You have probably always wondered how long the gestation period is in Iberian pigs, haven’t you? Well, you’re probably going to find the answer quite interesting: it lasts exactly three months, three weeks and three days. Quite interesting, isn’t it? After the birth of a piglet, the animal goes through the following periods:
Suckling period
From the time they’re born until they stop drinking their mother’s milk. A pig will reach about 23 kg.
Rearing period
The animals are fed high-calorie, fibre-rich feed. The idea is to prevent them from getting too fat and for them to develop good bone and muscle structure.
Fattening period
During this period, an Iberian pig is referred to as “Fatty” and, depending on its diet, it will become a bellota (acorn-fed) or cebo (fodder-fed) Iberian pig.
Slaughter
If the animal is exposed to prolonged suffering, the meat can be affected. Therefore, modern slaughtering systems are fast, hygienic and prevent the animals from suffering.
A few interesting facts about these pigs before slaughtering: - A bellota pig gains a minimum of 46 kg with acorns and is slaughtered after a minimum of 14 months. - A “field” cebo pig is fed natural feed and then grazes in the open for two months. It is slaughtered after a minimum of 12 months of age. - A cebo pig is fed natural feed and is slaughtered after a minimum of 10 months of age.
If you’re interested in the diet of Iberian pigs, please go to A Pig’s Carefully Selected Diet.
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