Top 10 largest pig breeds

Pigs are omnivores. They are among the ten most intelligent animals, because. showed a high result both in the parameter of quick wit and in observation. They are good swimmers.

Many people think that pigs love to wallow in the mud. In fact, they bathe in puddles to get rid of parasites: the mud dries, forms a crust and falls off, along with the parasites. The same crust protects them from mosquitoes and midges, cools the body in extreme heat.

Pigs are bred for meat, fat, skin. The largest breeds of pigs were bred specifically to obtain these useful products, and we will talk about them. In addition, pigs are used to search for truffles, drugs, dwarf breeds are kept at home as pets.

10 Vietnamese bellied, 120 kg

The breed originated in Southeast Asia, but then spread to Romania, Canada, Ukraine and other countries. Its feature is precocity, because. puberty at Vietnamese bellied pig occurs already at the age of 4 months, and in a wild boar – at 6 months.

They differ from other breeds and have high immunity. They have their own characteristics of the digestive system, so roughage (up to 50%) can also be included in their diet.

The sows are very clean, with a well-developed maternal instinct, give a lot of milk, balanced, in the litter she has about 6 to 18 piglets, i.e. one pig can bring about 24 babies a year.

At birth, a piglet weighs from 450 to 600 g. An adult boar can gain a mass of 120-140 kg, occasionally up to 150 kg, while a pig weighs less: from 100 to 120 kg, rarely – 140. Most often, representatives of this breed are black, there may be small white spots.

Boars have fangs that grow up to 10-15 cm. The bristles can reach 20 cm in length, forming something like a “mohawk”. If the animal is frightened, or, conversely, cheered, it rears up.

9. Pietrain, 260 kg

The breed was bred in Belgium at the beginning of the 1950th century. She is a meat lover. It became especially popular in the XNUMXs. They are variegated in color: white, with black spots, but sometimes are born pure white.

The body of pigs Pietrain thick, muscular. They grow up to 80 cm at the withers, and can weigh from 220 to 260 kg. These pigs are bred for their meat, and their physique makes it impossible for them to develop large amounts of fat.

They have tasty meat, from one animal they get up to 140 kg. Pietrains are picky eaters, they give birth to few piglets, they need good conditions, because. they do not tolerate extreme cold and heat. Without proper care, they quickly become ill and die.

8. Large white, 270 kg

The breed was bred in the 80th century in England, at the end of the XNUMXs they were brought to our country. Large white – meat-greasy breed, the sow weighs from 200 to 270 kg, and the boar – from 290 to 370 kg.

It is unpretentious to feed, quickly acclimatizes. They are pale pink in color, covered with smooth and light bristles. They grow up to 170-190 cm in length. These are calm animals that easily get along with both people and other breeds of pigs.

They are illegible in food, grow up early (already able to bear offspring per year), very prolific (10-12 piglets are born, sometimes more). They do not tolerate frost and sunlight, they can easily catch pneumonia or get burns.

7. Urzhumskaya, 300 kg

Urzhumskaya the breed appeared in the 50s of the twentieth century, in the Kirov region. Received such a name, because. was bred in Urzhum. It was approved in 1957. She is white, body length is from 170 to 180 cm.

It is a breed of bacon. An adult pig weighs 250 kg, and a boar is even more – 350 kg. It is considered a multiple breed, for one farrowing a sow can bring from 11 to 13 piglets, already at 7 months they weigh 100 kg.

The main part of the weight is meat, about 55%, but there is also fat – up to 36%. The meat is good, goes to the production of bacon. The result was an unpretentious breed that can be kept in the northern regions. These pigs are excellent mothers, they are calm.

6. Mirgorodskaya, 330 kg

Mirgorodskaya the pig appeared in the Poltava region, it was recognized as a separate breed in 1940. This is a breed of meat-fat direction, in color – black-and-white.

Work on breeding a new breed began in the 1890s, selection work was carried out under the guidance of A.F. Bondarenko.

The body length of a boar is 165-175 cm, they weigh from 280 to 330 kg. Sows are slightly smaller, 155-160 cm, weighing from 200 to 220 kg. One pig can bring 10 or more piglets. Mirogorod pigs are especially valued for their fat: it is very tasty, up to 4,5 cm wide.

5. Landrace, 330 kg

The breed was bred in Denmark, is a bacon-type pig, was registered in 1896. Breed Landrace she was so productive, she had great bacon, she made Denmark one of the top bacon suppliers in Europe.

Fearing competitors, landraces were not exported abroad, and only in the 1940s did this breed appear in other countries. Pigs of this breed grow up to 2 m, sows – up to 1,6 m. They are pink in color, but there are also pockmarked colors. They are peaceful, obedient, non-aggressive. The weight they can reach: sows – 200-220 kg, and wild boars – 280-300 kg.

Of the minuses – great demands on conditions, in food, they need a walking area. Of the advantages – high fertility (10-12 piglets) and a peaceful character.

4. Poltava meat, 350 kg

It was bred in 1993 in the Poltava region, it took root in Ukraine. It is there that productivity is highest, while in other regions it falls.

Poltava meat large, with a very long body – 185 cm. The weight of an adult pig is 330-350 kg. She has a rather large yield of meat – up to 62%, and it turns out to be very tender. Fat is nutritious, with a pleasant taste. Another plus is high productivity: from 10 to 15 piglets, almost all of them survive.

Poltava meat is not picky about food, it gives high-quality meat and fat, it has good immunity.

3. Ukrainian steppe, 350 kg

It was bred by Academician M.F. Ivanov in 1928-34. He worked on a breed that would be highly productive, but at the same time was unpretentious to the conditions of detention and feed.

Ukrainian steppe similar to the Large White English but with a larger build. She is also white, with a pink tint, with thick bristles. It has a calm and friendly disposition, easily adapts to temperature changes.

This is a meat-fat breed, whose sows weigh from 210 to 230 kg, and boars – from 300 to 340 kg. Quite prolific, from 11 to 12 piglets. Differs in high precocity, good meat mass, resistance to diseases, adapts to different conditions. With low financial costs – high productivity.

2. Large black, 350 kg

It was obtained in the 300th century in England, it is considered a meat-fat breed. As the name implies, their skin is black, the same stubble. Males weigh from 400 to 100 kg, females are XNUMX kg less.

Body large black the pig looks like a barrel, the head is small, the neck is arched. The sow brings 10-12 piglets, which already weigh 6 kg at 100 months. You can get up to 52% meat and about 40% fat. They are omnivorous and easily adapt to the heat.

1. Duroc, 400 kg

The breed appeared in 1883, was originally called Duroc Jersey, is a representative of the meat breed. You can recognize it by the red bristles, which darken as the animal grows, but retains this shade.

Pig breed body length duroc reaches 180 cm, it is muscular, with strong, strong legs. An adult boar weighs from 360 kg, females are lighter. The main advantage of this breed is the highest quality of meat, it is called “marble”.

They have a calm character, are not picky about food, early maturing. Cons – the number of piglets (7-8, no more than 10), low resistance to diseases, exactingness in walking conditions.