must be done in breeding farms.

Pig breeds

In total, there are about 100 breeds of pigs in the world. To select livestock, you need to carefully study them. Each of them has its pros and cons. Pigs are bred for meat, lard and bacon. Breeds of pigs differ in terms of what more can be obtained from them. There are differences in their fertility and resistance to change temperature regime. They differ in skin color and temperament.

In Russia, 32 breeds of pigs are actively used. Photos of some of them are presented below.

1. Large white. The most common breed in Russia and the CIS.

2. Landrace.

Even from the outside you can see how different all these representatives are.

Pig breeding as a business has the main goal - to grow the livestock that is, and to provide offspring to replenish the herd. To do this, it is necessary to take into account all factors, including the time of year.

Raising pigs is better to start in early spring. These animals are very thermophilic. During the warm season, a 25 kg pig grows into a 115 kg pig. With such a mass, they are already ready for sale. Piglets that have had time to be born in the warm period will get stronger faster and gain weight.

For normal growth, pigs need to drink a lot. If the water supply is not automated, then it must be provided in another way. Leaving a trough with water is not recommended, as it can easily be turned over. Animals will be left without water.

Pigs are very positive about feeding. Food should be balanced according to their age. Normal weight gain should be 0.5 kg per day.

Pig rearing technologies

Breeding technologies for these animals have many differences. But they all relate to feeding and keeping the herd. Each farmer chooses the one that is most economically acceptable for him and meets the tasks set.

Technologies differ in their approach to some are designed for the free movement of the herd. Others completely block it and focus on keeping the animal in a narrow cage.

There are various Danish, Brazilian, German, Canadian, Finnish technologies in the world. Each of them has its opponents and supporters. In Russia, the technology of breeding pigs in hangars is gaining popularity. This is very economical in terms of building a farm.

Those who have already started this business unanimously say that with any technology important factors for profit are the source material (pigs), quality investments in their cultivation and market prices at the time of delivery of products.

Development of pig breeding in Russia

In Russia, pig breeding is developing poorly. As a business, this type of animal husbandry is unprofitable for small farms. This is due to the fact that new technologies based on the capabilities of modern equipment are not being introduced in most farms. Russian factories that produced equipment for pig breeding have almost completely stopped. Which leads to the use of old energy-intensive technologies for keeping animals. This affects costs and reduces the profitability of production.

Pig breeding in Russia is represented by largest companies who have not given up their positions for several years.

TOP-5 most successful pork producers in Russia

As can be seen from the table, the increase in production is obvious. But on a national scale, this figure is very small. Recently, special attention has been paid to the development of pig breeding. This is due to the reorientation of Russia to the domestic market and the ban on the import of meat from Europe and the United States. For the development of farms, the government plans to allocate special subsidies.

rabbit productivity livestock pig

The herd structure is understood as the ratio in the herd of pigs of different sexually mature groups: boars, main and tested queens, suckling piglets, weaned piglets, replacement young animals and fattening pigs. The structure of the herd depends on the specialization of pig breeding and specific economic conditions. Boars are adult males used to inseminate females. Boars are used for no more than 5 ... 6 years. Sows are adult females used to produce piglets. Sows are kept on the farm for 4.5 ... 5 years, since in the future their productivity decreases. A distinction is made between main and tested sows. The main sows represent the best part of the whole breeding stock, possessing good health, strong constitution and high fertility. Multiple pregnancy is the number of piglets born in one farrow. During the year, at least two farrowings are obtained from the main sow and 18 ... 20 piglets are raised. Great importance has the milk yield of sows - the mass of all piglets (litter) at 21 days of age, since during this period the only food for them is mother's milk. Milk content must be at least 60 kg. Every year on farms, 30…40% of all main sows are culled and replaced with young ones (from among those checked).

The tested sows are the gilts obtained from only one farrowing sows valuable breeds. The best tested sows, which give 9 ... 10 piglets per farrowing and have a milk yield of at least 60 kg, are transferred to the main ones.

Suckling piglets are piglets that are under the sow from farrowing to weaning. Depending on the direction and conditions of the farms, the age of early weaning is 26 ... 36 days, the normal age is 60 days.

Weaned piglets are young animals aged from 60 days (with early from 26 ... 36 days) to 3.5 ... 4 months.

Replacement young, as a rule, are older than 4 months. and comes from valuable breeds. Replacement young stock replace retired boars and sows.

Young growth for fattening is young growth at the age of 4 months, left for fattening. Culled adult animals are also put on fattening.

Breeding pigs. Puberty in pigs occurs by 5 ... 8 months, that is, much earlier than physical maturity. Pigs are allowed into the first mating at the age of 9 ... 10 months. with a live weight of 100 ... 110 kg, boars aged 10 ... 11 months. with a live weight of 120 ... 130 kg.

