Pig breeding is the most popular type of business, which is carried out by thousands of people in our country. But raising Vietnamese pigs has become popular not so long ago. Meanwhile, this breed has a lot of advantages compared to others: Vietnamese pigs grow quickly, are unpretentious in food and care. But for successful breeding these animals need to have certain knowledge.
This breed of pigs has many unique features that you should definitely pay attention to when breeding, caring for and feeding them:
Even novice breeders can breed these pigs. Some beginner pig farmers often face the problem of animal indigestion as a result of the introduction of inappropriate grass into the diet. Due to this oversight of the owner, the pig may even die if veterinary care was not provided in a timely manner.
Vietnamese pigs, unlike many other breeds, are able to independently distinguish between useful and harmful plants, and will never eat something that is bad for their health.
How to choose piglets Vietnamese pigs
The choice of a piglet is the most important moment in this pig business. The growth rate, weight gain, health and fertility of the animals will depend on the quality of the piglets, which ultimately determines the success of the entire event.
When choosing piglets for breeding, you should focus on the following points:
- If you plan to take piglets of different sexes for their subsequent mating, in no case should you buy babies of one sow. Relationships in the animal kingdom also bear bad fruit, just as they do in the human world. It is also not recommended to take piglets from a seller who has only one boar for many sows. In this case, the piglets will definitely be relatives.
- You need to ask the seller about the weight of piglets at birth and weight gain every 10 days.
- In order not to be deceived by the dried age of a piglet, it is recommended to look at its parents. It is best to take piglets from 1-2 one month old. At the age of one month, a Vietnamese pig piglet weighs about 3.5 kg, while the sow looks emaciated, and her nipples should be pronounced and saggy. If the pig is nimble and plump, and the mammary glands are barely visible, the seller is probably lying about the age of the piglets.
- It is advisable to examine several piglets from the litter from which the selected piglet is purchased. A pig will grow up healthy if the piglets have well-developed muscles, strong and strong legs, a wide head, curved nasal bones, an elastic body, clear eyes with a shine. If the piglet is inactive, does not eat well, there are bald spots on the coat, and caked remains of feces under the tail, it means that there are problems with his health and it is better not to take such a pig.
- It will not be superfluous to ask about the diet of feeding piglets. If they are accustomed to one food, it will be necessary to switch to another very carefully and gradually.
Vietnamese pigs are characterized by very fast growth rates. With proper maintenance and a properly composed diet, a piglet can be slaughtered already at the age of 4-5 months. But still, it is recommended to wait at least six months, since before this period they are most intensively gaining mass.
Content Rules
Before you go shopping for piglets, you need to select for their maintenance appropriate place. If you plan to breed Vietnamese pigs for a long time, it is recommended to carefully equip the premises for them. Since the representatives of this breed are not very large in size, a full-fledged farm can be built in a small area.
Bricks or cinder blocks are best for building a pigsty, but wood can also be used. The main requirements for a pigsty are dryness and warmth. The area of the pigsty is calculated in advance, depending on the planned number of heads grown. Five square meters of space can accommodate two females or one sow with piglets. Three square meters will be enough for a boar.
The premises for keeping pigs must be divided into several machines with an area of \u200b\u200babout 5 square meters. m. Metal or wooden partitions are installed between the machines. The height of the partitions should be such that an adult pig cannot jump over them. The passage between the machines should be of such a width that it is possible to move freely with a wheelbarrow for manure.
Pigs like to dig into the ground with their nickels and quickly ruin wooden floors. At the same time, they can tear off entire boards, and when walking, get stuck in them with their feet, getting injured. Therefore, the floor is recommended to be made of concrete. A cemented ball has another advantage - it will become much easier to clean up in machines.
Vietnamese pigs are distinguished by their exceptional cleanliness, so it is recommended to build a small wooden platform in each machine where they will sleep. In addition, wood retains heat better and pigs will not freeze in the cold season.
It is also important to take care of good ventilation. If fresh air is not supplied to the pigsty, the pigs will have to constantly breathe in the fumes emitted by manure and urine, which will have an adverse effect on their health. In winter, it is recommended to heat the pigsty, especially if one of the pigs has farrowed. Low temperatures can lead to the death of newborn piglets and the sow herself, whose body is weakened after childbirth. You can heat the room using a conventional stove, potbelly stove or by installing special heating devices.
In order for piglets to grow faster, they need to be walked during the warm months of the year. Fresh air, physical activity and sunlight contribute to the growth and health of pigs.
For each pig, it is necessary to allocate 10x10 meters of free space under the open sky. The walking area must be fenced with strong boards nailed to powerful logs.
What to feed Vietnamese pigs?
There are many conflicting rumors about feeding Vietnamese pigs. Some novice pig breeders believe that these animals are omnivores and there is no fundamental difference between different types of feed for them. To some extent this is true, but for rapid growth and weight gain, you must adhere to strict feeding rules.
Video - the experience of breeding Vietnamese pigs
Vietnamese pigs are bacon breeds, so their diet should be dominated by feed that helps accumulate fat. These pigs are distinguished by a peculiar digestive system (small stomach and short intestines), which ensures the rapid passage of food through the esophagus.
Hard feeds containing dense fiber are poorly absorbed by the body of Vietnamese pigs. The best option Feed for these animals are grasses, legumes and greens. It is better not to give food in liquid form to pigs, since they will immediately swallow such food, without chewing it in their mouths. Thick porridge is well suited, as well as the fruits of fruits and vegetables. It is allowed to feed pigs with food waste - potato peels, apple cores, banana peels and other food leftovers from the table. The more varied the diet, the better.
Small piglets should be fed with mother's milk up to 1-1.5 months, but it is advisable to introduce complementary foods from the second week after birth. At the age of one month, they can be taken away from their mother and settled in a separate machine. The diet of piglets up to 1 month should contain cereals in milk (barley, wheat, corn or oatmeal), from a month old you can give fresh hay. For small pigs, herbs such as nettle, clover, sainfoin, quinoa, and amaranth are best suited.
Adult pigs need to be fed according to the season. In the summer, it is enough to give food twice a day, while it is recommended to feed more greens and vegetables. In the winter months, tops and hay are suitable, while you need to give food 3 times a day. If compound feeds are used, they must be mixed with bran - in this form they will be absorbed much better.
