I need information about the Vietnamese pig breed. Tips for breeding Vietnamese bellied pigs at home. The nuances of raising pigs as a business

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. In animals, puberty occurs early - 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 enclosure, 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, require 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.
clean output 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.

Kira Stoletova

Gained wide popularity today Vietnamese breed pigs. This is due to the fact that animals quickly gain weight and consume less feed than some other breeds. It is also worth noting that it is not difficult to care for pigs of this breed. Consider what features Vietnamese piglets have and how to properly organize nutrition and care in order to get maximum weight gain.

Appearance

Before talking about the features of the breed, its description and characteristics should be given. What do Vietnamese piglets look like? As for the exterior, Vietnamese pigs have a specific appearance, so it is not possible to confuse them with any other breed.

Overall animals are painted, as a rule, in black. The muzzle of the Vietnamese piglets is short, and erect ears are widely located on the head, which, to match the muzzle, are medium-sized. The Vietnamese bellied pig, thanks to its large body and short legs, looks stocky. The legs, despite their small size, are strong, the chest is wide. Lop-eared individuals are extremely rare.

As the pigs grow up, their belly begins to sag slightly. It is this feature of the structure of the animal that was displayed in the name of the breed. In boars, the belly sags more than in pigs. Sometimes skin folds almost touch the ground. At the same time, Vietnamese bellied pigs feel comfortable and lead a mobile lifestyle. Often they are more active than their relatives who do not have a pendulous belly.

Vietnamese bellied piglets look very funny. Maybe that's why some people buy them not for the purpose of obtaining meat and tallow products, but for the purpose of decorating their yard. When making such a purchase, it should be understood that the Vietnamese pig breed is gaining weight quickly. Within a few months, not a miniature piglet will run around the yard, but a large Vietnamese pig.

Occasionally there are marble and white colors. Some argue, based on their own experience, that piglets from marbled sows are stronger. But zootechnicians do not confirm this fact, arguing that piglets from a white, black and marble sow have the same health reserve.

Productivity

The breed of pigs Vietnamese bellied is not large-sized. The weight of an adult pig is on average 110 kg. The boar weighs about 130 kg. If we talk about the maximum performance, then the weight of the female does not exceed 140 kg. A boar can weigh 150 kg. This is a meat breed.

With proper care and nutrition, daily gains range from 350 to 500 g, and gilts reach puberty by 4 months. But experts recommend the first mating at the age of 7-8 months. At birth, Vietnamese piglets weigh about 500 g.

By the time of puberty, the weight of Vietnamese bellied piglets is 70-80 kg. With such indicators, it is possible to slaughter animals. Meat yield after slaughter exceeds 70%.

With regard to reproductive function, Vietnamese pigs have an average of 12 piglets. Sometimes there are 18 piglets in one litter. Accordingly, the cultivation of Vietnamese pigs can be considered as a small but very profitable business. In one year, a sow gives birth to about 24 piglets. If you follow all the norms of feeding Vietnamese piglets, and ensure good conditions content, the animals live up to 18 years.

Adult pigs are slaughtered at the age of 8 months. By this time, wild boars and pigs are gaining Weight Limit. Not everyone can kill a pig. The technology of slaughter at home is significantly different from how slaughter is done on a farm, being less humane. So that the animal does not suffer, it is better to invite a person who can kill him with one precise blow.

Breed advantages

Early maturity. Without talking about any particular breed, we can say that the average age of reaching puberty for these animals is 7 months. When breeding Vietnamese pigs, mating can be done as early as 4 months. If we talk about breeder reviews, then some pigs can be covered as early as 3 months.
Breeding Vietnamese piglets at home is simplified by the fact that the sows have a well-developed maternal instinct. Human intervention is rarely needed.
Also, raising Vietnamese piglets is simplified by the fact that they have good immunity - there is no need to do most vaccinations. It is worth noting that pigs quickly adapt to various conditions, so they can be kept in almost every region of our country.
The maintenance of Vietnamese piglets is cost-effective due to the fecundity of the pigs and the speed of growth. Piglets grow up in 7-8 months.
You won't have to think long about what to feed Vietnamese piglets at home. The basis of the diet is green fodder, which reduces costs during animal breeding.
Care for Vietnamese piglets is simplified by their cleanliness. Such piglets clearly separate the bedroom from the toilet, which is not typical for other breeds.

If we consider the features of Vietnamese pigs, then it is worth mentioning the taste of meat. It turns out juicy and delicate in taste. Many restaurants are willing to pay high prices for Vietnamese pig meat. Since the breed does not belong to greasy or universal, the layer of fat is small and does not exceed 7 cm. At the same time, palatability is highly valued.

When organizing the feeding of Vietnamese pigs, it should be taken into account that they eat little and often. How to feed Vietnamese pigs, we will talk in more detail later. It should also be noted here that in order to get the maximum weight gain, the issue of catering must be approached responsibly.

It is worth noting that all of the above conditions will manifest in small Vietnamese piglets only if you take a representative of a pure breed with good genetics, which is why it is so important to acquire healthy and thoroughbred young animals.

Breeding and caring for Vietnamese pigs is simplified by the fact that the animal cannot boast of large sizes. Accordingly, there is no need to build a large pigsty. Animals get along well in one machine, but you should not abuse this. Depending on the size of the machine, no more than 3-4 pigs are lodged there.

When breeding Vietnamese pigs, you need to properly equip the pigsty. From a hygiene point of view, floors should be made of concrete that is easy to clean. It is best to opt for a slotted floor design. There must be ebb for liquid litter. To simplify the care of animals as much as possible, the floor is made at a slight slope.

