Ukrainian steppe white. Large white pig: overview of the breed, its characteristics and photo gallery

This breed of pigs was bred to make the animals feel comfortable in the harsh conditions of the steppe zone. Therefore, Ukrainian steppe white pigs are mainly distributed in the south of Ukraine and Russia, as well as in countries such as Armenia, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan. This breed of pig was developed by Academician M.F. Ivanov. After lengthy experiments and experiments, in 1934 the Ukrainian steppe white breed of pigs was approved as a separate species.

The main task that the scientist set for himself was to breed a breed that would be highly productive and also tolerate arid climatic conditions well. To develop the breed, the academician crossed local breeds of pigs with boars of the large white breed. As a result, the task was completely completed, so the Ukrainian breed of pigs took root well in areas with a dry and hot climate. Therefore, we can say that the merit of Academician Ivanov in the field of agriculture is very great.

Description

This type of pig is universal, since it belongs to both the fat and meat areas of productivity. Due to its unpretentiousness in nutrition and living conditions, you can easily achieve excellent results without making much effort and without spending a lot of resources. Animals have a high degree of digestibility of feed, which is poor in nutrients.

As for the appearance of Ukrainian steppe white pigs, they are quite large in size and have a strong body constitution. Due to their rough bones, pigs look large and massive. The animals also have strong legs and large hams corresponding to their body size. The skin of animals is quite dense, with thick and hard bristles on top. An adult male can weigh up to 350 kilograms, the female is smaller in size, but also large. Its weight ranges from 230 to 260 kilograms. If we take into account the ratio of meat and lard to the total mass of the carcass, then more than half of the meat is contained (52-54%), and lard - up to 36%. At the same time, both meat and lard have a delicate taste and are highly valued among pork lovers.

As for the offspring, a sow can produce an average of 10-12 piglets in one farrow. Piglets gain weight quite quickly, and by seven months their weight can reach one hundred kilograms.

Advantages and disadvantages of the breed

Like any other breed, Ukrainian steppe white pigs have their pros and cons. The advantages of the breed include:

Good productivity;
Fast ripening;
Good tolerance to hot and dry climate conditions;
Strong and powerful body constitution.

Conditions for keeping and feeding the breed

We have already mentioned that this breed is absolutely unpretentious to living conditions and food. Therefore, it is popular among many farmers. After all, you can get great results for little money.

As for feeding, completely different products can be used as food. Pigs gain weight well if they are fed with combined cereal feeds. If possible, you can feed your pigs fresh grass, which contains many essential vitamins and minerals. It is also possible to graze pigs in areas with good vegetation. This way, the animals will find plenty of food for themselves. In order for the sow to produce healthy offspring, she must be given succulent feed in large quantities.

The living conditions for pigs are also absolutely unpretentious, since the animals tolerate any climatic conditions well. To raise pigs of the Ukrainian steppe white breed, it is enough to equip a fenced pen for walking, as well as a pigsty in which they will winter. In order to avoid diseases and infections, the pigsty must be regularly ventilated. This activity should be taken with special responsibility during the cold season, when pigs spend little time outdoors. Drafts should be avoided, especially if there are piglets under four months of age in the pigsty. It is at this age that they are very prone to various diseases.

In the pigsty it is necessary to constantly clean, change the bedding, clean the feeders and drinkers. Food and water should always be fresh and clean. This is an important precaution to avoid intestinal infections.

Ukrainian Steppe White pigs are mainly bred to produce large quantities of meat and lard. This species is also popular among people who are breeding new breeds of pigs. After all, this breed is an excellent basis for obtaining productive species of animals.

Pigs of the Ukrainian steppe white variety, due to their own productivity characteristics, belong to the meat-fat or universal direction. As you know, the territories of southern Ukraine, where pigs are most common, are quite arid, but such terrain conditions are excellent for the variety. It is also known that pets have a high level of resistance and can quickly adapt and acclimatize. Representatives of this breed do not require special housing conditions. Pigs also have the ability to quickly digest any feed, even those that contain a minimal amount of nutrients. If we compare this variety with representatives of purebred large white pigs, then the Ukrainian steppe whites are rougher and are significantly superior in living in the arid territories of southern Ukraine, which is quite a big difference.

