How many years does a pig live in a household: average duration

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Piglets are usually kept on farms for no more than a year and a half, after which they are slaughtered for meat. The only exceptions in this regard are producers who can be used to replenish the herd on farms for several years, after which such pigs are also usually slaughtered. Meanwhile, piglets, of course, can live much longer. How many years do pigs of certain breeds or varieties live? This will be discussed in the article.

Ancestors of pigs

Domestic piglets are known to have originated from wild boars. Outwardly, pigs and boars are very similar. However, wild boars, unlike human-bred piglets, have long hair that forms a mane on the back. Also a characteristic feature of the boar are fangs and legs longer than those of pigs.

Wild boars live in forests, swamps, forest-steppes. Like domestic pigs, boars are omnivores. Wild boars can reach a weight of up to 200 kg, and a body length of up to 2 m. Female forest pigs live with their cubs, and males live alone. At the moment the boarsare, among other things, the subject of the hunt.

Wild pigs don't live very long. Their body wears out quite quickly due to the need to constantly obtain food and exposure to adverse environmental factors. Usually wild boars live no more than 8-10 years.

What determines longevity?

The answer to the question of how many years pigs live depends primarily on the conditions under which they are kept. Domestic piglets are bred by farmers for meat and lard. And therefore, in most cases, the owners provide the pigs with good living conditions. If the farmer does not take good care of his wards, they will begin to get sick and will not gain weight well. And consequently, the economy itself will become unprofitable.

Due to the fact that on farms pigs are kept in spacious bright barns, warm and eat quality feed, their life expectancy can be much longer than that of wild boars. Of course, piglets on farms are slaughtered at a fairly young age, but in principle, pigs can live up to 15-20 years or more. The longevity of these animals depends not only on the conditions of detention, but also on the breed.

Currently, the most popular varieties of piglets among farmers are:

• Vietnamese bellies;
• Durocs;
• braziers;
• White Russians.

How long do Duroc pigs live?

Farmers breed these piglets mainly for meat. The Durocs are descended from African red pigs. Body typethese piglets are large, strong and slightly lean. Such pigs are never too fat. The main distinguishing feature of the Duroc is its dark red color. Outwardly, these pigs are very reminiscent of wild boars.

Durocs can reach a weight of 360 kg. The breed is popular for its unpretentiousness, endurance, resistance to diseases and a quick set of muscle mass with not too much feed consumption.

How long do Duroc pigs live in a household? The he alth of representatives of this breed is usually very strong. They rarely get sick. And therefore, with good care, Durocs can reach the age of 15-19 years.

How long do Vietnamese pigs live?

Such piglets in Europe and America have become popular relatively recently. These animals are bred on farms for bacon. The appearance of Vietnamese fold-bellied piglets is very unusual. Their coat is dark and rather long, and fangs grow in adult males. So pigs of this breed are also very similar to wild boars.

A characteristic feature of the Vietnamese bellied pig is precocity. Females of this breed reach puberty by 4 months, and males by 6. These piglets do not grow too large. Their maximum weight is 100 kg, commercial - 50-60 kg.

Despite the fact that Vietnamese piglets reach puberty very early, they live long. In this regard, they are superior to most other breeds. The age of such piglets can reachup to 20-30 years old. There are even cases when Vietnamese bellies lived up to 45 years. Moreover, the fact that they are able to reproduce almost until their death is very interesting.

Russian white pigs

These piglets are farmed for both meat and lard. In Russia, this breed is currently the most common. White pigs were originally bred in England. They were brought to Russia at the end of the 19th century.

A distinctive feature of these pigs is a very light skin color, and the main plus is considered to be a quick weight gain. Already at the age of one year, such piglets can reach a body weight of 200 kg. The maximum weight of white pigs is 370 kg. Also, the advantages of these animals are precocity and genetic flexibility.

Some disadvantage of piglets is the tendency to obesity and the development of related diseases. Also, Russian white pigs, due to their sparse bristles, do not tolerate severe frosts very well. They are supposed to be kept in heated rooms.

The owners of such piglets may also be interested in the answer to the question of how many years a pig lives? On average, White Russians can live 16 years, but due to obesity, such a piglet can die much earlier. That is, the life expectancy of white pigs, in comparison with many other breeds, is low.

Breed brazier: how many years do pigs live at home

These piglets are bred on farms mostly for quality meat. The breed was bredwas by crossing the Hungarian mangalica with wild boars. At the moment, such pigs are quite widespread in Europe. Some Russian farmers also breed them. The brazier breed is quite new, and has not even been officially registered yet.

A distinctive feature of these piglets is the presence of thick, hard, long hair. At the moment, it is this breed, in comparison with others, that is most similar to the wild progenitors of pigs - boars. Like wild boars, the ears of the barbecue stand upright, and the legs are quite long. Also, these piglets are subject to seasonal molting.

The he alth of these pigs is very strong, and there is practically no lunge in their herd. A feature of this breed, among other things, is longevity. How many years do brazier pigs live? The answer to this question is 19-20 years. Some members of this breed can reach the age of 26.

Dwarf Pigs

Pigs with good care can live quite a long time. However, longevity, unfortunately, is not the most important feature that determines the popularity of a particular variety. Since pigs are bred on farms for lard or meat, it is simply not profitable for farmers to keep them for too long.

The situation is quite different with pygmy pigs. These pigs are often kept as pets. And it is the lovers of such decorative quadrupeds who are usually interested in the answer to the question of how many years a pig lives. Average life span of dwarfspiglets - 8-9 years old.

The pigs of this variety are not cut for meat or fat. But these pets cannot be attributed to long-livers either. In most cases, pygmy pigs die a natural death at the age of 9 years. However, under very good conditions, such a pet can live up to 18 years.

Are there record-breaking pigs?

Thus, we found out how many years a pig lives. The life expectancy of piglets depends primarily on the conditions of their maintenance and variety. But are there record-breaking pigs in the world in this regard?

Except for dwarf breeds, pigs are rarely kept at home. Accordingly, there is practically no information about piglets-record holders in terms of longevity. However, some such cases are still known. For example, in the Bahamas, a tamed wild pig, Babe, lives with one of the local families. At the moment, this pig is about 14 years old, and she boasts excellent he alth. In any case, Babe is not going to leave this world yet.

Popular pygmy pig Max, being the pet of Hollywood star D. Clooney, lived to the age of 19 years. This record holder died in 2006