To prevent piglets of one month of age and adults from catching a cold, lying on a concrete floor, a wooden platform is equipped in each machine. Due to the cleanliness of the Vietnamese herbivorous pig, they will not shit on the platforms, so keeping them clean is not difficult. In the absence of wooden platforms, small Vietnamese pigs will have to lay a thick layer of straw on the floor. Yes, and in adults it will not be superfluous to make a thick litter to protect the livestock from colds. And this will complicate the care of bellied Vietnamese piglets.

Ventilation and heating

When breeding Vietnamese bellied pigs, one should take into account the fact that individuals are quite thermophilic. The air temperature should not fall below 15°C even in winter. And in a pigsty where Vietnamese piglets are kept for up to 6 months, it is advisable to maintain the temperature at the level of 20-22 ° C, therefore, in winter, a heating system should work in the pen for sows and young animals. These can be electric heaters, potbelly stoves or infrared lamps.

You also need to consider a ventilation system, during which there will be no drafts. It is necessary to ventilate the pigsty, according to existing standards, daily.

Walking area

To simplify the organization of food for Vietnamese piglets, it is advisable to enclose a walking area. It has also been confirmed by practice that if you take time for walks when breeding and caring for a Vietnamese pig, the pet will have better health.

Despite the fact that the weight of Vietnamese bellied pigs is small, they need a spacious area for walking. A certain area should be under a canopy where animals can hide from bad weather or the scorching sun. The dimensions of the canopy depend on how many Vietnamese piglets will have to fit under them.

Based on the characteristics of not only Vietnamese bellied pigs, but also other breeds, there should be a mud bath in the aviary. It is an ordinary shallow pit filled with water. It is not necessary to strengthen the walls of the pit or dig in a container, as is done for ducks. Pigs need a mud bath. In the absence of rain, the pit is filled with water on its own. It is advisable to equip it in the far corner of the aviary.

Often you can see a photo of the Vietnamese bellied pig, which rubs against the logs. This is one of the pigs' favorite pastimes, so several thick and strong logs are installed in the aviary. It is advisable to dig them into the ground.

Pigs should be let out for a short walk even in winter, if there is no severe frost outside.

Nutrition

The diet of Vietnamese piglets must be balanced. Many farmers follow the simplest path, fattening animals only with grass and hay. But, despite the fact that the breed is sometimes called a herbivore, it will not work to achieve maximum weight gain with such fattening. When feeding bellied Vietnamese piglets, cereals, legumes and root crops should be added to the diet.

The basis of the diet is really grass. In winter, animals are given hay instead of grass. In addition to green fodder, pigs are given wheat, barley and rye. Oats, which some farmers give along with other crops, should not be carried away. It promotes the accumulation of body fat. The same goes for corn.

The nutrition of Vietnamese bellied pigs has specific features that are due to the original structure of the gastrointestinal tract. Pigs do not digest roughage well. Also heavy for animals is food that contains a lot of fiber (fodder beets, for example). But the grass is absorbed very well. When harvesting hay for the winter, alfalfa and clover are preferred. Such hay will not be difficult for the body. You can introduce potatoes into the diet, but not raw. Tubers are pre-boiled.

Regardless of the conditions in which pigs live, they need mineral supplements. Even if they walk around the pasture all day, they will not be able to replenish the body with a supply of all minerals.

Feed use

In addition to green fodder, you can purchase special compound feed. But good food is quite expensive, so it is advisable to make it yourself. To prepare it, you will need barley, wheat, oats, peas and corn. The basis of compound feed is the first 2 components. They account for 70% of the total weight. The remaining components are taken in equal amounts (10% each).

Before preparing mixed feed, grain crops are crushed to a state of flour. It is advisable to give compound feed in the form of wet mash. This improves the taste of the meat. Fill the compound feed with milk, after adding a small amount of salt to it.

Diet

In addition to what should be fed to Vietnamese piglets, you need to know how to properly organize a diet. We feed the livestock twice a day in the summer. It is advisable to give food in the morning and evening. During the day, we release the animals to the pasture, where they will find something to eat on their own. In winter, due to the lack of grazing, we add a third meal to lunch.

Features of feeding pregnant pigs and piglets

The care and maintenance of Vietnamese pigs during pregnancy is somewhat complicated. Dairy products and eggs should be present in the diet during this period. Since a pregnant pig needs many nutrients, all feeds must be fortified. Livestock specialists recommend purchasing special vitamins. But before buying it is better to consult a veterinarian. The choice of vitamin complexes is influenced by many factors. First of all, the choice depends on whether the animal is walking or sitting locked up.

Newborn Vietnamese piglets do not need to be fed: they feed exclusively on mother's milk. Only if, for some reason, the mother's milk disappears, newborns are transferred to artificial feeding. It is impossible to unequivocally answer the question of how many days you need to introduce complementary foods. It all depends on the weight gained by the piglet.

In general, the first complementary foods are introduced at the age of 10 days (if the weight of the piglet has reached the mark of 1 kilogram). Clean water, crushed chalk are introduced into the diet, charcoal and clay. At the age of 20 days, if the weight of the piglet exceeds 1.5 kg, the maturing livestock is supplemented with porridge and special compound feed. New types of feed are introduced into the diet gradually so as not to cause indigestion in young animals.

In order to avoid health problems, complementary foods for piglets must be of high quality. The black piglet of this breed eats with great appetite. But more than the norm to give wet cereals is not worth it. It is best if females farrow in winter or spring.

Breeding

First of all, it is worth answering the question of whether Vietnamese pigs are profitable on the farm. The meat productivity of this breed is lower than that of many existing hybrids. However, this breed is one of the most precocious and very prolific. In addition, pigs economically consume food. The market price of the Vietnamese bellied pig is on average 70-100 US dollars. All factors together allow us to say that breeding the described pigs is indeed a profitable occupation.