Initially, before breeding the presented variety, a special purpose was created. The new breed was required to have a high level of adaptability to living in arid areas. Because the steppe regions of Ukraine are quite favorable for further breeding of pigs, they have excellent conditions for the development of pig farming, but, unfortunately, there were no pigs that could adapt well and feel comfortable in these areas. Many experiments have been carried out in such regions. Local pig breeders each time tried to somehow develop pig breeding, but no matter what foreign cultural varieties were brought to the dry territories, the pets could not adapt and adapt, and the local varieties were late-ripening, and this is a rather disadvantageous disadvantage.

A livestock specialist by profession, Mikhail Fedorovich Ivanov, set before breeding a variety certain characteristics that future representatives should have. The target characteristics included: a high level of endurance and productivity, and the main difference was the ability to quickly adapt to the southern conditions of Ukraine. The main task of adaptation, ultimately, was to match the ability of local pigs to adapt.

It is known that with the help of reproductive crossing one can achieve the desired final result, only the process takes quite a long time, which cannot be said about how the revival of the Ukrainian steppe white variety took place. It took only eight years to develop the presented breed (from 1926 to 1934). The initially set goal was achieved using the method of reproductive crossing of sows that lived in local territories and boars of the large white variety.

The successfully bred Ukrainian variety has high productive qualities. Thus, an adult male representative has a live weight of 330-350 kg (the highest result in the weight category of boars is 423 kg). In turn, a mature female representative weighs approximately 225-260 kg (the record holder has 368 kg of live weight). The body length of boars is on average 175-190 cm (maximum length 215 cm), and the body length of sows is 160-170 (maximum body length is 186 cm). One of the advantages of the variety is the high level of reproductive ability in males, as well as multiple births in females. Practice has shown that in one farrow a mother pig gives life to twelve to twenty piglets, which is extremely rare. The milk production of a sow, which is true, does not correspond to the number of newborns, only 55-65 kg (higher milk production numbers are rare).

The creator of the presented variety, M.F. Ivanov, after the successful results of the created breed, created a certain technique, which is still highly valued among the breed formation of our country. To a large extent, animal husbandry methods have become successful enterprises in production. That is, there are certain rules for breeding pigs, which contribute to certain characteristics in the results. So, let's consider a well-known technique.

Firstly, in order to accumulate a sufficient number of local young representatives and increase them, it is necessary to perform the following actions:

To cross, using the method of reproductive crossing, the best representatives of sows from first-generation crosses with sires of the cultivated variety.
Of these, carefully select the best representatives who meet the goal. Strictly reject those pets that do not meet all the necessary requirements.
Cross selected animals with local sows using the initial method.

Secondly, it is necessary to consolidate the heredity of local pig representatives of the second generation. To do this, pets must produce a new generation within certain limits of inbreeding or “in themselves.” Only the best pets should take part in the new stage, and new generations of the variety must be subject to strict rejection.

Thirdly, the created unrelated groups need to be improved with the help of the best boars that were born in purebred breeding.

Fourthly, it is imperative to carry out a targeted selection in order to consolidate the results already obtained and consolidate existing qualities.

Fifthly, a new young generation needs to be raised in full-fledged areas of the zone for which the variety was originally bred.

The founder of the Ukrainian steppe white pigs was a male representative named Askany I. The pet was created by crossing a local sow number 230 and a boar called Samson 15. The resulting pet had a fairly massive and developed constitution. The representative’s torso reached 186 cm, the circumference of the chest behind the scapular region was 173 cm, and the live weight was 375 kg. All the qualities of the boar were quite good, so the second generation was selected exclusively based on similar characteristics. In order to prevent internal breed matings from occurring in the future, which could spoil the high productivity of the variety, Ivanov M. F. developed intra-breed varieties of lines of uterine families. Thus, boars of one family were mated with sows of another family. But, the main rule of such crossing was the desired characteristics of the future offspring.

