The German Landrace pig is one that has its origin at the beginning of 1900 to the nor-east of Germany. The individuals of this breed that exist today are pure specimens. Only some farmers have made certain crosses, but always being careful. During the late 40’s and 50’s, imports of the Danish Landrace and Dutch Landrace breed were used to improve the breed.
A landrace pig is a type of pig that was originally bred in Germany. They are known for their short, stocky build and their long lifespan of up to 15 years. These pigs are also known as German Landrace Pigs. In the U.S., these breeds have been replaced by other more popular types such as Yorkshire or Duroc because they were not able to produce enough meat (leaner). However, these breeds can produce more pork which means you get more bacon! The average weight per animal at slaughter is around 400 pounds with an average carcass weight of about 200 pounds.
Characteristics of German Landrace Pig
The German Landrace pig is a breed that maintains the same characteristics as other landrace breeds. Especially those that have been imported to Germany. This breed has medium size weighing around 125 Kg. It is a race that maintains the characteristic white color, and the good thing is that it stands out for the production of meat of this breed.
Although it does not keep the same size as large in size and length as other Landrace breeds. Another feature that keeps is the large drooping ears. While the legs of this breed are thick, strong and heavily muscled. Both the front and rear legs are kept at the same level, so the back does not have a curvature so pronounced.
In addition, the belly of this race is parallel to the back and is not so bulky. And the tail of this race is short, thin, and tilted up. The head of this race is directed a little down and is thin, the snout is short. This breed is considered to have a high fertility rate, and females are considered good mothers.
The size of the litter reaches up to 11 young per litter. In general, the weaning of this breed is between 5 and 9 weeks. And the survival rate after weaning is quite high. Because the pups have several weeks feeding through lactation, farmers do not pay as much attention as they are well fed. Another of the good benefits of this breed is that they have a good nutritional conversion. They get to gain around 900 grams of weight per day.
In addition, this race has a strain that maintains the same name but additionally has a letter, which is known as German Landrace B. And although they maintain similar characteristics, these 2 strains are kept separate in the genealogical book. This strain B appeared at the beginning of the 70s, which arose through crosses between the Belgian and Dutch races, both of the landrace line.
In general, this strain has the characteristics of having a greater back so it has a ham with more development. In addition, both strains are the ones that make a difference, since they are the ones that have the largest number of individuals in the country. This characteristic is what makes them advantageous to make crosses with other races. And thanks to the fact that these strains have a good genetic base, it is what causes them to reproduce more commercially.
Usage
The German Landrace pig is a breed of several purposes. One of the first uses that are given to this breed is the production of meat. In addition to the good quality of the meat of this breed is also uses for the production of sausages, one of the most made is ham. You may also like to read American Yorkshire pig.
Since it has good genetics and brings good qualities to its descent, this breed and strain B is frequently used to crossbreed with other breeds. However, because strain B is a hybrid, it is the one that tends to use more to carry out this type of cross.
Food
The German Landrace pig is a resistant breed, so it can be maintained with intensive grazing systems. In the same way, the breeder can keep feeding in stables with hay and alfalfa. It can be fed with various vegetables, grains, and cereals. You may also like to read Large Black Pig.
Special Features
The German Landrace pig is a highly resistant breed. As much as to climatic conditions as to the environment that surrounds them, as well as to food. Also, they have good stress management and very good longevity. Due to the characteristics of this breed, it is excellent to cross with other breeds. Since it improves the quality of the pups. In general, about 1.000 individuals of this breed are export per year.
Something that happens very often is that people tend to confuse the original race, with strain B, only born farmers are able to know them. Another thing that farmers in that country do is that they separate the purebred with strain B. In this way strain B, which is a hybrid, can be crossbred with other breeds, and thus be able to produce commercially. In addition to the Landrace breed, Pietrain is another one with the largest number of individuals within Germany.
FAQ
What is the Landrace pig known for?
The Landrace pig is a domesticated breed of pork originally developed in Denmark and Sweden. It is known for its superior lean-to-fat ratio, along with excellent quality meat and good mothering abilities making it one of the most popular breeds in the world.
What are the types of Landrace pig?
There are numerous types of landrace pigs found in different parts of the world. Generally, landrace pigs refer to varieties that have adapted over centuries to their native environment and climate and have been bred for specific traits such as fertility, feed efficiency, meat quality or wool production.
What is the origin of the Landrace pig?
The Landrace pig is a breed of domestic pig that originated in the 19th century. It was developed by Danish and Swedish farmers to suit their particular needs for an animal that could efficiently produce a large quantity of pork from varied and sometimes poor-quality feed sources. The unique characteristics of the Landrace breed include fertility, strong mothering skills, wide adaptability to varying environmental conditions, hardiness, stature, good meat quality and conformation.
Conclusion
This article has provided a brief history of the German Landrace pig and some information about its origins as well as how it is currently used. If you are interested in either purchasing or breeding this type of animal, be sure to do your research on what makes them so special! The breed was originally developed for meat production but due to their docile nature, they can also serve other purposes such as cross-breeding with other breeds. After reading this guide, we hope that you have found out more about these animals and will be able to make an informed decision when choosing which breed suits your needs best! Good luck in finding the perfect hog for you!
As a reference: Wikipedia