Vietnamese pigs should not be fed any grain. For example, it is better not to give them corn and oats, since these products will provoke the accumulation of fat and will adversely affect the health of the pigs. In addition, excess body fat will adversely affect the quality of meat. Recommended grains for adults are barley, rye and wheat.
Table - the rate of need for pigs in basic nutrients
Pregnant sows can be fed the same diet as normal pigs, but it is recommended to enrich the feed with vitamins - for example, add 1 raw egg, 2 tablespoons of fish oil or whey per 10 kg of feed. If you plan to slaughter a pig, a month before slaughter, you should switch to a special diet. The following daily diet contribute to the maximum weight gain: (50%), oats (10%), wheat (20%), corn (10%) and peas (10%).
Mating and farrowing
Vietnamese pigs are ready for mating at the age of 4-5 months, but it is not recommended to breed a pig weighing less than 35 kg, as it will be difficult for her to bear offspring.
There are a number of signs that will help determine the readiness of the animal for mating: swelling of the genital loop, restless behavior, and sometimes discharge. For mating to be successful, it is necessary to plant a boar with a pig for one day.
Bearing offspring lasts about 120 days. A week before giving birth, the pig becomes restless, begins to build a nest, her nipples swell, her stomach drops. Before farrowing itself, the pig will not eat anything, and a clear liquid will be released from the mammary glands - colostrum. If such phenomena are observed, you need to carefully prepare - clean the machine, put fresh straw, renew the water in the drinker.
You can not interfere in the birth process - the sow herself knows what and how to do. In some cases, when a pig is farrowing for the first time, you can help a little by wiping the newborn piglets with a clean cloth and cutting off the umbilical cord. The duration of farrowing is usually about 4 hours and it ends with the release of the placenta, which must be removed from the pen.
At the age of 40 days, Vietnamese piglets are pierced with deworming drugs (for example, brovandazole). Additional vaccinations against various diseases may be needed, but this issue is already being resolved with the veterinarian.
Video - keeping and feeding Vietnamese pigs
Why are Vietnamese piglets good? Feedback positive or negative about them is left by farmers - this is information that interests beginner pig breeders. Indeed, in Russia, pig breeding is carried out not only by large industrial farms, but also by small private farms. In recent years, Vietnamese piglets have gained particular popularity among other breeds. Such interest is due to the good productivity of animals, rapid weight gain and unpretentious care.
Thanks to these features, piglets are raised by professionals and beginners in the field of animal husbandry. However, before acquiring young animals, it is recommended to study some rules of keeping. This is our article today.
The Vietnamese bellied pig was first bred by breeders from East Asia. In the late 80s, pigs began to be imported into North America and Europe, and this was the reason for improving the pedigree qualities of animals, on which foreign specialists began to actively work.
Vietnamese pigs have recently entered our country, but local farmers quickly became interested in such an unusual breed. It is curious that at the very beginning, false information began to be disseminated regarding the breeding of these animals. Unscrupulous breeders convinced buyers that pigs did not need care at all. In addition, some breeders have even begun to confuse this breed with Chinese decorative pigs and the Korean breed.
Appearance of the Vietnamese fold
Pigs of the Vietnamese breed have a fairly recognizable appearance - a flat face and a black skin tone. At birth, they have a small body weight - about 500 grams, but over the next week they actively gain weight, and at the age of ten days their weight reaches a kilogram, and sometimes more.
Vietnamese pigs were called bellied pigs because of the sagging belly, this is especially noticeable in sows - the belly can even touch the ground. The muzzle of such animals is flattened, the physique is stocky, and the legs are powerful.
Piglets are most often black in color, but sometimes there are spotted, white and red individuals. Babies are born already with baby teeth, but they do not need to be removed, as some farmers who were not familiar with the breed did years earlier. This is not a pathology, but a feature.
Finding purebred Vietnamese pigs in our country is not so easy, because some breeders under the guise of this breed often sell hybrids that have significantly different breed qualities. Before buying Vietnamese pigs, it is recommended to find out in advance how thoroughbred piglets should look at a certain age.
What to look for when choosing a pig?
It is advisable to purchase animals only at trusted pig farms, where you can look at the conditions for keeping adult pigs, talk with farmers. But. Even before you buy piglets from a well-known company, you need to pay attention to the following nuances:
- Find out from the seller the approximate daily weight gain of the young - it is by this criterion that you can find out the age of the individual.
- In the case of choosing individuals for further breeding, you should not buy all the young at once from only one pig. Related incest will allow you to get sick offspring (sometimes dead piglets are born as a result of such a mating, which indicates a conflict of genes).
- It is important to pay attention to appearance Vietnamese pigs. Healthy individuals have a strong physique, a wide head, massive limbs. You will also need to look under the tail of the piglets - there should not be traces of feces.
- The coat of piglets should be smooth, without bald spots. Shiny eyes are another important sign of health.
- Usually Vietnamese piglets are active, showing interest in food.
If it is necessary to purchase a large livestock of Vietnamese pigs, it is advisable for a beginner to seek help from a professional pig breeder. Because a person without relevant experience does not always have the ability to distinguish a purebred animal from a hybrid.
Video - How to choose a Vietnamese pig
Characteristic features of the breed
The Vietnamese lop-bellied pig breed has the following characteristics, thanks to which they fell in love with pig farmers throughout the country:
- Growth rate. Animals have an early onset puberty closer to four months. However, the case of pigs is recommended at 6-7 months to get stronger offspring.
- Lack of difficulties in caring for piglets. Vietnamese sows have a pronounced parental instinct, so they feed and nurture their cubs on their own.
- Adaptation to cold climates. Although the piglets were brought from hot countries, they adapt to the weather in many Russian regions without any problems.
- Excellent performance finished meat products. In the carcasses of these pigs, there is an insignificant layer of fat and tasty tender meat.
- Good health. Unlike many other breeds of pigs, these individuals have good immunity and rarely suffer from various diseases, so they do not even need vaccination. However, as with any other farm animals, they need antihelminthic therapy.
- High fertility. Vietnamese females give 8-12 piglets at a time, it is not uncommon for 15 piglets to be born in one sow.