Breeding and raising pigs of this breed is a simple task. In addition, piglets are relatively inexpensive. The main thing is to follow some rules. In numerous videos about breeding Vietnamese pigs, livestock specialists emphasize that the boar and the pig should not be relatives, otherwise there will be no viable and healthy offspring. Pigs are carefully selected for mating. Despite the early puberty, individuals whose weight has not reached 30 kg should not be covered. They will not be able to bear strong piglets. In addition, too early fertilization will adversely affect the health of the pig itself.

It is possible to determine that a pig is ready for mating by a number of signs. During sexual hunting, she behaves restlessly, from the genitals, which turn red and swell, discharge appears. When pressing on the croup, the animal ready for mating freezes and does not try to escape. During the sexual hunt, the breeding boar and the pig are placed in the same cage or paddock and kept there for 24 hours. Sexual hunting does not last long. In order for pregnancy to occur, it is important to plant a boar to the pig in a timely manner.

Pregnancy and childbirth

Pregnant pigs give birth 116 days after mating. This is the average duration of pregnancy. The pig bears well, complications are rare. The readiness of the pig for childbirth can be judged by the restless behavior of the woman in labor and the desire to build a nest. From the beginning of the arrangement of the nest, in which the pig carefully lays hay, until the onset of childbirth, a little less than a week passes.

Also, the fact that childbirth will soon come can be judged by the lowered belly, swollen nipples and formed milk lobes. Just before farrowing, small amounts of colostrum are secreted from the teats. Also at this time the animal does not eat. Childbirth lasts an average of 4 hours. The end of this process is the release of the placenta, which the sow should not eat. It is usually buried in the garden.

Vietnamese newborn piglets in the photo look unusually cute. In the first hour of life, you need to have time to cut the umbilical cord and properly treat the wound, clean the black piglets from films (especially in the respiratory tract), wipe and feed, attaching to the sow's nipples. If newborns do not receive colostrum within the first hour, this will negatively affect the formation of immunity.

At first, the pig itself takes care of the offspring. Using tables of correspondence between height and weight, they monitor how the piglets grow. At the age of 1 month, piglets are weaned from the sow. Weaning from the mother is carried out gradually: this will help prevent the appearance of mastitis in the pig. First, young animals should be separated from their mother several times a day for several hours, then young individuals are completely separated.

Prepare for childbirth in advance. They thoroughly clean the pen in which the pig will give birth, prepare a drinker with water, which should always be next to the woman in labor, prepare rags for wiping newborns, and in winter they think over the heating system in the pen where the sow will be with young animals.

Diseases

In general, growing pigs of this breed simply because of their strong immunity. However, with poor care or nutrition, native animals can get sick. Consider which diseases are most common, how they differ from each other and what treatment is best to use.

One of the most common diseases is erysipelas. Symptoms of the disease are falling to the feet, the appearance of purple spots on the skin and trembling. If untreated, the animal dies within a few days. It is transmitted by airborne droplets, so sick individuals are placed in a separate pen.

Often, erysipelas are confused with plague, as they have similar symptoms. But with plague, in addition to red, purple spots appear on the skin.

Dysentery is another dangerous disease. Its symptoms are loose stools with blood and fever.

Often after giving birth, the pig goes bald. This is due to the lack of iron in the body. In this case, you need to inject preparations containing this trace element.

Disease prevention

First of all, all necessary vaccinations should be done in a timely manner and the pig room should be kept clean. It is also necessary to systematically monitor the pigs. If it becomes noticeable that the growth of the piglet has stopped, its skin is flaking, it itches, or there are wounds that fester, turn sour eyes, you should consult a doctor. Any, even minor signs (the animal does not eat well, for example) indicate discomfort. We need to find out what caused it.

You also need to remember that pigs get worms from time to time, so you need to give drugs for helminths systematically according to the instructions, which also indicate the frequency of deworming with this medicine. It is advisable to puncture piglets with broad-spectrum antibiotics. But you can give only those drugs that will be prescribed by a qualified doctor.

Buying young animals

When breeding pigs of this breed, you need to purchase piglets. Today you can make this purchase even through the Internet. But experts advise you to go to a farm where qualified livestock specialists work.

When buying, you should ask to see all individuals. It is better to stop the choice on the most active piglets with a good appetite, without visible defects.

It will not be superfluous to look at the parents of the pigs. If there are deviations from the standards in their exterior, it is worth looking for other breeders. A specific feature of the representatives of this breed is a straight tail that does not twist into a donut and a short muzzle resembling that of a pug.

Before buying, it is advisable to show the young to the veterinarian, although the health of the pigs is carefully monitored on farms. As a rule, individuals already vaccinated against dangerous diseases are sold.

Before going shopping, the pigsty is properly prepared. Young animals need a warm room without drafts and with a normal level of humidity. Best suited for this breed is a building made of wood or brick. When purchasing young animals, they take into account the size of the pigsty: one adult should have 2.5-3 square meters. m.

You also need to consider that the breed needs large amounts of green fodder and daily walks. In the absence of pasture for walking, another breed should be looked after. According to current standards, one adult pig needs at least 1 acre of land. It is advisable to sow the land with forbs in the spring, which improves the taste of meat. First of all, it is alfalfa and clover. Young nettle also has a positive effect on the taste of meat.

Vietnamese bellied pigs in Russia have long ceased to be considered an exotic breed. Unpretentiousness to the conditions of detention and feed, high-quality meat is not the whole list of the advantages of these animals. Many pig farmers, having calculated the profitability of breeding Asian pigs and making sure quick payback give them their preference.