During the period of creation of the Ukrainian steppe white variety, the livestock specialist developed three separate lines of male representatives and about ten new types of female representatives. It was these pets that served as the foundation for the process of testing a new variety. Since the famous livestock scientist died in 1935, and the work to improve representatives of this variety needed further progress, the “Ukrainian Research Institute of Livestock Husbandry of the Steppe Regions named after Mikhail Fedorovich Ivanov” took up the matter. At the institute, the above-mentioned breed was developed, new and previously established qualities were bred, lines of various families were developed, and a plan was developed for further improvements of the pets. The main leader of the project was the Soviet researcher “Vaskhnil” - Leonid Kondratievich Grebnya.

The newly bred representatives of the Ukrainian steppe white variety, due to their exterior characteristics, differ significantly from the variety of large white pigs. So, pets have similar external characteristics: a massive body; powerful skeletal system; straight and massive back area; convex large chest and abdominal part; well developed hams; medium-sized, powerful legs; the head is small; slightly curved profile; Large ears are neatly placed on the head and hang heavily over the eyes. Pig skin is quite elastic and dense. The entire body area is abundantly covered with stubble on the skin layer. The bristles are of medium length, quite thick and hard. Representatives of the Ukrainian steppe white breed are characterized by a predominantly light cream or white color.

The level of formation and productive data of the variety is actually not inferior to the level of large white pets. On average, an adult boar weighs from 300 to 350 kg, and a sow weighs 200-240 kg.

Sows are characterized by multiple births; it is known that the number of babies per farrow is approximately 10-13 piglets. Milk production reaches 60-90 kg. State studies of the variety have shown that during maternal fattening, the average live weight gain of a baby will range from 700 to 800 grams, and the required amount of feed per kilogram of weight gain is 3.5-4.5 feed units. Already at the age of 180 days (6 months), piglets grow up independent and reach a hundred kilogram weight.

Pets that were bred in the territories of a breeding plant called “Sivashsky” took part in the research processes, where control fattening took place in the period 1969-1971. The results showed that the young animals had a live weight of about one hundred kilograms already at two months of age. On average, in one day the piglets gained approximately 700 grams of live weight, and the consumption per kilogram of weight gain was 4.5 feed units. The meat productivity of the presented variety was one of the highest. The circumference of the muscle eye area becomes approximately 28.5-29.5 cm, the width of the back fat is 2.5-3.0 cm. During breeding, boars were often encountered that had even higher performance than the average. For example, the distant descendants of a representative of boars, who was called Mirny 707, had an average daily weight gain of 750 grams over the entire fattening interval, while the consumption of feed mixtures per kilogram of gain did not exceed 3.5-3.8 feed units, and at six months of age the pets weighed about one hundred kilograms.

Some of the representatives weigh more than 400 kg. For example, a male representative named Fighter 899, aged approximately two and a half years, had a live weight of 415 kg, and the body dimensions were 190 cm in length and 182 cm in chest circumference.

The female representative of this variety, whose name was Kultura 460, had 285 kg of live weight, with a body length of 172 cm. The maximum recorded fertility of a sow was 12 babies per farrowing, and milk production was 76 kg.

The presented variety of Ukrainian steppe white pets is quite popular in certain circles of keeping. Animals are used for productive economic breeding and industrial crossing processes. It was this variety that became the basis for the development of a new type of Ukrainian varieties - the Ukrainian steppe pockmarked, the invention of which was carried out by animal husbandry scientist Leonid Kondratievich Greben.

The presented variety of pigs needs further improvements in meat qualities, as well as improvement in the intensity of early maturity of pigs.

Bred by Academician M.F. Ivanov.

The need to create the breed was due to the fact that in the steppe, arid part of Ukraine, with conditions very favorable for the development of pig farming, it remained extremely backward. Animals of foreign cultivated breeds did not adapt well here, but local pigs were late ripening.

M.F. Ivanov set the task of obtaining a breed that would have the productivity of cultivated breeds, and in terms of endurance and adaptability to the conditions of the south of Ukraine would not be inferior to local pigs.

Breed Ukrainian steppe white was bred by reproductive crossing of local pigs with large white boars, and in an exceptionally short time - from 1926 to 1934.

Based on the results of this work, M.F. Ivanov proposed a method for breeding new breeds, which significantly contributed to the success of the breed formation process in our country. The main provisions of this technique are as follows.