- No high feed costs. Vietnamese pigs belong to the group of herbivores, and they eat mostly only plant foods.
- Cleanliness. Pigs are distinguished by cleanliness, they independently choose a place for a “toilet” and will never stain the entire pigsty.
Productive qualities are also affected by the care of pigs, therefore, in order to achieve maximum profitability of the farm, it is necessary to provide comfortable conditions for the livestock.
Conditions of detention
Successful breeding of pigs requires compliance with certain rules of keeping. Due to the fact that piglets and adults are small in size (compared to other breeds), they do not need an overly spacious pigsty. Regardless of the size, it is advisable to build a future pigsty from bricks or cinder blocks; it is recommended to fill the floor in the room with concrete. This is done to prevent animals from digging the ground. However, some part of the floor is covered with wood flooring as a heater.
The area of the pigsty is distributed into small pens, the area of \u200b\u200beach should be 4-5 square meters. m. In such a machine can fit two females, one male or a sow with offspring.
There should be no drafts in the pigsty, but at the same time, for the normal growth of individuals, it is necessary to organize normal ventilation, because clean air improves appetite. In addition, as in any room where farm animals live, ammonia accumulates, and its toxic fumes must have an outlet so as not to poison the livestock.
In winter, the pig room needs heating - sub-zero temperatures will have a detrimental effect on the condition of the individuals. Sub-zero temperatures are especially dangerous for small piglets and females immediately after farrowing. To heat the pigsty, heat guns or heaters are installed.
Walking for pigs
From the very beginning of spring until the onset of cold weather, pigs should organize walking in the open. For such purposes, an aviary is being built, which is connected to the pigsty room. If the herd is taken to a paddock located at a distance from the main building, some part of the paddock is covered with a canopy. Pigs need shelter in which they can stay during rain or extreme heat.
Portable feeders and drinkers are installed in the aviary, and in the summer, mud baths are built for the Vietnamese, where they cool off from the intense heat - for this you need to dig a small hole in the ground and periodically pour water into it.
Some pig breeders prefer to keep livestock only in a pigsty, but this has an extremely negative effect on the health of the Vietnamese. Cooped individuals suffer from vitamin deficiencies, which are manifested by the following symptoms:
- hoof deformation;
- peeling of the skin;
- thinning of wool;
- tearing;
- wobbly gait.
Often, in the absence of free range, pigs develop a lack of vitamin A. A similar problem poses a great danger to young animals and pregnant females. Young piglets are retarded and sows have miscarriages.
Important point! Sometimes the cause of clubfoot in pigs is too massive, sagging belly. Therefore, such a feature is not always considered a deviation.
Feeding Vietnamese pigs
The opinions of farmers regarding the feeding of Vietnamese pigs are quite controversial. Some livestock breeders prefer to feed livestock only with plant foods, some add feed and food waste to the diet, believing that with vegetarian feeding, bellied piglets will not be able to gain body weight normally.
Regardless of which type of feeding is chosen, it is worth remembering that any food given to Vietnamese pigs is given only in a certain amount. This is done in order to achieve optimal body weight and quality of meat products. Therefore, in the summer, adult pigs are fed twice a day, and in winter - three times a day.
With free-range content, the additional diet of an adult pig is:
- proteins - 14%;
- fiber - 16%;
- fats - 1.5%
Among all grain crops, pigs of this breed love barley the most. This is beneficial for the farmer, since the price of this grain is low, while the product contributes to the active weight gain of piglets. Young barley is given only in ground form, after roasting and steaming with boiling water. It is allowed to give individuals wheat and rye in ground form. Porridges are prepared from it with the addition of milk for small piglets. Such food is perfectly absorbed in their body.
Important point! It is undesirable to feed Vietnamese pigs with raw grain - as a result of such nutrition, they have difficulties with digestion. In addition, such food has no nutritional value.
Table 1. Step-by-step instruction for making porridge for Vietnamese piglets
| Illustration | Description |
|---|---|
 | Step one: you will need to take two parts of barley grits and one part of crushed corn. |
 | Step two: put a pot of water on the stove, bring to a boil and add crushed corn. And then, stirring thoroughly, boil the corn for 20 minutes. |
 | Step three: after 20 minutes, pour barley groats into the pan and mix thoroughly. |
 | Step four: you need to boil the porridge for another 10 minutes and add a little salt. |
For normal growth, piglets need to add vitamin E to the feed. In a veterinary pharmacy, you can immediately purchase a whole complex of vitamins and minerals, which is called a premix.
Do not forget that pigs, like any other animals, need fresh drinking water in unlimited quantities. Therefore, drinkers are installed in the pigsty and on the run.
In the winter season, Vietnamese pigs are given prepared feed: hay, dried corn stalks. Since during this period there is no green food, which is usually eaten by walking individuals, the amount in the diet should be increased. You can also feed the livestock with root crops and bran.
Features of feeding small piglets
From the moment of birth to thirty days of life, the main food of Vietnamese piglets is mother's milk. Introducing new food into the diet begins from 7-10 days.
During this period, it is recommended to give young animals mineral supplements: chalk, crushed coal, which help strengthen the skeleton and improve overall immunity. Do not forget that any new food is given in small portions, so as not to provoke indigestion.
Table 1. Complementary foods for Vietnamese piglets
Do not allow piglets to feed on sow's milk for too long, because their body needs additional food. In addition, prolonged feeding has an extremely negative effect on the health of the female - the reserves of useful substances are depleted in her body. Young animals are weaned from the sow at the age of 30-45 days, during this period they can already eat adult food.
Video - Feed consumption for Vietnamese piglets
The nuances of raising pigs as a business
Raising bellied pigs is considered a good business idea. But it is worth highlighting a few basic nuances, the knowledge of which will allow you to properly organize the business:
- It is advisable to grow piglets up to 4-5 months, because it is during this period that they have the most tender meat and there is practically no layer of fat. The average weight of piglets at this age is 35-40 kilograms, and although the carcasses are small, it is the meat of young animals that is in great demand.
- The net yield of finished products from such pigs is about 78-80%. It depends on the age and weight of the animal - the younger the pig, the less waste.
- You can increase the profitability of your business by creating your own feed base. It is desirable to organize a pig farm in countryside where it will be possible to grow their own grain. You will also need to purchase your own grain crusher.