In the 80s of the last century, Asian herbivorous bellied pigs were brought to Canada and Europe. And although the breed is widespread in the countries of East and Southeast Asia, the name of the country from which the piglets were exported, the Vietnamese Potbellied Pig (Vietnamese Potbellied Pig, Vietnamese Potbelly Pig), is firmly entrenched in it.

Farmers who ventured into breeding a non-traditional breed for America and Europe quickly became convinced of the undoubted advantages of Asians over many familiar breeds of pigs.

Having received a significant profit in the first years, livestock breeders were actively engaged in selection aimed at effective acclimatization, increase in size, rapid increase in muscle mass, and improvement of the dietary and taste qualities of meat.

As a result of successful breeding work, the Vietnamese lop-bellied by the 2000s had spread throughout European countries, North and South America, Russia and reached Australia.

Important. It is sometimes erroneously assumed that there are two independent Asian breeds of herbivorous pigs - Korean and Vietnamese. However, these are representatives of the same breed group, formed in different climatic regions and having minor differences.

Characteristics and description of the breed with photos

Along with the famous Hungarian breeds of mangalitsa and brazier, Vietnamese lop-bellied pigs are herbivorous pigs. But unlike them, the breeding material of the Vietnamese is not considered elite and is much cheaper.

Herbivores also include several with the common name "mini-pigs", originating from Guinean pigs brought by slave traders to America. Guinea pigs fatten up a thick layer of fat, successfully gain weight on pasture, but they are small in size and are bred rather as decorative pets, especially valued for their unique ability - Guineans are not afraid and boldly exterminate snakes.

Vietnamese pigs have a characteristic, easily recognizable exterior:

the constitution characteristic of bacon breeds - short limbs, fleshy hams, a long arched back, a wide dumpy body, a voluminous sternum;
medium-sized "flattened" head, reminiscent of the muzzle of a pug;
in wild boars, fangs reach 15 cm in length;
extensive sagging belly in sows and gilts;
small erect ears;
the snout is collected with an accordion;
a bristle comb extends from the neck to the croup.

Important. The most common color is black or black with white spots on the head. Rarely white, marble, red striped piglets are born.

Vietnamese bellied pigs are characterized by a black color.

Breed productivity

Vietnamese pigs are not weight champions, which is offset by excellent taste and fast growth:

weight of a newborn boar 500-600 g, pigs 450-550 g;
the average weight of an adult boar is from 120 to 140 kg, but some specimens can gain up to 200 kg;
an adult pig weighs from 100 to 120 kg, the maximum recorded weight is 140 kg;
boars add 350-450 g per day, pigs 350-500 g each;
the optimal slaughter age is 7-8 months, upon reaching a live weight of 75-80 kg;
slaughter yield from 70% to 75%.

Features content

Vietnamese bellied pigs have gained popularity due to their unpretentiousness. Their content does not require much effort. Nevertheless, without a properly equipped pigsty, a well-designed diet, high-quality breeding material cannot be achieved with high profitability. Special attention should be given to the choice of the young.

The maintenance of Vietnamese bellied pigs does not require much effort.

Piglet's choice

Successful raising of pigs requires a thoughtful attitude when buying piglets.

First of all, pay attention to:

Piglet weight at birth and weight gain for every 10 days. According to the dynamics of weight gain, it is easy to determine the weight of the intended pet and its compliance with the specified age.
Appearance of the sow. With a monthly piglet weighing about 3.5 kg, a thinner parent will have clearly distinguishable milk lobes. In the absence of these signs, most likely, the proposed young is older.
physical data. Pedigree Vietnamese piglets have well-formed muscles, strong, widely spaced legs, a wide head with a pronounced bend in the bones of the nose, and an elastic, dense body. Under the tail of healthy pigs is clean and dry.
The condition of the coat and eyes. The coat should be even and smooth, the eyes should be shiny and lively.
Mobility, activity, interest in food.
Family ties purchased piglets. Breeding does not allow inbreeding - closely related crossing, leading to a deterioration in the pedigree qualities of the offspring, the birth of piglets with deformities. It is optimal to purchase pigs and boars in different places from different sellers.

A healthy piglet is active and well-fed, under the tail should be clean and dry.

Important. When buying piglets, you should find out about their usual diet. Young growth reacts badly to a sharp change in the composition of the feed.

Conditions of detention

For successful fattening and breeding of Vietnamese bellies, it is necessary to provide decent housing. The relatively small size of Asian pigs allows you to keep a fairly large number of animals in a small pigsty.

Best of all, Vietnamese pigs feel in a brick or cinder block pigsty with a concrete floor. The concrete floor greatly facilitates the observance of sanitary and hygienic standards, does not allow animals to tear and scatter the earth. To protect pigs from the winter cold and create comfortable sleeping conditions, about 2/3 of the floor area is insulated with wooden flooring.

The pigsty is partitioned into machines with an area of 4-4.5 m². Such "individual housing" is enough for two pigs or one boar. A sow with offspring will also be comfortable in such a pen.

Vietnamese bellied pigs are afraid of drafts, but need a constant supply of air. When designing a pigsty, you should think about creating a reliable ventilation system.

For two pigs, the Vietnamese folded belly requires 4-4.5 m² of area.

In addition, the room in the winter needs to be heated. Severe frosts can kill Asian pigs, especially young and post farrowing sows.

Organization of walking pigs

From spring to autumn, bellied pigs need space for walking. The walking area is equipped with a canopy to protect it from rain and overheating in the heat, drinkers, shallow pits for taking mud baths, dug in logs so that the pigs can itch.

In animals deprived of walks, the rate of weight gain decreases, muscles develop poorly, hooves are deformed, signs of beriberi may appear:

deterioration of the condition of the coat;
dry skin;
profuse lacrimation, diseases of the cornea of the eyes;
unsteady, uncoordinated movements.

