The level of adaptation and reproductive qualities of sows of the large white breed of different origins and lineages

Abstract

The work aimed to study the reproductive qualities and signs of long-term adaptation of sows of the large white breed of various origins and genealogical lines. The research was conducted in the research farm and laboratory of animal husbandry and fodder production of the Institute of Agriculture of the Northeast of the National Academy of Sciences. The work was carried out following the scientific research program of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine No. 30, “System of organizational and technological solutions for adaptation of animals to climate change for the production of livestock products” (“Climate-adaptive and organic livestock breeding”). “Generally accepted zootechnical, biometric, and economic research and analysis methods were used to achieve the goal”. It was established that sows of the large white breed of French and Belgian origin are characterized by high indicators of long-term adaptation (the “adaptation level” index is 8.99 ± 0.161 points). Regarding reproductive qualities, they meet the minimum requirements of the I and the “elite” classes. A significant difference between sows of French and Belgian origin was found in the length of life (2.6 months; P < 0.05), the number of farrowings obtained (0.5; P < 0.05), the number of live piglets obtained (9.9; Р < 0.01), multifertility (0.8 head.; Р < 0.001), the weight of the nest at the time of weaning at the age of 28 days (4.8 kg; Р < 0.01), index of reproductive qualities of the sow M. D. Berezovsky (1.76 points, P < 0.01). Sows of the genealogical line 5488 are characterized by the maximum indicators of life expectancy, duration of breeding use, number of farrowings obtained, multifertility, nest weight at the time of weaning at 28 days, and M. D. Berezovsky's index. According to these indicators, they prevailed over peers of other genealogical lines by an average of 15.97 %. It was established that the pairwise correlation coefficient between the signs of reproductive qualities of sows and the “level of adaptation” index ranges from -0.736 ± 0.0405 to +0.502 ± 0.0661. The maximum indicators of the value of additional products were obtained from sows of French origin (+ UAH 100.86, or + USD 2.55) and animals of the genealogical line 5488 (+ UAH 340.46, or USD + 8.61).