For those who decide to start breeding pigs, it is important to know not only what to feed them and how to care for them, but also how long these animals can live. And the answer to this question will depend both on the breed and on where the pig lives and what the conditions of its habitat are.
Free
Wild pigs can live up to 10 years longer than their domesticated counterparts. It is believed that they can survive and up to 20 years, but due to the dominance of other hostile animals, they die before reaching this age. For wild pigs, foxes, wolves and other lovers of fresh meat are especially dangerous.
But a strong boar is able to survive in the wild. up to 25 years... In this he is helped by his aggressive behavior and physique. Other wild animals do not inflict serious wounds on him, and even after receiving a rifle bullet, the boar survives.
In zoo
In zoos, where favorable conditions are created for animals, pigs live longer than in the wild. Here they receive enough food, safe housing, and timely vaccinations. This increases the lifespan of wild boars to 25 years or longer.
In the household
Since domestic pigs are specially raised for slaughter, it is rather difficult to determine how long they will live. If we talk about how long a sow can live on average, then this number is 15-25 years old before being slaughtered. During this time, she bears offspring about 20 times. Domestic boars live longer and reach the age of 35–40 years.
How many pigs of different breeds live
The lifespan of a piglet also depends on its breed. So, Mangalians are able to live much longer than, for example, large white pigs, and Landrace needs special nutrition to stay healthy.
Landrace
Lives about 20 years.
Needs good care and a specific diet. Sows of this breed bring large offspring, and piglets are born healthy and gain weight well. Thanks to this, the Landrace breed enjoys success in the market.
Duroc
Life expectancy is 20 years on average.
A rare reddish-brown pig breed that does not tolerate cold climates. The main disadvantage of this type of pig is their susceptibility to colds, including rhinitis. In northern latitudes, this disease progresses and becomes chronic, so the pig begins to require special nutrition and care.
Large white
The average life expectancy is 15 years.
This breed is easily adaptable to climatic conditions. In addition, it boasts high fertility, early maturity and genetic flexibility. A large white pig has a rather unsightly appearance and is bred mainly for meat. Among the disadvantages can be called a predisposition to obesity and poor frost tolerance.
Hungarian mangalica
Lives on average 25 years.
Pigs of this breed have a thick coat that provides protection from the elements. This feature allows this type of pig to survive in severe frosts. The coat color is black, brown, white or mixed.
Mangalitsa do not require special care. They eat a variety of foods and do not need a warm room for keeping.
Vietnamese potbelly
On average, it lives about 20-30 years.
This breed is notable for its cleanliness and does not shit in the place where it lives. If there is a paddock, the animal will use the paddock as a toilet. And in the pigsty itself, you need to maintain cleanliness and dryness, which will not be difficult.
Mini pigs
Small piglets mini-pigs are an ornamental breed, small in size, about 40–65 cm. Such pigs are kept as pets. They can live for about 20 years at home.
Long-lived pigs
There is little information available regarding long-lived pigs. The reason for this is that these animals are rarely kept as pets. However, there is still some evidence:
- A dwarf boar named Max for 19 years lived with the famous actor George Clooney.
- A wild boar named Babe has been living with its owners in the Bahamas for 12 years.
What affects the lifespan of pigs
Two things affect the longevity of piglets - diet and housing conditions. With the right approach, animals grow up healthy and regularly give birth to offspring.
Diet
For domestic pigs to live longer, they need to be fed:
- high quality cereals and meal,
- concentrates and premixes,
- vegetables and fresh grass,
- mineral and vitamin supplements.
For pigs living in a barn, hay is prepared for the winter and cereals are crushed. Calcium and other minerals are added to the feed to improve bone and joint function.
In addition to good nutrition, animals need proper maintenance. Mainly, the pigsty must meet the following sanitary criteria:
In winter, it is extremely important that the pigsty is warm, and for very small piglets, it is worth placing infrared lamps. In addition, animals need to be vaccinated, to monitor their hygiene and health.
Domestic pigs
It is believed that pigs are used exclusively as farm animals for various livestock products. But there are also decorative representatives of pig breeding, as well as wild animals that live in reserves and protected areas. Therefore, farmers often wonder how many years pigs live. It often happens that the owner is very attached to the animal and does not want to say goodbye to him as long as possible. The life expectancy of a pig is influenced by the conditions of detention, this is the environment in which they live. For example, wild boars, whose duration is directly related to the environment in which they live at the moment.
Domestic pigs of large size, with a balanced diet and good maintenance, can reach a life expectancy of 35 years. If the animal is used for production, the life expectancy is no more than 2 years. Already after 6 months, when young animals reach 100 kg, they are slaughtered. On average, fattening is a maximum of one and a half years. Animals that are used for reproduction of the herd and as valuable genetic material are used for the longest possible time. From such animals, as a rule, up to 20 farrowings are obtained on average, if, on average, ordinary pigs have only 5-6 of them, and after which their use is impractical.
Decorative small domestic pigs live 10-15 years, dwarf pigs 7-8 years. In animals that live in the wild, life expectancy is directly related to how many enemies are around.