A lack of vitamin A can lead to miscarriages in sows, sperm degeneration in boars, and poor growth in young animals.

Feeding and necessary diet

One of the main advantages of the breed is the low cost of purchasing feed.

In summer, 80% of the menu consists of pasture and various natural supplements: grass, fresh shoots of trees and shrubs, fallen fruits, root crops and vegetables.

Vietnamese bellied pigs are happy to eat fresh fruits and vegetables.

The remaining 20% of the diet consists of grain feed in the form of bran and flour. The daily consumption of grain per head is 300-400 g. If possible, part of the grain feed can be replaced with acorns, chestnuts.

In winter, the consumption of grain feed is increased up to 30%. The green mass is compensated with hay, straw, peas, ground corn stalks and cobs, fodder beets, boiled potatoes, and food waste.

In the preparation of grain mixtures, preference is given to wheat, barley, rye. Excessive content of corn and oats in feed leads to the formation of excess fat, which significantly reduces the value of meat.

But wet mixtures of concentrated feed or compound feed with the addition of fish oil, a small amount of salt, vitamin supplements (Kalfostonik, Chiktonik), premixes (Prelak) improve product quality.

Important. Vitamin supplements from pumpkin, zucchini, clover hay, alfalfa, amaranth, legumes are especially useful for Vietnamese bellied pigs.

In conditions of small farming it is quite possible to breed Vietnamese lop-bellied not only for fattening, but also for growing high-quality breeding material.

The breed is characterized by early puberty. Pigs are ready for the first mating at 4 months, gaining a weight of 30-35 kg. Boars ripen by 6 months, having a weight of at least 30 kg.

It is easy to determine the onset of puberty by the following signs:

pigs are excited, show anxiety;
genital loop swells and turns red;
characteristic discharge appears;
when pressing on the croup, the animal calms down, remains in place.

Many farmers are breeding Vietnamese bellied pigs.

For mating, a wild boar is launched to the pigs for a day. With successful mating, the pregnancy of pigs (pregnancy) lasts 114-117 days.

A sow at a time can bring from 12 to 18 piglets. On average, a pig produces 24 cubs per year.

The behavior of a pregnant pig of the Vietnamese breed is calm, not hysterical. 5-6 days before giving birth, a pregnant pig begins to chew and crush the litter - to equip a nest. During this period, the milk lobes are formed, the nipples turn red, increase in size, the abdomen noticeably drops.

The imminent approach of childbirth is indicated by the refusal of food, the secretion of colostrum from the mammary glands.

For successful farrowing:

the machine is thoroughly cleaned;
hay litter is changed to a new one;
drinking bowls are filled with clean water;
prepare the necessary medical instruments: scissors, thread, gauze, cotton wool, iodine solution, clean rags or special diapers for wiping newborns;
for babies, a special room is prepared with a temperature of at least 30-32 ° C;
immediately after birth, the umbilical cord is cut and the wound is treated with an iodine solution;
from newborns, the amniotic sac and mucus are carefully removed, wiped, and the airways (nose, larynx) are cleaned;
necessarily give colostrum;
the released placenta is removed from the nest.

Before farrowing, the pig crushes the litter - prepares the nest.

Care of newborn piglets

Loose-bellied pigs are devoted and caring mothers. But the feeding of piglets in the first day must be carefully monitored. It should be ensured that on the first day all babies have the opportunity to suck their mother's milk every quarter of an hour.

To prevent the occurrence of anemia on the 3rd and 10th day, iron-containing preparations (Ferroselenite, Urosoferran-10) are administered intramuscularly to piglets.

On the 10th day after birth, it is time to add bait:

from the 10th to the 20th day, chalk powder, clay, charcoal, pure water are used as additives to mother's milk;
from the 20th to the 30th day, fortified porridge, a special granulated feed for piglets, is introduced into the diet.

Monthly pigs begin to wean from mother's milk, gradually adding adult food to the menu. The transition to a new diet should last several days, during which the body of the babies adapts, and the mother does not have a threat of mastitis.

On the 40th day, it is desirable to vaccinate babies against helminths.

Loose-bellied pigs are devoted and caring mothers.

Disease and health of pigs

Pigs have innate immunity, perfectly acclimatize to harsh climatic conditions. Subject to the basic rules of maintenance and a balanced diet, they are practically not susceptible to diseases.

Troubles are delivered by helminths, to get rid of which animals are given a subcutaneous injection of Ecomectin (Ivermiktin) every 4 months, or the drug Albendozol (Fonbendazole) is added to food.

With a quick transfer to new feeds, an intestinal disorder is manifested, which can be eliminated at home with Smecta or Biovitt.

Breed Benefits

In addition to the obvious advantages - cost-effectiveness in the use of feed, early maturity, fertility, unpretentiousness, excellent health, the breed has several unique features:

Vietnamese pigs are non-confrontational, clean, excellent mothers.

genetically inherent ability to recognize poisonous plants;
innate love for cleanliness (Vietnamese pigs never defecate in a sleeping place, do not tend to destroy floors, undermine the roots of bushes and trees);
imperturbable, conflict-free character;
lack of a specific smell in the pigsty;
fast acclimatization, adaptation;
unlike many breeds of pigs, Vietnamese pigs never eat newborns;
high milk content, facilitating the feeding of piglets;
affordable price for breeding young animals, unlike other bacon breeds, in particular barbecues;
high return on content.

Important. Due to their friendliness, high intelligence, ability to train, Vietnamese bellies are kept not only for breeding and fattening, but also as pet companions.