Obtaining and accumulating a sufficient number of crossbred young animals of the desired type by crossing local queens and the best queens from first-generation crosses with cultivated breeders, while simultaneously strictly rejecting all those animals that do not meet the goal.
Consolidating the heredity of the best crossbred animals of the second generation by breeding within themselves using inbreeding and strict culling.
Using the best boars and dams from created unrelated groups for further improvement of the breed.
Targeted selection to reinforce desirable qualities.
Raising pedigree young animals on complete diets typical for the given zone.

The ancestor of pigs Ukrainian steppe white The breed was boar Askanius I. He was obtained from a crossbred uterus No. 230 and boar Samson 15. Askanius I was distinguished by a very strong constitution, good physique and development: his body length was 186 cm, chest circumference behind the shoulder blades - 173 cm, live weight - 375 kg. With this selection, closely related animals were obtained in the second generation. To avoid related matings in the future, M.F. Ivanov created uterine families within the line. Boars from one family were mated with queens of another, but of the same desirable type.

During the period from 1926 to 1934, M. F. Ivanov bred three lines of boars and 10 families of queens, which served as the basis for testing the new breed. After the death of M.F. Ivanov, work on improving pigs of the Ukrainian steppe white breed, breeding established and new lines and families was successfully carried out by the Ukrainian Scientific Research Institute of Animal Husbandry of the Steppe Regions named after M.F. Ivanov under the leadership of Academician of VASKHNIL L.K. Grebnya.

Animal type Ukrainian steppe white breed is different from the Large White pig type. Their head is of medium size with a slightly concave profile; the ears are large, somewhat hanging over the eyes; strong skeleton; the body is deep and wide; the hams are well done; legs are strong; the skin is thick, the bristles are thick, the color of pigs is white. In terms of development and productivity, animals of the Ukrainian steppe white breed are almost no different from animals of the large white breed: live weight of boars is 300-340 kg, queens - 210-230 kg, multiple births - 11-12 piglets, milk production - 70-80 kg. Fattening qualities (according to state breed testing) are as follows: average daily weight gain -701 g, feed consumption per 1 kg of weight gain - 4.12 feed units, live weight of 100 kg is achieved in 192 days.

At the Sivashsky breeding farm, during the period of control fattening in 1970, gilts reached a live weight of 95 kg at the age of 186 days, their average daily gain was 692 g, and feed consumption per 1 kg of weight gain was 4.29 feed units. The meat qualities of these pigs are quite satisfactory . The area of the muscle eye is 29.3 cm, the thickness of the backfat is 2.7 cm. The descendants of some boars have even higher values. Thus, the descendants of boar Mirny 707 had an average daily gain during the fattening period of 731 g, feed consumption per 1 kg of gain was only 3.71 feed units, and they reached a live weight of 95 kg at the age of 6 months.

Some boars of this breed reach a weight of 400 kg or more. For example, boar Fighter 899 at the age of 29 months had a live weight of 415 kg with a body length of 190 cm and a chest circumference behind the shoulder blades of 182 cm.

Sow Culture 460 weighed 285 kg, body length - 172 cm, multiple births - 12 piglets, milk production - 76 kg.

The breed is widely used in commercial farms for industrial crossing. Academician L.K. Greben used it when breeding a new breed - the Ukrainian steppe pockmarked.

Further improvement of the Ukrainian steppe white breed consists of improving the meat qualities of pigs and increasing their precocity.

The first pigs were domesticated by humans eight thousand years ago, and currently there are more than a hundred species of them on Earth. The breed called “White Pig” was bred in 1934 by academician M.F. Ivanov, by crossing female Ukrainian steppe pigs with English white boars.

The goal was to obtain a new variety of these farm animals, the representatives of which should have high productive qualities and at the same time easily adapt to the arid climatic conditions of southern Ukraine.

To achieve the desired result, the method of inbreeding or inbreeding was used, followed by culling of weak animals, as well as individuals with insufficiently expressed characteristics of the new breed.

The resulting individuals inherited the height, weight, precocity and fattening qualities of their English ancestors, but unlike them, they showed a lower percentage of barrenness (lack of offspring) and mortality of young animals in the hot steppe climate. In addition, they digested nutrient-poor feed well and were generally more unpretentious to their housing conditions.