In the absence of threats from hunters and predators, the average lifespan of a wild boar is up to 25 years. But for wild conditions, this figure is a record. Such a maximum number of years can only be lived by either a very aggressive animal, evil, with a large body size, which predators are afraid of. Also, the animal must be cunning so that hunters cannot track it down. Also, not many pigs living in the wild manage to survive the age when they are still small, since at this moment they are most susceptible to disease, and are also easy prey for predators. Males live longer than females, since the latter are mainly protectors of their offspring and often die in an attempt to protect young animals. The average life expectancy in the wild is 8 years.
What affects the lifespan of pigs
The basis of longevity for animals such as pigs includes several points. The first is nutrition, as it must be balanced, varied, and of high quality. Since all systems of the animal body are directly dependent on the quality of the feed they eat. It has been observed that an animal consumed with good, balanced, tasty and varied food has a more attractive appearance, good health and excellent well-being. In this case, you need to remember that you cannot overfeed above the norm, since pigs are prone to excessive fat mass, which negatively affects their body functions. Therefore, it is better to include additional vitamins, mineral supplements and premixes.
Conditions of detention
Undoubtedly, stress negatively affects life expectancy as much as feeding. If the animal is in a clean, dry pigsty that has ample grazing, the animal will feel good. Consequently, their life expectancy is much longer. Keeping the pigsty clean and hygienic will reduce the risk of various diseases. Pigs are prone to diseases not only internal, but also external and they need vaccination. For pigs, they organize standard vaccinations against diseases common in pig breeding, and also carry out preventive measures against helminths. Prevention is always a surefire way to prolong a pet's life.
When buying a pig, you should pay attention to its appearance, since a weak, unhealthy animal from the first days of its life is unlikely to live a large amount of time. And one more point that affects the longevity of boars is their castration. This applies to all animals and extends the life of not only pigs. Of course, the breed also affects the lifespan of pigs, but the number of years it has lived depends on how small the animal is, the smaller the size, the fewer the years. Therefore, domestic small pigs live much less than large pigs. Good health and strong immunity are the keys to longevity. Pigs such as the Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs are in good health, large in size, herbivores and boast longevity among other members of their species.
Pig longevity record holders
Such indicators are not often recorded and only among decorative representatives of pig breeding. Because no farmer will agree to raise highly productive animals (large white) for a long time. But pigs like mini-pigs can live to a ripe old age. And the most famous is George Clooney's pig, whose name is Max. He was 19 years old, although for mini pigs the lifespan is no more than 8 years. Among the wild representatives of pigs, such an animal is known that lives in the Bahamas, in the same family of local residents and thinks that it is a domestic animal. He eats fruit, walks a lot, his age today is 12 years.
Victor Kalinin
Pig breeder with 12 years of experience
Articles written
The farmer needs to know how many pigs of different breeds and sexes live in order to properly regulate breeding and slaughter. Life expectancy differs for wild and domestic pigs, for sows and wild boars.
Wild pigs live up to 10 years - longer than domestic animals. It is believed that physiologically it is capable of living for 20 years, but dies due to the dominance of other individuals, hostile or seeking food. Wolves, foxes, bears and other predators wishing to feast on fresh meat are especially dangerous for wild pigs.
Strong boars can live in the wild for 25 years thanks to their pronounced aggression and prominent physique. In fights with wild animals, he does not receive significant wounds, and when hit by a rifle bullet he survives and even retains his health. A wild boar is difficult to poison or defeat in battle, therefore it is considered a long-liver.
A wild pig does not die of age.
Attention! Old animals cannot be found in nature - they become weak and unviable.
In the household
The domestic pig is raised for slaughter, so it is difficult to accurately determine the lifespan. On average, a domestic sow is bred for 15-25 years, and then slaughtered for meat. During this time she brings 20 litters of piglets. Domestic boar can live up to 35-40 years. A farm owner who wants to raise a long-lived wild boar provides him with a full-fledged balanced diet, maintains the level of hygiene, and regularly cleans the pigsty.
Of domestic pigs, the most famous are centenarians:
- a dwarf boar named Max, who has lived with Hollywood actor George Clooney for 19 years as a family favorite;
- wild boar Babe at the age of 12 - lives to this day in a family in the Bahamas and has excellent health.
Dwarf wild boar Max is George Clooney's long-liver.
The dependence of the lifespan on the breed
How long a pig's life will last is determined by genetic and breed factors. So, Hungarian barbecues live longer than a large white pig, and Landrace requires a special diet to stay healthy.
Every farmer looking to keep pigs should first learn as much information as possible about these animals. Life expectancy, housing conditions, diet, and helpful breeding tips are key aspects that a breeder must be aware of in order to get the most out of his farm.
Life span
Wild boars can live on average 10-12 years. In zoos, their existence often lasts up to 20, and sometimes up to 35 years. Under natural conditions, these animals have quite a few enemies. Since wild boars are massive and strong, predators hunt them collectively. A whole flock tracks down males walking alone, or fights off a group of pigs, females, weak individuals. In addition, people often hunt these artiodactyls.