The taste of Vietnamese bellied meat

The taste and dietary qualities of the meat of Vietnamese bellied pigs are superior in some respects to those of other bacon breeds:

100 kg animal carcass contains up to 65% meat and 25% fat;
the color of the meat is light pink, light cream when roasted;
layers of fat are thin, uniform;
the thickness of fat and lard is not more than 3-3.5 cm;
delicate, delicate taste;
juiciness;
low cholesterol content, 7 times less than in the meat of traditional European breeds of bacon and meat;
meat is suitable for frying, grilling, barbecue, boiling, baking, smoking, salting;
the meat of Vietnamese bellied pigs is classified as a delicacy.

Vietnamese bellied pigs have excellent meat qualities.

Among all breeds, Vietnamese bellied pigs stand out, prone to rapid weight gain, making them the easiest. Breeding pigs provides the owner with a supply of meat.

The history of the breed

The name of the breed is the result of a historical error. Vietnamese pigs originated in Southeast Asia. But they came to Europe from Vietnam in 1985, so the breed began to be called Vietnamese. Vietnamese pigs were brought to Russia recently.

The work to improve the breed is not over. It is especially active in Ukraine, Hungary and Canada.

The full correct name of the breed is the Asian herbivorous lop-bellied pig.

Many confuse representatives of this species with Korean pigs, or believe that Vietnamese and Chinese are the same animals. In fact, Chinese pigs are popular decorative mini-pigs. Despite the huge external differences, they are really relatives of the Vietnamese folded belly.

Description and characteristics of Vietnamese pigs

Vietnamese pigs are large animals. In adulthood, an individual should weigh from 80 to 100 kilograms. Tribal representatives of the breed can weigh up to 150 kilograms. The pig gains mass during the first 5 years of life with high speed. But gradually this process slows down. In wild boars, fangs begin to grow at 6 months, and reach 10-15 centimeters.

Representatives of this breed do not differ in the variability of colors. They can be:

black (mostly common colors);
black and white.

A noticeable external difference between the Vietnamese breed and others is the drooping belly. It manifests itself from the first month of life.

According to the structure of the body, the animals are low, on short, even, strong legs, the shoulders and chest are wide, the head is large, with small erect ears, the muzzle is flattened, the patch is with folds.

Advantages and disadvantages of breeding Vietnamese pigs

The Vietnamese Fold is one of the most popular pig breeds for a reason. A number of advantages contributed to this:

Rapid weight gain. Already in 7-8 months, representatives of this breed reach 80 kilograms.
Early puberty. Females at 4 months are able to give birth, and in boars, the instinct for procreation wakes up at six months.
Fertility. A female can give birth to 5 to 20 piglets, and produce offspring twice in a year.
Ease of reproduction. Vietnamese Loose Belly sows are caring mothers who do not attack their piglets, unlike representatives of other breeds.
Herbivore. This feature makes it easier for farmers to feed the animals.
High immunity. Diseases inherent in pigs do not affect Vietnamese lop-bellies, so they do not need to be vaccinated.
Memory for poisonous plants. The animal remembers what food harmed it and passes this knowledge through the genes to the next generations.
Cleanliness. Pigs of this breed always relieve themselves in the same place, away from the sleeping and feeding area.
Unpretentiousness to climatic changes. The breed easily tolerates extreme heat and cold.
Peacefulness. Vietnamese pigs are non-aggressive, friendly, do not eat their piglets, do not bite, do not squeal, and are even capable of training.
There is no unpleasant smell.
Valuable meat. It is very gentle, with a low level of harmful cholesterol.

There are few downsides to the breed. These include:

Susceptibility of animals to helminths.
For Vietnamese pigs, drafts in the pigsty are of particular danger.

How to choose piglets?

There are a number of rules, adhering to which, you can acquire healthy and strong piglets with Vietnamese bellies:

Get piglets at the age of 1 month, then they will quickly and easily get used to the new environment.
Find out from the breeder the weight of the baby at birth and the dynamics of weight gain.
Ask to show the parents of the piglet, the qualities of the offspring are determined by their appearance. Pay special attention to the sow, she should be thinner and with sagging milk lobes. This is a sign that her piglets are about a month old.
The cub itself should have strong legs, pronounced muscles and a sagging abdomen.
For brood, do not purchase piglets from the same farrowing and from parents-relatives. Their offspring will be sickly and deviant.
Pay attention to the mood of the little pigs. In good health, they will wag their tails and actively play.
When buying, ask the owner what kind of feed he gave to the piglets. It will be possible to transfer young pigs to any other food, but gradually, in order to avoid stool disorder.

Vietnamese bellied pigs are unpretentious, but if you plan a long-term breeding of this breed, then it is better to carefully prepare. To start building a pigsty:

It should be strong and without cracks. It is better to make windows higher than the height of the pigs so that the air circulates, but does not blow through the animals. The best material for a pigsty is brick.
The floor should preferably be filled with concrete. This will make cleaning up after the pigs much easier.
The pigsty is divided by wooden partitions into machines. “Vietnamese” are small in stature, so they need small departments.
In departments wooden floorings for a dream are put.
Heating is recommended. This breed tolerates frost, but will gain weight worse. For a farrowing female and offspring, low temperatures can be fatal.

Vietnamese pigs go out all year round. Therefore, they need an aviary. It should be fenced, with a canopy under which animals can hide from heat and bad weather. It is recommended to dig in some unhewn logs that they will itch against and make a mud pool. Thanks to him, the pigs will be able to cool off in the heat and drive away annoying insects. The pool water needs to be changed at least once a week.

Feeding, products

Many inexperienced farmers, having learned that Vietnamese bellied herbivores, feed them with one pasture. Pigs do survive with this method of feeding, but the desired weight gain will not be.

In addition to natural grazing, which guarantees fresh grass in the diet, it is worth providing the “flip flops” with:

clover and alfalfa hay;
fresh zucchini, pumpkin, carrots, apples;
boiled potatoes;
vitamin supplements.

