If Vietnamese piglets became the choice of a farmer for home breeding, weight by months, or rather, its increase, is the main issue of interest to the breeder. This breed has won many fans in the CIS countries, and therefore it is worth finding out how quickly the piglets grow and when they are sent for slaughter.
vietnamese pig
Features of the breed of pigs Vietnamese bellied
Russian farmers have long paid attention to the breed of pigs called Vietnamese bellied. She is from Southeast Asia. Its characteristics are black skin, a flattened muzzle, a wide back and chest, and a sagging belly. In adults, it often reaches the ground.
The discussed breed of pigs has a number of features that are at the same time its advantages:
- early maturation – four-month-old animals are already able to breed;
- pigs have strong immunity;
- meat has a pleasant taste and delicate texture;
- flabby females bring numerous offspring and have excellent maternal qualities;
- greens predominate in the diet of Asian pigs;
- clean animals.
Buying a piglet: what to look for?
Success in breeding bellied pigs directly depends on the quality of the acquired young. When buying piglets for fattening or breeding, you should make sure that they come from different litters. It is advisable to look at the female who gave birth to the baby, and ask the seller about the weight of the animal at birth and the dynamics of its growth by week.
Signs of a healthy pig:
- well developed muscles;
- strong limbs;
- wide skull;
- elastic body, shiny bristles;
- dry and clean cereals;
- shining eyes.
Attention! A healthy piglet is active and has an excellent appetite.
What to feed Vietnamese pigs for quick weight gain?
The digestive system of bellied pigs has a unique structure. Their stomach is smaller than that of other breeds, and their intestines are thinner. They cannot digest high fiber foods. What are the animals fed?
Feed for Vietnamese piglets
- compound feed;
- cereals and legumes;
- fresh herbs;
- bean hay;
- pumpkin;
- zucchini;
- apples.
Attention! Vietnamese piglets are given grain only in a steamed form, otherwise it is not digested.
Weight of Vietnamese piglets by months
Newborn babies weigh about 500 grams. If the body weight is much less than indicated, the chances of survival are low. Pigs are completely devoid of a layer of fat, so they are kept in a warm room.
In the first days of their lives, they feed only on mother’s milk. With proper feeding, pigs of this breed quickly gain weight. The peak of muscle mass gain falls on the period from 2 to 4 months.
1 месяц
From the 10th day after birth, complementary foods are introduced into the diet of babies in the form of soft milk porridges, eggs, and hay. In order to prevent the development of anemia, pigs are given iron injections, since they receive a small portion of this substance with mother’s milk.
The menu of piglets becomes diverse, vegetables, cereals and beans are added, so that they quickly gain weight. They still receive mother’s milk. At the age of one month, the body weight of babies increases by almost 8–10 times and reaches 4–5 kg.
2 month
When the piglets are one month old, their growth slows down a bit. Most farmers during this period are in no hurry to take their babies away from their mother, because her milk helps to strengthen the immune system. Now the menu of animals includes the same food that adults eat.
The weight of a Vietnamese pig at 2 months is 10 kg. This is the norm, which should be guided by, although there are deviations in one direction or another. If they are small, there is no cause for concern.
The weight of a Vietnamese pig at 2 months is 10 kg
3 month
At the age of 3 months, babies grow rapidly. At this time, hormonal changes occur, puberty begins. It is considered normal if the average daily weight gain during this period is 450-500 g. A three-month-old Vietnamese piglet weighs 15–20 kg.
Attention! When fattening for meat, young animals are introduced into the diet with mineral and vitamin supplements so that the animals are healthy.
From 4 to 7 months
At 4 months, the rate of weight gain is maximum. It is at this age that most farmers send young Vietnamese breeds for slaughter. The average weight of animals during this period is 32–35 kg. From the point of view of profitability, the further maintenance of pigs does not make sense.
Attention! After the slaughter of a four-month-old piglet, the net yield of meat is 75–80%.
The meat of young animals contains a small amount of fat, and there is almost no sebaceous layer in it. The product has a pleasant taste and a delicate texture. If the farmer’s goal is to get bacon, then the piglet continues to be fattened for some more time.
By 6 months, with intensive fattening, Vietnamese breed piglets accumulate a delicate fat layer. The weight of animals by this time reaches 50 kg.
From 7 months to a year
The body weight of a bellied pig at 7 months is approaching 60–70 kg. After six months, with intensive fattening, a sebaceous layer accumulates in animals. It is important to properly feed the piglet, reducing the proportion of corn in the diet to 10%.
From the age of seven months, the weight of the pig increases gradually, on average, by 10 kg in 30 days. The average daily weight gain is 300–350 g. The body weight of a one-year-old boar is usually 100–120 kg. Females are slightly smaller and weigh 90–100 kg.
Attention! Walking is very important for Vietnamese pigs. The more time they spend outdoors and move, the better their metabolism.
Adult weight
The body weight of the bellied pig after 2 years no longer increases
At 1,5–2 years, weight gain in a Vietnamese pig stops. Individuals left for breeding have a good appetite and consume 700 g of porridge per day. The average body weight at this age is close to 125 kg.
Attention! Sows lose weight after farrowing, but then quickly recover.
When is a Vietnamese pig slaughtered?
Owners of small private farms prefer to slaughter piglets of this breed when they enter the phase of active growth, at 4 months. At this point, the net yield of tender pulp is 75-80%, and the product itself has excellent taste.
In industrial pig breeding, the optimal time for slaughtering a bellied pig is considered to be the age of 7 months, when the piglet weighs 70–80 kg, and more with intensive fattening. Experienced farmers know that it makes no sense to feed the animal longer – in the future, the pig will accumulate fat, while the quality of the meat will decrease.
Fattening Vietnamese piglets for meat is a profitable undertaking. These animals grow rapidly and become sexually mature early. Another plus of the breed is high fertility. The female is able to bring a litter consisting of 10-16 cubs. Within 4-5 months, each piglet will reach lethal condition.