After the approval of this breed in 1932, the white pig became widespread in the south of Ukraine, where it occupied one of the first places in terms of livestock numbers. Currently, it can also be found in the territories of other states, such as Russia, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Armenia. According to the type of productivity, it belongs to the universal or meat-and-fat breeds.

Like its English ancestors, this pig is characterized by a strong physique, powerful bones, a wide body and developed, pronounced hams. Its distinctive features are: a less concave profile, large ears that hang over the eyes (but not as much as those of long-eared breeds), denser bristles and a rather coarse build in general.

The average weight of adult boars is three hundred to three hundred and fifty kilograms, with a body length of about one hundred and eighty centimeters. Sows, as a rule, look a little more modest, their weight usually does not exceed two hundred and fifty kilograms, and their body length is one hundred and seventy centimeters.

The white Ukrainian pig, which is widespread today, is practically not inferior in its fertility to other similar breeds. As a rule, a pig gives birth to about twelve piglets per litter.

The kids grow quite quickly and gain about six to seven kilograms of live weight in six months of intensive fattening. The average cost for it is 3.8 units per kilogram of gain. The milk production of sows varies in the range of fifty to seventy kilograms, and in some cases these figures can reach up to eighty.

Currently, many breeding farms are actively working to improve this breed, aimed at improving its fattening and meat qualities. In addition, breeders are trying to achieve an increase in offspring, because many individuals of this breed, like others artificially created, often turn out to be infertile.

Despite its popularity, the Ukrainian white pig breed is not particularly popular in Western countries. Apparently the performance of the breeds common in the western part of the world suits farm owners quite well. However, the quality of the type of pigs described in this publication is superior to others in many respects. This applies to both the rapid weight gain of each individual and the taste of the meat obtained from them.

A large amount of pig fat, which is highly valued in Ukraine and Germany, does not always find its fans in other countries, so this quality is most often considered a disadvantage.

At the Askania Nova farm, where this breed was bred at one time, a number of record heights and weights of Ukrainian white pigs were recorded, the most outstanding of them exceeding two meters, and their weight is about four hundred kilograms. Some specimens of the English whites, when well-fed, are capable of gaining up to six hundred kilograms of live weight.

The breed presented in this article is recommended for keeping in large and small farms. Its features allow the farmer to quickly benefit from the investment and effort. However, in some qualities it is inferior to other breeds, which is why keeping a white Ukrainian pig may become unprofitable.

328 02/13/2019 5 min.

The main goal of breeding the Ukrainian breed of pigs was to obtain animals capable of generating good and high-quality income, while easily adapting to the conditions of the steppes. Today it is common in regions with arid and hot climates. In such an area, purchasing, keeping and breeding pigs of the Ukrainian breed can be as profitable as possible. At the same time, the animals are quite unpretentious in their care and are not picky about food. It will not be difficult to purchase such pigs for keeping and breeding, but there are other problems and nuances that will need to be paid attention to. This article will tell you what they are.

Breed Features

The breed was developed by crossing Large White and steppe breeds of pigs in Ukraine. At the beginning of the twentieth century, it was officially registered and became widespread, surpassing most popular species in population numbers. Pigs adapt well to the conditions of arid steppes, absorb feed well and quickly gain weight.

Piglets

Purebred piglets are born quite large and quickly gain weight. Thus, daily weight gain can reach seven hundred grams, and during fattening - one kilogram. Thus, by the age of six months the animal can weigh up to one hundredweight. Young animals have a high degree of endurance and survival, and are resistant to climate change and common diseases.

Animals can be crossed with representatives of the Large White breed and other meat and meat-fat breeds.

Ukrainian steppe piglets gain weight very quickly.

Adults

Adult animals are distinguished by great endurance and unpretentiousness. They have strong bones, a large, slightly elongated head, strong massive legs and a wide body. Sows can gain weight of more than two hundred kilograms, and the average weight of an adult boar is usually about three hundredweight. However, some breeders manage to fatten animals up to a weight of four hundred kilograms. But in this case, the meat becomes fattier and less healthy.

