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How to Select Replacement Pigs? Detailed Guide to Selection Methods and Key Points

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Replacement pigs refer to the boars and sows that have finished the nursing stage and are initially kept for breeding purposes. Generally speaking, family pig farmers like to select and keep their own breeding boars and sows as replacement pigs. So, what kind of replacement pigs should be selected and kept? Experts advise you: replacement pigs should be breeding pigs that are physically robust, well developed, possess the characteristics of the breed, and have high breeding value. The selection of replacement breeding pigs should start from the following points. Healthy and disease-free: replacement pigs should be pigs with normal growth and development, lively spirits, and free from disease, and should come from families free of any

Replacement pigs refer to the boars and sows that have finished the nursing stage and are initially kept for breeding purposes. Generally speaking, family pig farmers like to select and keep their own breeding boars and sows as replacement pigs. So, what kind of replacement pigs should be selected and kept? Experts advise you: replacement pigs should be breeding pigs that are physically robust, well developed, possess the characteristics of the breed, and have high breeding value.

The selection of replacement breeding pigs should start from the following points.

Healthy and disease-free: replacement pigs should be pigs with normal growth and development, lively spirits, and free from disease, and should come from families free of any hereditary diseases (such as hernia, cryptorchidism, unilateral cryptorchidism, unevenly arranged teats, blind teats, etc.).

Body type and appearance: the body type and appearance of replacement pigs should possess the characteristics of their own breed, such as coat color, ear shape, head shape, length of back and loin, width of body, thickness of limbs, height, etc., all of which must meet the breed requirements.

Reproductive performance: reproductive performance is a very important trait of breeding pigs. Replacement pigs should come from families with high reproductive capacity and should have good external reproductive organs.

Growth and fattening traits: the growth and development traits of replacement pigs and the fattening traits of pigs in the same group are both bases for selecting replacement pigs. The growth and fattening indicators of pigs include growth rate and feed utilization rate, etc.

Carcass traits: when replacement pigs reach 6 months of age, professional staff can be invited to use instruments to measure the pig's backfat thickness and loin eye area, so as to determine the growth of the pig's backfat and lean meat. Replacement pigs should be selected from those pigs with good carcass quality and meat quality.

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