More and more of our compatriots prefer breeding Vietnamese piglets. After all, the return from this type of management can be obtained very quickly and very high quality. Particularly high efficiency is the breeding of Vietnamese pigs at home. But this process requires considerable work, attentive attitude to pets and professional knowledge. And all material investments with the correct organization of fattening will be rewarded handsomely.
These pigs differ from most traditional ones in that they have inexhaustible possibilities. Moreover, breeders do not stop improving the existing characteristics of the breed.
The most striking differences between the Vietnamese piglets of the bellied type are:
- Rapid maturation and readiness for procreation
- Uniform, rapid increase in animal body weight
- Unpretentiousness to feed, willingness to eat any food
- Endurance, undemanding to the conditions of detention
- Special cleanliness, allocation of space for emptying
Females of this breed are very caring as mothers. They bring a large number of piglets, despite the fact that they mature sexually at 4 months, and males at 6. In a year, a pig can farrow twice, bringing at least 18 piglets each time.
Adaptation to climatic conditions
In Asia, pigs of this breed grow in humid conditions that distinguish the jungle in the subtropics and tropics. However, after such a climate, the "Vietnamese" calmly take root in the conditions of Russian cold weather. Pigs have excellent immunity, easily cope with most diseases that pets suffer from.
With proper care, such piglets are much more profitable to breed than most breeds common in our latitudes. The reason for this endurance is a dense physique, indicating that the animal is more meaty than greasy. Their meat is very juicy, fine-fibered, with a small amount of fat.
Appearance of animals
Piglets of this breed have a very unusual appearance. The most distinctive features of these stocky animals are: 
- Black skin and fur
- Wide chest
- Strong back, wide
- Short, well-standing legs
- Short cute muzzle
- Small protruding ears
- origin of name
The breed is named after its appearance. After all, in growing animals, the stomach begins to sag. And in adults, it sags down to the ground. Despite such a weighty element, bellied piglets remain very mobile.
Decorative animal
Because of this unusual appearance, young Vietnamese pigs have become an object of attention for connoisseurs of decorative animal species. Although at the same time we must not forget that even with special care they do not cease to be pigs. And thanks to the extraordinary productivity, massive animals quickly grow out of tiny piglets. Already at 4-6 months they weigh at least 30 kilograms. When the wild boar grows to the status of a breeding boar, and the female to a sow, their weight can even exceed 1.5 centners.
This is a very profitable breed of pigs in all respects. It is not for nothing that its breeding has caused such a huge interest all over the world, including our domestic livestock breeders.
How to raise Vietnamese piglets at home
In the countries of America and Europe, livestock breeders learned about the possibility of effective cultivation of Vietnamese piglets only in the eighties and nineties of the last century. And Russian business executives were carried away by breeding this type of pigs even later. Therefore, there are so many who want to learn how to properly breed Vietnamese pigs at home.
Rearing of young animals
The most difficult process in breeding Asian pigs is raising young animals. After all, piglets, like any children, require special attention. This is the air temperature, and the humidity of the corral, and access to the sow. And if any of these or other conditions are violated, the young may simply die out. Therefore, it is important to think over all aspects of keeping both piglets and adults.
Grow room
In order for Vietnamese piglets to be as comfortable as possible, they need to equip a dry, warm, well-ventilated growing room. The flooring on the ground should be as level as possible. It is also important that the floor is strong, because there are a lot of piglets, and everyone strives to dig the ground with their nose. It must be suitable for regular cleaning as well as disinfection work. It is good if the floors are concreted and covered with boardwalk on top.
Since the "Vietnamese" are small in size, you do not have to prepare a large territory for them. It is much more important that the machines can be cleaned every day. The number of piglets that can be kept simultaneously in any farm is unlimited. This is determined by their owner.
Lighting and ventilation
Usually in winter, piglets in large numbers from spacious pens on the street are transferred to more cramped pens. In them, if the proper conditions are not observed, any pathological microflora can develop very quickly. Therefore, it is important that these areas are well ventilated. This is very important condition for the healthy growth and development of animals.
It is also important for piglets to have sufficient lighting. Animals respond positively to a good influx of daytime natural light. But in the absence of the possibility to provide such a condition, you can use artificial lighting. For young animals, you can use heating infrared lamp with periodic inclusion of ultraviolet - for disinfection of the stall. Optimum lighting and ventilation are indispensable conditions for the productive rearing of pigs of this breed.
In winter, rooms with Vietnamese piglets must be heated. Heating is especially important for newly born piglets. After all, they have a very weak immune system. Therefore, protection from external aggressive conditions can only be ensured by the presence of a sufficient amount of mother's milk and careful care by the breeder.
Feeding and walking piglets
When the warmer season arrives, the animals should have adequate food and outdoor exercise. Such an area should be protected from the wind and partially covered so that they can hide from the rain. So that the piglets can scratch their backs, boards are stuffed at the height of their standard height. In such a territory there should be portable feeders and drinkers.
Pros and cons of green fodder
Since this type of pig breeding is quite new for our compatriots, they have a lot of questions about the selection of feed for these animals. Many prefer to give them only green food. The size of the stomach, as well as the structure of all organs of the gastrointestinal tract, are suitable for eating large amounts of herbs. However, a good body weight supplement for piglets cannot be obtained from such feed. And such a diet will also affect the quality of the resulting product, not for the better.
Pigs will generate more waste if they eat only greens. The effectiveness of this diet is quite low. Therefore, it is recommended to feed meat piglets with high-calorie grain mixtures. Of course, greens should also be present in the diet, especially in summer. This will be very rational, because it will allow the use of free feed, which is very abundant during this period. And also herbs are the best source of most of the vitamins and minerals needed by young animals and adults.
Composition of feed for piglets
Usually pigs are given roughage, that is, straw and root crops. But bellied Vietnamese piglets prefer a more delicate delicacy - hay. The grain part of the diet should consist mainly of barley with wheat. Such products are perfectly digested in the body of animals and give an excellent increase in body weight. The composition of the meat in this case turns out to be bacon. These cereals in the diet of pigs should prevail. Only 30% of the total amount of food fed is allocated to the rest of the feed.