Usually males live longer, because they can provide a worthy rebuff to enemies. They have sharp canines and subcutaneous protective muscles that save them from the canines of predators and rivals. Females are more vulnerable, because they constantly have to take care of the offspring, to protect the young.
How long do pigs live at home? This question is difficult, because rare individuals are kept by farmers for more than 1-2 years. Their main purpose is to become food for people, so it makes no sense to raise animals for a long time. Exceptions are sows and sows in the breeding herd.
In theory, domestic pigs have a lifespan of 15-20 years. Centenarians at the age of thirty-five are known. The specific period of existence depends on the breed, genetics, conditions of maintenance and nutrition.
For example, a white pig lives up to 15 years, a landrace - 15-20, a duroc - 20, a brazier - 25, a Vietnamese pig - up to 30 years.
Factors affecting longevity
Pets need to be well looked after, follow the recommended dietary norms at a given age, and protect them from diseases and infections.
The pig will live long under the following conditions:
Feeding pigs can be dry or wet. The first option includes crushed grain mixtures, vitamin supplements, cake, bean flour. The second option consists of a mixture of vegetables, grains, herbs, and food waste. At the same time, dry feeding is considered more preferable, although quite costly.
Piglets - weaners should be fed on a "until they are full" principle, and the trough is never empty.
The diet consists of the following ingredients:
- additives of animal origin;
- legume flour;
- juicy feed;
- mixture of concentrates;
- vitamins.
Pregnant females are fed once a day with a variety of foods, avoiding abundant nutrition, so that more embryos can survive.
Boars - producers should also not be overfed in order to avoid obesity. Their food should be easily digestible and balanced.
Adults are given food twice a day. When the animals are supposed to be slaughtered, the number of feedings increases to three. Dry feeding is optimal as it will gain weight rapidly.
A pig's life can become long if it is kept in suitable conditions. Tips for Beginner Farmers:
How many years pigs live depends largely on their genetic makeup. For the continuation of the genus, it is recommended to choose only healthy individuals so that a good heredity is formed in the offspring. It is important for animals to get the necessary vaccinations in order to avoid certain diseases.
It is also worth protecting them from stressful situations - excessive noise, transportation, relocation from one room to another. In order for the process of weaning piglets from the sow to go smoothly, you can water the female with a decoction of maral or valerian.
Thus, in natural conditions, wild boars live for about 10 years. In the household, these animals can exist up to 35 years, if they are provided with normal maintenance. However, in most cases, pigs spend much less time on the ground, as they are raised for slaughter.
In general, in Russia and adjacent territories, the rut is extended and lasts from October to February. Most intense in November-December, when up to 80% of females are covered. By the beginning of the rut, the preputial gland produces a thick yellowish liquid, which the males spray along the paths. Cleavers rub against tree trunks and make peculiar notches on them with blows of fangs, which, together with the smell, serve to mark the territory and signal to women and opponents about the location of the cleaver. Females also mark trees by rubbing their heads with glands and secretions of salivary, lacrimal and other glands, informing the males in this way about their readiness for mating.
Having found a herd of pigs with young growth, the male drives away the pigs and begins to chase the females (most often in a circle). If another cleaver approaches the herd, which consists of 3-8 females, the owner enters into a fierce fight with him, announcing the surroundings with a roar and squeal. The duel lasts 1-2 minutes, during which the males inflict serious wounds on each other on the body. Protects from wounds "skin shield, or kalkan". During the mating period, males almost do not eat, they quickly lose weight, losing up to 20-25% of their mass.
The wild boar is a monocyclic species. In Western Europe, there have been cases of two hatches per year. In Russia, the hunting period for females is in October-January, the duration of estrus is 2–3 days, the next appears after 21–23 days. All family members are covered at the same time with a difference of 1-8 days. Pregnancy lasts 114-140, with an average of 120 days.
Due to the length of the rut, piglets are born between March and June. Newborns are rarely found in February and July-October. Pigs grow up in specially constructed nests of grass, weeds and brushwood. At first, the nest has a roof and one entrance. Subsequently, the integrity of the nest is violated. With a poor nest design, early broods often freeze.
The number of piglets is 3-12, more often 4-6; young pigs have fewer piglets than older pigs.
The size of the droppings varies depending on the availability of feed. In Belovezhskaya Pushcha, in the year following a good harvest of acorns, the average number of piglets in a brood was 6.6, and in the year following a poor harvest of acorns - only 2.9.
The mass of newborns is 500-900 g. Up to 2-3 months of age, their color is striped of alternating dark-brown and light reddish-gray longitudinal stripes. In May, the weight of pigs is already 2-4.5 kg, in August 12-20 kg.
The lactation period lasts 2.5-3.5 months, but already at the age of one month, the piglets begin to feed on their own. During the period of milk feeding, females with piglets again gather in herds and pigs exhibit "pig communism", when piglets, while grazing with another brood, also suck milk from other mothers. Often it looks like a game, because this squealing and pushing striped horde of piglets from two or three broods can simultaneously suck for 20-30 seconds one female, and then another and a third, and they do not drive them away (while the females dig muzzle in the ground in search of food).