Representatives of this breed are well fattened with a grain feed mixture consisting of barley and wheat ground into flour. You can add a little legumes, oats and corn to it, but not more than 10% of the total mass. Otherwise, they will cause excessive fat formation.

The taste of the meat is improved if the pigs are fed wet food. To prepare it, the grain mixture with the addition of 5-10 grams of salt is steamed with boiling water.

Sows should be given milk, eggs, whey, fish oil and vitamins. Additives are introduced into the cooled cereal porridge.

Vietnamese bellied pigs have a small stomach and intestinal diameter, so they are not suitable for food:

coarse feed;
straw;
fodder beet;
foods high in fiber;
an abundance of corn, oats and peas in the feed.

When caring for this breed, it is necessary to regularly give helminth preparations.

reproduction

The most important thing in breeding lop-bellied pigs is not to let the boar cover your relative. The offspring will be sick, poorly gaining weight and possibly infertile. To prevent this, you need to know the signs of readiness for mating in the female:

anxiety and nervousness;
swelling of the genital loop;
there is a discharge from the genitals;
freezing in place with pressure on the croup.

Although females reach puberty at 4 months, and in some cases even earlier, they need to be knitted only when they have gained sufficient weight - 32-35 kilograms. Otherwise, the offspring will be frail, and the sow may not tolerate gestation and childbirth.

A pregnant female bears piglets for 114-118 days. In the first farrow she will give birth to about 5 babies. Further, on average, 10-12, but their number can reach 20 pieces.

5-6 days before giving birth, the female will begin to worry and make a nest of straw or hay. If the stomach sank, and colostrum appeared on the nipples, then farrowing will occur in the next 10-20 hours. You need to prepare for it:

Clean the machine, put fresh hay.
Fence off and insulate a place for piglets. In the first days, babies should be kept at a temperature of at least +20 degrees Celsius, and preferably at +30-32 degrees.
Increase the overall heating of the pigsty.
Make sure that the female always has pure water. She will not feed on the day of birth.

Many do not interfere in the birth process and do not touch the piglets for the first days. But this can result in the death of the cubs, especially during the first farrowing of the female. Babies are born very hungry, and if the sow does not have colostrum in advance or soon after farrowing, then they may die. Therefore, for the birth itself, you need to prepare in advance:

backup option for feeding newborn piglets;
diapers for wiping and wrapping;
a clean flannel cloth to clear the eyes and airways of mucus;
disinfectant (for example, chlorhexidine solution);
scissors and thread to sew up the umbilical cord;
iodine and cotton wool for cauterization of the wound.

The birth of a Vietnamese sow lasts from 3 to 5 hours. The end of the process is indicated by the exit of the placenta.

Raising offspring

Pigs are surrounded by mother's care, her milk gives them all the necessary substances for the first days of life. But strong babies can push weaker ones away from the nipples, this needs to be monitored, and everyone should be helped to access nutrition.

There is no iron in sow's milk. This often leads to anemia in piglets. Therefore, they are injected into the muscles of iron-containing preparations for animals, the dosage and number of injections are according to the instructions.

Additives are introduced into the diet for a week-old offspring:

charcoal;
calcium;
phosphorus.

On the tenth day they are provided with a drinking bowl with clean water, by this time the weight of each baby should be at least 1 kilogram. On the twentieth day, porridge from feed with vitamins is introduced into the diet. A monthly pig is already being fed adult food. At this age, he weighs 3 kilograms and can be sold.

Weaning from breastfeeding should not be one day, but gradually, offering babies an alternative to milk. Otherwise, the piglets will have a food disorder, and the sow will have mastitis.

At the age of 40 days, anthelmintic procedures can be performed with piglets. For example, give the drug Brovadazole.

Breeding Vietnamese pigs as a business

The cost of a Vietnamese piglet pig is 3,000 rubles, and an adult is 8,000 rubles. For breeding, it is enough to buy 2 females and 1 wild boar.

Vietnamese piglets attract the attention of livestock breeders due to their small size, precocity and unpretentiousness in growing. They have become an excellent alternative for those farmers who do not want to raise ordinary large white pigs on their farms, or for livestock breeders who want to provide their families with a supply of fat and meat without incurring high costs.

Story

Vietnamese bellied piglets were first bred in southeast Asia. Only in 1985 did they become widespread in other countries and on other continents. Pigs got their name due to the fact that they were imported to other continents from Vietnam. The animals found their fans very quickly, because in a short period of time they were already known not only in Europe, but also in distant America.

To date, the work of scientists to improve the breed continues. They set out to improve the productivity of piglets, increase their size, increase the percentage of muscle mass. The Vietnamese lop-bellied pig came to Russia relatively recently. Due to inexperience and lack of knowledge among farmers, rumors began to spread that several breeds of Asian animals were grown in our country. However, it turned out to be one variety. A little later, it became known about another dwarf breed, which began to be used as an ornamental animal and called a mini pig.

External distinguishing features

Characteristic external features make it possible not to confuse Vietnamese piglets with other breeds. They began to be called bellied bellies due to the fact that already in one month old Piggy's tummy sags. In adult gilts, the belly may touch the ground. Their colors can be varied, but most often spotted and pitch black individuals are found.

vietnamese piglets

Loose-bellied black piglets may differ in an unusual, slightly flattened shape of the muzzle. They have a very wide back and short legs, so adult pigs can grow large, but at the same time undersized. Boars have a dense coat of bristles. There are lop-eared black piglets, although most often their ears are small. Vietnamese pigs are famous for their ability to quickly gain weight, which averages up to 80 kg. However, if the owner decides to feed the pet longer and creates the right diet for him, then the weight of the animal can reach 150 kg.