To make nutrition more effective, it is recommended to add vitamins, stimulants and fatty omega-3 amino acids, that is, fish oil, to it.
When a sow has to give birth or take care of her offspring, her menu should also be richer and more varied. Sour milk, whey, cottage cheese and boiled eggs are very effective during this period.
How to feed the grain
When eating hard-to-digest types of cereals such as oats and corn, their percentage with other feeds should not be higher than 1:10. Any grain must be crushed, steamed with boiling water and brewed until a homogeneous nutrient mixture with sufficient water content is formed. For steaming, water and crushed grain are taken in a ratio of 2: 1. To improve the appetite of animals, 10 grams of salt must also be added to such a mixture. The process of steaming grain lasts 11 hours.
The introduction of a thick grain soup into the diet of such piglets has an excellent effect on the productivity of their feeding. In winter, it is useful to feed your pets with pumpkins and carrots. Animals like the use of hay from vitamin forbs. Good growth is provided by legumes, including alfalfa grass, dry clover and vikomashka. Also in winter, more than 15% of the diet can be replaced with boiled potatoes.
Growing Vietnamese pigs at home is quite an easy and profitable process. The main thing is to take into account simple conditions and adhere to the rules for their content. And very soon the work of the breeder will be rewarded with an excellent result.
Breeding Vietnamese pigs
Many livestock breeders were attracted by such a breed for growing at home. But breeding Vietnamese pigs is not as simple as it seems at first glance. This process must take place subject to a number of mandatory rules. So, you need to mate females that are already more than 4 months old. After all, it is from this age that their puberty and readiness for reproduction begin. A prerequisite is a body weight of at least 30 kilograms, so that the mumps can simply physically carry offspring inside itself. The male must be at least 6 months old for productive mating.
Mating conditions for Vietnamese piglets
You can not mate animals from the same genus, because as a result of this you will get sick offspring. The male should be allowed to approach the female when she begins to show signs of hunting:
- Constant, unrelenting restlessness
- Swelling and discharge from the penis
- Lack of response to punches and pushes in the stall
The female should farrow 115 days after mating has occurred.
The upcoming farrowing in a couple of days is signaled by the pig by the fact that she begins to behave extremely restlessly. She begins to tamp down the litter, laying a nest out of it. In the female, the abdomen drops sharply, the mammary glands swell, the nipples increase, from which, when pressed, colostrum appears.
Baby care after birth
Proper care of piglets in the first days after birth plays a very important role in how successful their breeding will be. To do this, proper conditions must be provided in the paddock. The very first thing is the temperature is not lower than 30 degrees. After all, piglets are born very weak. And with hypothermia, they can begin to develop various infections, many of which can kill all offspring.
What to do immediately after farrowing a pig
The very process of childbirth in a Vietnamese pig lasts an average of 4 hours. Therefore, after the appearance of the first piglet, it is necessary to provide him with the proper conditions. After all, before the release of the last one, the first one can simply freeze. The offspring must be freed from maternal mucus, allowed to dry, treated with antiseptics on the umbilical cord and placed next to the sow. In the first hours, it gives colostrum, which is very useful for the baby, which contains immunity and all the nutrients necessary for the piglet. And the sooner you start giving this product, the healthier the animal will grow.
Features of breastfeeding
If the female has enough breast milk, then there is no need to limit the piglets in receiving it. Up to the age of one month, babies can eat only colostrum and milk. However, at the age of 10 days, the young should start drinking water. You should also give him mineral bait. Chalk is best suited for this, charcoal and refined clay. These substances will improve digestion, the development of the musculoskeletal system and the formation of immunity in piglets.
Why are supplements needed?
Pigs that feed on mother's milk alone begin to suffer from a deficiency of iron, calcium and many other trace elements important for the body. Nutrients are also needed that are not found in breast milk in sufficient quantities for a grown piglet. In addition, from too long feeding offspring, the sow can significantly weaken. But on the farm, she must work to renew the livestock.
What do piglets need besides milk?
Starting from 20 days or more, sucklings should receive complementary foods in the form of a thick soup of compound feed with vitamin supplements. To avoid the so-called anemia in piglets, it is advisable for them to carry out preventive therapy with specialized veterinary drugs. At the age of 1 month, the young should be weaned and moved to a separate adult pen. 
If the piglet is healthy and active, then it weighs 2.5 kilograms or more per month.
That is, breeding piglets is not difficult at all. With the right approach, you can quickly increase a large livestock, which will allow all year round provide meat even for a large family.
At what age is it rational to cut a Vietnamese pig?
The first thing that interests any breeder who acquires this breed is at what age is it rational to slaughter a Vietnamese pig? Compared to ordinary animals of this species, quite early. Piglets are ready to be slaughtered, even at 3 months old. But it will be a small supply of meat and almost no layer of bacon, which are so appreciated by pork lovers. And in order to get more useful product, it is better to slaughter at 6 months. After this age, the intensive growth of the animal stops.
Since the animals are not very large, it is not difficult to stab them, and it is much easier to butcher such a carcass. A professional carver will cope with one pig in 1-1.5 hours. The yield of the product is more than 75%, which is also higher than that of ordinary pigs. This is another advantage of Vietnamese piglets - quick readiness for consumption and prompt processing of the product. 
Vietnamese pigs feed very quickly. They are much faster ready to be cut. Therefore, there will definitely not be a shortage of meat with such a farm in the family.
Business calculations
Breeding Vietnamese piglets is beneficial not only because you can get a lot of healthy meat and bacon for the family very quickly without much labor. It is also very beneficial in economic terms. It is easy to complete the elementary of such a plan, given the advantages of this type of animal husbandry:
| big litter | When breeding this breed of piglets, a significant plus is their multiple pregnancy in one pregnancy. At 5 months, the female is able to give birth to at least 10 piglets. And from the age of 10 months, she can even have 20 babies. This is a great start for a beginner pig breeder. |
| Boar rearing | In ordinary household backyards, few people keep a boar for mating, although this is very profitable as a business. It can be leased to other farms. |
| Ease of care and feeding | Piglets are very unpretentious in care. And their food is quite simple. If in the first days of life the temperature is normal for life, then the babies will very quickly gain the potential for growth. |
| Possibility of breeding for breeding or for slaughter | Piglets can be raised for meat, which is very profitable. But many pig farmers are more attracted to selling young and adult stock, the costs of which will pay off after the first farrowing. As for raising pigs for meat, this process is 75% profitable. |
The benefits of raising Vietnamese piglets are clear. They grow quickly, give tasty juicy meat. They can be grown for various purposes. Therefore, this is a real opportunity for effective management in all respects.
