ORIGIN AND HISTORY
The exact origin of the Duroc breed is unknown. A number of red pig strains developed around 1800 in the United States in areas such as New York and New Jersey. The modern Duroc originated from the crosses of the Jersey Red of New Jersey and the Duroc of New York.
The Duroc was first imported into Australia in 1922 and by 1936 had become quite popular. However, the breed gradually lost favour and became extinct in the early forties. In 1981 Durocs were reintroduced into Australia. The new bloodlines came from New Zealand and Canada.
BREED CHARACTERISTICS
The Duroc is a large-framed, late-maturing type, excellent for heavy-carcase production. The forequarters, particularly the head and neck, are light and it has small lop ears. The skin is a solid reddish colour, varying from gold to a deep, brick red.
USES AND PERFORMANCE
The Duroc was imported into Australia to provide a third breed. It is used in cross-breeding programs as a terminal sire when crossed with Large White/Landrace cross sows. This cross is very suitable for the bacon trade.
The Duroc or Duroc cross does not make a good maternal sire. Litter size is lower than that of other breeds. However, Duroc crosses (with up to 60 per cent Duroc) crossed with white breeds have been shown to perform quite well as breeding females. Durocs, especially male Durocs, have been found to be aggressive. Some lines have shown hip and shoulder weakness.
The few boars that have been tested at Boar Performance Test Stations have grown quickly with one boar achieving 1100 g a day on test (while growing from 40 kg to 90 kg) with a feed conversion of 2.23 (1 kg of weight gained for every 2.23 kg of feed consumed) and a final backfat reading of 14 mm.