Pigs of the breed typically have a light pinkish skin tone, often with dark spots. Their white bristles are short and sparse, so they do not cause problems when cutting. The neck is almost invisible, the ears can hang slightly above the head.

Ukrainian Steppe White is a breed of universal productivity.

Since the animals are unpretentious in their maintenance, minimal costs are possible when ensuring proper feeding and preparation of pigsties. This can make the farmer's income as large as possible.

Feeding

The basis of the diet of the Ukrainian steppe pig can be a concentrate or a combined feed. It is on these products that animals gain weight easier and faster. From feed you can prepare mash with the addition of dairy and fermented milk products, boiled potatoes. The feed should also be supplemented with seasonal vegetables and fruits, hay and silage, herbs, vegetable tops, root vegetables, pumpkin and zucchini. It is also useful to give grain mixtures, previously crushed and soaked in hot water, and cereal porridges. Four units of feed must be used per kilogram of weight gain.

From various feeds, mash is made for pigs with the addition of potatoes and fermented milk products.

Pig pens

Pigs are not sensitive to drought, but cold is not desirable for them. Therefore, as pigsties, it is best to use wooden or brick buildings with closed, insulated walls that do not allow drafts to pass through. The floor is best made of concrete, with a wooden deck built on top. A layer of straw or hay should be placed on top of it. It is also necessary to ensure that there is a drain for dirt.

An excellent option for a pigsty is a brick building.

The feeding containers themselves are best made of dense wood so that they are difficult to tip over. The most acceptable option is a trough on a stand.

Breeding

It is possible to breed pigs of the Ukrainian steppe breed both on a farm and in a household plot, as well as on an industrial scale. This can be done both to obtain meat for your own use and sale, and to sell young animals.

Farrow

Sows of this breed have good fertility and produce ten to twelve piglets per farrow. In this case, the first mating can be organized as early as seven to eight months, when the individual reaches a body weight of no less than one hundred kilograms. Females have high milk production and can easily cope with farrowing without the help of a breeder.

The duration of gestation of piglets is one hundred ten to one hundred twenty days. Readiness for farrowing is usually indicated by the female's anxiety and desire to make a nest. As a rule, this phenomenon can begin as early as a week before birth.

A sow gives birth to approximately 10 piglets per farrowing.

During farrowing, it is recommended that the breeder monitor the process. Immediately after birth, the young should be wiped with a dry cloth and applied to the nipples to obtain colostrum. It is recommended to carry out this procedure in the first forty-five minutes after birth. Thus, the piglets will be stronger and more viable.

Slaughter

Pigs can be slaughtered as early as nine to twelve months of age. It is possible to obtain a sufficient amount of meat and lard earlier, but then not all costs may be recouped. Immediately before the procedure, it is possible to carry out a three-week fattening with high-calorie foods.

On the day of slaughter, it is necessary to prepare suitable tools, sharpen knives, and heat two or three buckets of water. In addition, you will need to equip a small, clean and dry cutting area, bags and film. The procedure should take place away from the pigsty and flocks of other animals to prevent increased stressful situations. Ten to twelve hours before slaughter, it is necessary to stop feeding the animal.

The meat of the Ukrainian steppe pig is very tender.

Animals should not be slaughtered if signs of poor health are detected.

Care

Caring for pigs of the Ukrainian breed is quite simple. It is important to keep them constantly clean and warm.

Hygiene

It is required to carry out complete sanitization with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Uneaten food must be thrown away before a new portion of food is served. Spoiled food can cause poisoning or infection.

Diseases

Pneumonia can also develop from constant drafts and frosts, cold floors. It is not recommended to treat it yourself; in this case, you should consult a specialist. And before his arrival, it is possible to bring down the temperature with a Paracetamol tablet.

Video

The video shows piglets of the Ukrainian Steppe breed.

conclusions

The Ukrainian steppe breed of pigs is distinguished by its endurance and drought resistance.
The breed is unpretentious in food and care, but at the same time quickly gains muscle and fat mass.
Purchasing young animals for breeding will not be difficult. Meanwhile, keeping animals for sale can also be profitable.
In order to prevent the occurrence of possible diseases, It is important to maintain cleanliness and hygiene in pigsties, as well as to carry out vaccinations.