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Vietnamese piglets are gaining popularity among residents of Russia and neighboring countries. This is due to the ease of care, feeding and breeding. Pigs of the Vietnamese breed appeared relatively recently, in a short period of time they became popular among many livestock breeders. They conquer with their unusual appearance, minimal maintenance costs and a host of other advantages.
Characteristic
The Vietnamese pig is an individual belonging to the group of herbivorous artiodactyl animals. It is distinguished by a complaisant character, does not need special conditions of existence and gives large offspring.
Origin of the breed
For the first time, Vietnamese lop-bellied piglets appeared in 1985. Their homeland is Southeast Asian countries. As the breed spread, they began to be bred in many European cities and Canada. The first deliveries of pigs were carried out from Vietnam, where the name came from.
Due to their unusual size, piglets began to gain popularity. They were widely bred in farms France and America. Breeding specialists for this type of pigs have set themselves the task of increasing productivity. To this end, measures have been developed aimed at increasing the number of heads and their muscle mass. Growing piglets to this day is carried out according to the algorithm created several decades ago.
Features of Vietnamese piglets
Lop-eared piglets have a number of features that are unique to their breed. When caring for, keeping, feeding and breeding, they must be taken into account without fail. Most of the features are rightfully considered the advantages of pigs, which increases their popularity among agriculture and farming.
It is noteworthy that female individuals are sexually mature already at 4 months. During this period, they are able to produce healthy offspring. Boars are a little behind in development, they become sexually mature by 6 months.
Another feature of the breed is ease of care. Newborn pigs do not require special attention. Sows have a developed maternal instinct, they carefully monitor their offspring and provide them with everything they need. Intervention from outside human factor, is unacceptable.
Pigs of the Vietnamese breed have strong immunity. The organism of animals is able to prevent the development of many diseases that are fixed in representatives of small artiodactyls. Pigs freely get used to any climate, without harm to their own health. Their homeland is a hot country, but they are able to survive at low temperatures.
Animal meat is very tender and juicy. It is rightfully considered a real delicacy. The thickness of the fat does not exceed 2-3 cm, which will appeal to gourmets. The meat has a bright and rich taste. You can enjoy the delicacy at any age, without fear. This is due to the immunity of the organism of piglets to standard "pork" diseases. Thanks to this, farmers receive healthy offspring and a completely safe product.
Lop-eared sows have a high level of "productivity". They are prolific, which allows a pig in one litter to bring about 18 piglets. For a year, a pig produces about 24 individuals with good genetic memory. This feature protects animals from eating dangerous plants.
Pigs eat often, but at the same time consume a minimum amount of food. Their diet is based on green fodder, and therefore animals are classified as herbivores. Farmers are captivated not only by the minimum cost of feed, but also by the cleanliness of piglets. They are always clean, the animal will not "spoil" in the place where it rests and eats. This is a huge plus for both the individual and the farmer who cares and cleans.
Appearance
The external characteristics of the breed in question have several distinctive features, the knowledge of which will allow the farmer to acquire real representatives of the Vietnamese breed. The features of pigs include:
- small size;
- the presence of a sagging abdomen;
- flattened patch;
- wide back and chest;
- short legs, which makes the animal squat;
- small erect ears;
- the presence of bristles;
- weight up to 80 kg.
Some individuals reach a weight category of 150 kg. This is typical exclusively for breeding animals. Much depends on the quality of nutrition of Vietnamese piglets, the conditions of maintenance and care.
When building a pigsty, experts recommend taking into account some features. Pigs of the Vietnamese breed do not dig the floor, which eliminates all the costs of strengthening it. It is more expedient to build a stone pigsty based on bricks. The flooring is ordinary concrete. Given the insignificant growth of animals, there is no point in keeping Vietnamese piglets alone. The ideal condition is the presence of several pigs in one pen. When designing a pigsty, it is necessary to leave some space for manure removal.
Growing Vietnamese piglets is carried out in special cages equipped with a wooden platform. This action will prevent hypothermia of animals. It is advisable to think over the heating system in advance, young animals find it difficult to tolerate low temperature indicators. The optimum temperature in the room is about 20 degrees.
To increase the productivity of animals, experts recommend equipping a walking area. The Vietnamese breed is very mobile, it needs constant movement, regardless of the time of year. Pigs love to take mud baths, which is the basis of their comfortable living. Bathing in the mud cleanses the skin of annoying insects and saves from the heat.
According to experts, the best place for walking is an area with dense greenery and trees. Animals love to scratch on the bark, thereby eliminating discomfort. In the absence of grass and wood cover, logs are additionally installed on the walking area. This is quite enough for "scratching".
Finally, you need to take care of a place for swimming. It is advisable to dig a hole and fill it with water. For the Vietnamese breed, having a place to bathe is an important part of normal life.
Feeding
Proper care for Vietnamese piglets is to provide animals with not only optimal living conditions, but also high-quality feed. Young individuals have a good appetite. An important point in providing individuals with the necessary components is the frequent transition from one food to another. If the farmer encounters the presented breed for the first time, it is recommended to consult with the breeder.
In most cases, young animals prefer compound feed and grain waste. Important: Food is supplied exclusively raw. Animals are not picky, which facilitates the process of feeding and maintenance. An important advantage of the Vietnamese breed is speed dial weight.
Sows need additional feeding with swill with cake. Juveniles gain weight well when eating a concentrated type of feed. With the accumulation of kilograms, the animal is sent for slaughter.
It is noteworthy that the digestive system of piglets has its own characteristics. So, the size and diameter of the stomach of animals is insignificant, which requires constant feeding. Pigs should not be overfed, the total amount of daily food is divided into three meals of equal portions. Hay, fresh pumpkin and corn are suitable as complementary foods.