The onset of estrus in sows is usually accompanied by loss of appetite, restlessness and redness of the external genitalia. The duration of estrus is 36 ... 48 hours. The sexual cycle in pigs lasts 21 ... 22 days. Ovulation occurs on the second day after the onset of heat. From the sow's ovary at the time of ovulation, 15 ... 18, sometimes up to 25 eggs are released. During the period of estrus, sows are inseminated twice: the first time 16 hours after the detection of estrus and the second time 12 hours after the first insemination. The duration of mating is about 15 minutes, during which the boar excretes up to 900 ml. sperm (an average of 400 ... 500), containing up to 60 billion sperm. If the boar is heavy, then mating is carried out in special machines. With natural insemination, the boar is used once every 2 days, and after 15 days they give 3 days of rest. In pig breeding, artificial insemination is also widely used, which makes it possible to reduce the number of boars and reduce the cost of their maintenance. It is possible to inseminate 100…200 queens with the sperm of one boar and get 1200…1500 piglets from them. In natural mating, the load on the boar does not exceed 50 queens.

Fertilization and pregnancy of pigs. The duration of gestation in pigs is 112 ... 114 days. With double insemination, up to 95% of all eggs are fertilized. Attachment of eggs to the walls of the uterine horns occurs on the 3rd ... 5th day after fertilization. Some of the fertilized eggs die during embryonic development. By the end of pregnancy, 10-12 fetuses remain.

In the first half of pregnancy, qualitative changes occur in the development of the fetus, and in the second, the entire mass of the fetus increases significantly. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the full feeding of sows. Feeding during the gestation period should be organized so that the sow receives all the substances necessary for the formation of large, well-developed offspring. The sow must be in a good condition. In the first half of gestation, the diet of sows includes slightly more succulent feed than in the second. Feed only good quality food. The diet of this period should include silage (preferably combined or from legumes), root crops, legumes (in summer period), concentrates, feeds of animal origin, as well as feeds rich in calcium (e.g. grass meal). In addition, animals should be given 20 ... 40 g of chalk or limestone daily. In the first half of pregnancy, one feed unit of the diet for young queens should contain at least 110 g of digestible protein (for adults - 100 g), 6 ... 7 g of calcium and 3 g of phosphorus.

The second half of gestation dramatically increases the need for sows in nutrients ah, and above all in the protein, since at this time the mass of the embryos increases. the amount of bulky feed in the diet is somewhat reduced, increasing the dose of concentrated feed and feed of animal origin. The diet includes leguminous concentrates, fish, meat and bone and grass meal. A pregnant sow weighing 200 ... 250 kg in winter is given, in kg: grain mixtures - 1.5, sunflower cake - 0.25, peas - 0.4, wheat bran - 0.4, potatoes - 2.7, combined silage - 1.5, grass meal - 0.3, bone meal 0.005, chalk - 0.34, table salt - 0.04. In the second half of pregnancy, 1 feed unit of the diet for young queens should contain at least 120 g of digestible protein (for adult queens 110 g), 11 ... 12 g of calcium and 5 ... 6 g of phosphorus. 2 ... 4 days before farrowing, the feeding rates are reduced by about 30 ... 40%, and the amount of all feeds is reduced. Pregnant queens are fed 2 times a day. All feeds, with the exception of potatoes, should be given raw, slightly moistened with water, and for the last two days before farrowing, the queens are fed liquid mash. Pregnant sows in the first 2 months do not contain large groups 10 ... 14 heads each, in last month before farrowing, they are placed in separate stalls and released daily for a walk, except for cold days. In summer, pregnant sows can be kept on pastures for 4 ... 5 hours.

On many pig farms, next to the machines, there are small compartments (boxes) with a hole for piglets, equipped with electric heaters that automatically regulate the temperature, as well as installations for infrared heating and ultraviolet irradiation, troughs for feeding piglets are also installed here.

The born piglet is cleaned of mucus from the nose and mouth, the umbilical cord is bandaged and cut at a distance of 4 ... 6 cm from the abdomen, the end of the umbilical cord is disinfected with an iodine solution. The piglet is wiped dry with a clean burlap or towel and allowed to suckle to the sow for a few minutes.

On the day of farrowing, the queens are given only warm water, and then a liquid mash from concentrated feed. For 2 months of the lactation period, the sow produces about 300 liters of milk, and its highest daily amount reaches 7 liters. When feeding lactating sows, in addition to milkiness, it is necessary to take into account their fatness. A sow exhausted during the suckling period may not be fertilized during insemination, or this will affect the quality of future offspring. The diet can include succulent feed and legume hay. Feed is given to the uterus in the form of a talker. New feeds are introduced into the diet gradually, since a sharp change in the composition of the diet leads to indigestion in piglets. Feeding rates depend on the weight of the sows, the number of piglets in the litter and their age. An adult suckling sow weighing 200 ... 250 kg with a litter of 10 piglets should receive 7 ... 7.5 feed per day. units and 800 ... 850 g of digestible protein. During lactation 1 feed. units The diet of an adult sow should contain 115 ... 120 g of protein, 6 ... 7 g of calcium, 3 ... 4 g of phosphorus and 8 g of salt. Young growing sows should receive more nutrients per unit of mass, since their growth has not yet ended. The diet of lactating sows should include a special compound feed, and in its absence a mixture of concentrates (turf, bran, grain legumes), grass meal, root crops, combined silage, fish and meat and bone meal, skimmed milk, whey, etc. Sows are fed 3 ... 4 times a day at the same time.