How to feed Vietnamese piglets

The main mistake of inexperienced farmers is that they try to organize feeding and create a diet for Vietnamese pigs the same as for ordinary whites. However, marbled Vietnamese piglets eat not only other foods, but also with a different frequency of meals. They need to be constantly fed throughout the day, and not limited to two meals a day. Vietnamese pigs have a stomach much smaller than that of a normal white pig, so their food is digested faster.

Black piglets (Vietnamese fold-bellied breed) are a herbivore representative of the animal world, therefore the owner must plan their diet exclusively from plant products.

They are fed:

corn;
hay;
pumpkin;
apples;
pears;
zucchini;
forbs.

Beets and straw should not be given to Vietnamese pigs. They prefer fresh hay. The new menu should be designed taking into account the time of year and the availability of food.

Attention! It is impossible to use only pasture for feeding Vietnamese pigs, their diet must include compound feed.

If ultimate goal keeping the animal is getting bacon, then it should not be overfed. The ideal weight for such piglets is about 100 kg, they gain it in about 9 months. For individuals grown primarily for meat, the content of barley and corn in the diet should not exceed 10%.

How to feed Vietnamese piglets

Breeding Vietnamese piglets

Fertilization and farrowing in Vietnamese piglets take place without much difficulty. Sexual maturity of females occurs 4 months after their birth. The beginning of their hunting becomes obvious by restless behavior, refusal to eat. Vietnamese piglets get sick very rarely, so such symptoms are a sign that it is time to let the pig to the boar. Also, in females, the genital loop swells, and characteristic discharge appears. However, these indications may turn out to be false. To check whether reproduction can be carried out, it is worth leaning lightly on the croup. If the pig stands calmly and motionless, then it is definitely on the hunt and ready for fertilization, otherwise it will take some more time.

Attention! Close relatives should not be allowed to mate.

During farrowing, it is advisable for the owner to monitor the process so that there are no undesirable complications. At the ready, you should keep iodine, threads, cotton wool and scissors, so that if necessary you can cut the umbilical cord. The first signs of an imminent farrowing of a Vietnamese pig are restless behavior, a lowered belly, and formed milk lobes. By the time of birth, the room should be cleaned, only hay and water are left in the pigsty. A newborn pig requires additional attention, they wipe their mouth and snout from the accumulated mucus, and also make sure that each of the cubs receives a portion of colostrum during the first hour of life.

Breeding Vietnamese piglets is easy, profitable and even exciting. From one farrowing, up to 10 babies are obtained, gradually this figure can increase, and at a time the pig already brings 12 pigs. One female per year is able to do 2 farrowing.

Vietnamese piglet care

Caring for Vietnamese piglets involves, first of all, arranging a pigsty. Since animals grow small in size, even in small room You can keep several adults. How many pigs fit in a particular area depends on their age and size.

The barn is built both brick and wooden. To simplify the cleaning process, the floor can be concreted by covering the pigsty in a separate part of it with boardwalk so that the pets do not freeze. It is advisable to divide a large room into pens, in each of which to place several pigs. It will also make it possible to place separately sows and their offspring.

Vietnamese piglet care

Between the partitions it is worth building a passage so that it is convenient to distribute food and carry out cleaning. The room is well ventilated to prevent oxygen deficiency. In the cold season, the optimum temperature must be maintained so that the piglets do not get cold. This is especially true if a recently farrowed pig lives in a pigsty, which is undesirable to lie on a cold floor or in a cold room.

There is a recommendation from experienced pig breeders to release Vietnamese pigs in the summer to give them the opportunity to graze. Also, this breed of piglets is very fond of taking mud baths, which also needs to be taken into account by the owners. In hot and dry weather, this is required both for cooling and for repelling blood-sucking insects. Such conditions for growing animals are often created in the conditions of the middle zone (Volgograd, Moscow, Kursk regions, Moscow and the region).

So that an adult domestic boar does not come hunting every month, it is recommended to castrate it. This is done only if the individual is grown for slaughter. This is very important condition Since the castrated boar becomes less aggressive, the meat obtained from it is devoid of an unpleasant odor. Castration of animals is carried out at the age of 1.5 months.

Advantages and disadvantages of the breed

Like any other breed, Vietnamese piglets have their advantages and disadvantages.

The list of benefits is quite impressive:

They quickly gain weight and become sexually mature. Boars are ready for mating at the age of 6 months, and domestic pigs - already at 4 months.
Growing and propagating does not require much hassle. Females do an excellent job of caring for offspring, so the owner requires a minimum of effort.
They have excellent immunity. Vietnamese piglets almost do not get sick and do not need numerous vaccinations and vaccinations, they easily adapt to various climatic conditions.
From the Vietnamese breeds of piglets, very tasty and tender lard and meat are obtained, and the carcasses are cut quickly and easily.
Female Vietnamese piglets have increased fecundity and give birth to up to 12 cubs at a time.
The pig has genetic memory and does not eat poisonous plants.
Vietnamese piglets feed exclusively on plant foods, which significantly reduces feed costs.
Pigs are very clean and organize a sleeping place and a toilet in different parts of the barn.

The disadvantages of Vietnamese piglets are very subjective and are determined by the owners individually. Some are skeptical about the color of the animal, others are not satisfied with the small size or a thin layer of fat. However, in comparison with the advantages, these shortcomings are not so important. Many farmers happily turn a blind eye to them and continue to raise Vietnamese pigs on their farms.

With a responsible approach, pig farming will help not only provide your own family with lard and meat, but also organize a business, make a profit from the sale of surplus. In just a couple of years of keeping Vietnamese piglets, you can significantly increase the livestock. They do not require much attention to themselves, eat plant foods, and rarely get sick. Even a novice livestock breeder can cope with the cultivation of Vietnamese pigs.