In the summer season, preference is given to green food, vegetables and fruits. Rough products must be excluded, it negatively affects the functioning of the digestive system. According to the information provided, it is forbidden to include beets and straw in the diet of a pig.
With the introduction of combined feed, it is advisable to mix it with bran and cereals. Vietnamese pigs prefer barley, rye and wheat. The farmer must take care of the balanced nutrition of the animal, this will protect it from unnecessary stress on the digestive system.
Breeding
When breeding Vietnamese piglets, experts do not recommend creating certain conditions. This breed is not picky, and is able to produce healthy offspring without additional exposure. Mating begins at the age of four months, the first farrowing is brought by about 5 individuals. Gradually their number increases, the maximum offspring is 10-20 piglets.
The sow's pregnancy lasts 3 months 3 weeks and 3 days. During this period, the pig does not need to create special living conditions. Her interesting position does not affect the overall well-being and activity. Immediately after the birth of offspring, experts recommend vaccinating Vietnamese piglets. This will allow their body to adapt to further life.
High animal fertility and short time pregnancy are of extraordinary interest to farmers. Raising and breeding pigs is becoming profitable business. The money spent on the acquisition of several individuals quickly pays off, bringing the owner to a good profit.
Reference. For high productivity, it is enough to provide the pigs with optimal living conditions. Not picky, omnivorous and good health, minimize many costs. All these criteria significantly increase the popularity of individuals among farming and agriculture.
Advantages and disadvantages of the breed
Each breed has its own advantages and disadvantages. Before you purchase the first individuals, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the main advantages. These include:
- soft and docile character;
- slowness;
- minimum living conditions;
- precocity (individuals quickly reach periods of puberty);
- ease of care;
- cleanliness;
- high resistance to diseases;
- developed maternal instinct, which excludes human help;
- tasty and tender meat.
There are also disadvantages, but they are so insignificant that they are practically unable to influence the choice of an experienced farmer. The disadvantages of the breed include rapid weight gain. If the diet of the animal is not followed, it will quickly become fat, which will increase the value of the meat and adversely affect its softness. Intensive nutrition enhances the growth of fat, while the fleshy part does not increase. On the one hand, this is a disadvantage, on the other - a real advantage.
Conclusion
Vietnamese piglets are an integral part of modern farming and agriculture. The absence of the need to create optimal conditions for existence increases their popularity. Pigs don't need special diet and independently raise offspring without human intervention. High protective functions organism, protect the breed from serious diseases, which simplifies the process of caring for them. The result of keeping the Vietnamese breed is tender meat and a significant cash gain.
Many residents living in the private sector have their own small business, doing agriculture.
Is content Vietnamese profitable?
It will be about what conditions to create for successful breeding of the breed, the correct maintenance and diet of this breed, for novice farmers.
In the last 15-20 years, on the territory of the Russian Federation, in individual summer cottages and peasant yards, Vietnamese bellies have become widespread.
The forage base is any type of herbs, root crops, pumpkin pulp.
The diet includes supplements and concentrates of animal origin.
Piglets should be fed twice a day.
It is forbidden to overeat this breed, since such a fattening option has Negative consequences, the structure of muscle and fat tissues. The productivity of the breed is also deteriorating.
The components of complementary foods in the winter include dry ears of cereals, fortified supplements. The remaining third is made up of acorns and cereals. In summer, it is better to graze animals on weed species of herbs.
Part of the diet in the summer is the leaves of shrubs, fruit droplets, vegetables, in the form of zucchini, pumpkin, duckweed. Approximately 1/5 part is cereals and waste from cereals. Screenings from various crops are ideal for food.
The finished product is much better than the Russian steppe breed, with fatty veins. The color scheme is not different, but even tastier.
The sebaceous layer 1.5-3.5 cm thick, softer, resembles a cut from the abdominal part of the meat breed, but more tender. The rib part contains, without veins and fat.
In agriculture, the following small breeds are recognized: Vietnamese and Korean.
Korean piglets grow and gain in weight faster than the Vietnamese breed.
There are also differences in appearance, the Korean breed has a wrinkled stigma structure, the Vietnamese have smooth stigmas, and narrow eyes.
There are some features in terms of fertility, Korean sows carry in a short time, considerable offspring can give birth from 10-25 pigs of this breed.
Females of both breeds have a well-developed maternal instinct and attentiveness. Good for growing at home.
Pork meat of small breeds is popular among farmers, not only due to the taste of the finished product, but also its value. It contains a minimum of cholesterol, is well absorbed by the body. In the restaurants of the world, it has long become a real delicacy, and a raw material for the preparation of hundreds of dishes.
Keeping Vietnamese piglets at home
The breed of Vietnamese piglets is popular among farmers and ordinary people involved in household breeding.
The high demand for breeding the Vietnamese breed lies in individual features.
Pigs have some characteristics characteristic of this breed.
Representatives have a weight - from 80-150 kg, depending on gender, have a flattened snout, small ears, have broad indicators, back and chest, squat body, covered with black bristles, sagging stomach.
- Build a good masonry room with a ventilation system in it, which will ensure systematic ventilation of the room, the flooring should be concrete, at the end of the room it is necessary to equip a rest area for piglets.
- The diet should be thought out, the pigs of this breed, unpretentious in food, can eat greens and vegetable crops, but do not forget the pigs should also be given fortified feed and supplements.
- Maintain cleanliness and drinking water, since the pigs of the Vietnamese breed are very ambitious, unlike their simple counterparts.
Room parameters
On the advice of breeders, up to 15 individuals can be accommodated in a camp with parameters of 3.0 x 3.0 m. The floor is padded. Be sure to make a system for the removal of wastewater.
The walls are upholstered with fiberboard, because during farrowing the females behave restlessly, disperse, and can injure themselves, ¾ of the enclosure is occupied by a platform, another ¼ part is occupied by a toilet. If the machine contains boars, then the machine is assigned to them up to 3 square meters. m. In the aisle from the machines, a distance is made for the passage of a wheelbarrow.
The optimum temperature for adults is 18-20 degrees Celsius. For small children in a separate place 30-32 C. It is recommended to use gas convectors or infrared heaters as heating.
An additional 10-20 acres are allocated for walking animals.
Is it profitable to keep a breed of Vietnamese piglets for sale?
It is profitable to feed small ones, provided that a person lives in a rural area with good buildings for household needs and feeds animals for individual consumption, since there is little meat from them, approximately 9-12 kg.
It can be estimated that there is no special benefit to hold, there is no sale.
By weight, they are similar to standard chicken and other birds, the peculiarity of the Vietnamese breed is that they are small, they will not grow larger, no matter how much you feed them.
The owner needs to take into account one more thing - cutting. The work is not easy, and in order to slaughter a pig, a person needs to pay a lot of money for his service, there is no benefit to the farmer.
Advice. You need to breed such a breed exclusively for your family, if you are engaged in independent slaughter of piglets.
How to properly feed the Vietnamese breed during the reproductive period
How quickly the signs of maturity will appear in representatives of this breed is inherently related to the correct diet and feeding.
Therefore, beginners should learn more about their features.
In summer, they should be fed 2 times, and in winter 3 times, as energy is consumed to maintain balance in the body.
It is difficult for small breeds to assimilate coarse feed, fiber, straw and is not recommended to be introduced into the diet of small breeds.
For food, it is advised to use mixed fodder and grain, or to make mixtures from other grain crops. The ideal culture for feeding piglets is barley, rye, wheat, it is possible to additionally add other crops to make a mixture.
A good addition to the main diet will be fruits, or any herb at the discretion of the owner. Give vegetables and fruits, as in raw foods, useful substances are preserved.
In the cold season, such a breed can do with store-bought food, saturated with various useful additives. These pigs, in addition to food, are given various fats and acids, which the body of young animals produces in small quantities. Useful preparations should be added to the feed every time, taking short breaks.
Buying market young should be noticed when buying:
- You can not buy young animals from an identical offspring.
- The farmer maintains a single reproductive male for a large number of females.
- Weight indicators of the piglet with which he appeared.
- Check the state of health by external examination of the parents of the pigs.
The main distinguishing feature is the similarity of representatives to the dog breed of pugs.
The young growth of the Vietnamese breed has a very active character, they are able to quickly adapt to the environment, so the born young should be kept with the expectation of some nuances. The environment and content must be good, so that the living creatures feel comfortable.
Pigs are neat, do not spoil coatings, do not emit a specific smell characteristic of simple ones.
In the room for keeping young animals, it is necessary to equip a wooden platform, a rest area for pigs, so that when it gets cold, the piglets do not get sick while in the home.
If the owner has not provided for all the conditions for the correct maintenance of pigs, then material will be required for additional insulation, and time to clean the home.
In a pigsty with young piglets, representatives should maintain a constant temperature regime of at least 18 degrees.
It is required to equip an additional place for walking.
This breed loves to play outdoors. It is necessary to graze piglets in warm weather on the street 2 times a day, in the afternoon and in the evening. Representatives who regularly walk have a high resistance to various diseases, an active character, and better productivity.
A hole should be made in the pasture and filled with water. This breed loves to take water treatments, as it cools their body, strengthens the immune system.
It is also necessary to have trees in this area, or dig in logs so that the pigs can clean the dirt from the bristles.
To ensure good productivity of young animals, you need to familiarize yourself with the conditions for the proper diet and maintenance of the Vietnamese piglets breed, on a monotonous diet and walking, the owner will not achieve high results in breeding:
- At birth, quick access to feeding should be provided, otherwise they die.
- To ensure successful growth and weight gain, preventive measures against infection with helminths should be systematically carried out.
- A male of reproductive age should weigh approximately 40 kg.
- These animals should be fed little by little, but often.
Pigs purchased for breeding are always a group of young animals, with two males. As individuals grow older, the most active and healthy is selected for reproduction, the rest are clogged.
When buying a breeding group, always take the advice of farmers with experience - choose females in one farm, males in another. Since closely related ties will give a defect in the offspring and a large number of culling.
The gestation period is about 116-120 days. There is a well-known statement that babies appear after 3 days, three weeks and three months.
Before childbirth, in about 48 hours, the behavior of the uterus changes, becomes more dynamic, colostrum is gradually released, and it refuses to eat. Before farrowing, the female warms up the litter, prepares hay (chews it) so that the young are more comfortable. Before farrowing, the farmer must remove the rubbish pen, change the hay, wash the dishes and change the drink in it.
The location of the future young animals is blocked in the room separately, heat exchangers are hung up to support constant temperature regime. If the birth goes without complications, then do not interfere, but qualified farmers with extensive experience say that it is always necessary to prepare sterile material, tools, disinfectants and treatments for young animals in advance.
It becomes easier for the future mother when the owner is with her, because the animals are very susceptible to the environment.
After the end of the process, apply to the mother for 40 minutes to obtain timely nutrition.
The young are wiped from the remnants of the placenta, the fontanel on the stomach is treated with disinfectants.
The treated representatives are settled in a corral for warming, attached to the mother for breastfeeding. For 1-2 day old piglets in the pen, it is necessary to maintain the temperature within 31-32 ° C. The remains of the placenta are collected and buried away from the pen so that the uterus does not eat it.
Important! In the nutrient fluid of the Vietnamese herbivorous pig, there are few trace elements, such as copper and iron. Therefore, solutions of preparations containing nutrients are administered intramuscularly.
Medications
The most popular preparations contain vitamin supplements, which can cause imbalance in the body (diarrhea and poor digestion of food). The use of some therapeutic agents is made with the permission of a qualified specialist.
It is not advisable to arbitrarily use drugs, since large dosages and incorrect handling of drugs can harm young animals.
Recommendation! If breeding offspring are selected, then for each piglet it is necessary to create a map, where the characteristics of the individual, weight, size, diseases, vaccinations, a number of other anatomical and individual characteristics. Such data must be updated every 7-10 days. It is easier for the owner to determine which individual is more active and will show good reproductive performance.
About the breed
- A famous Hollywood actor kept a Vietnamese pig as a pet.
- Males are sometimes used as a guard, in the summer cottage they are no worse than trained dogs (they are easily trained, they react negatively to strangers).
- The older the pig, the healthier her offspring.
- In some Asian countries, this breed has become a talisman of the hearth.
For a novice breeder or farmer, it is important to know ... Lop-eared piglets: precocity, immunity and ...
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