Reproductive performance of sows depending on different combinations of breeds and types

Cite this article: Khramkova, О. М. (2019). Reproductive performance of sows depending on different combinations of breeds and types. Theoretical and Applied Veterinary Medicine, 7(2), 115‒119. doi: 10.32819/2019.71021 Abstract. From the standpoint of scientific achievements, it has been established that not a single animal husbandry industry in the world, with the exception of poultry farming, possesses such effective potential and develops as dynamically as pig breeding. Reproductive performance of sows is one of the main factors that characterizes the efficiency of pig breeding and its profitability. Practice shows that the selection of sows for reproductive qualities works, but it is necessary to approach in a comprehensive way. The efficiency of raising the reproductive qualities of the pigs is due to the combined ability of the original parent forms that is their compatibility with different variants of cross-breeding. The aim of the study was to analyze the reproductive qualities of sows to determine the best maternal form. The reproductive indices of sows of different foreign and domestic combinations of breeds and types are compared. Six groups of animals were formed on an analogue group basis which were evaluated using performance indicators. The final evaluation was carried out using the estimation and selection indices of sow reproductive performance. Crossbred sows of Yorkshire and Landrace breeds (Yi × Li) of Irish selection showed significantly better performance indicators (P ˂ 0.001) than other breeds. They excelled as sows with the largest litter size at birth (13.73 piglets), including live litter size (13.07 piglets), litter size at weaning (11.87 piglets) and litter weight at weaning (89.74 kg). The piglets of experience groups had lower indexes of living mass both at birth and at weaning, in relation to control, that confirms the display of biological antagonism of dependence of living mass of piglets from their amount in a nest. It was established, that the influence of maternal genotype was significant (P ˂ 0.01) and was higher compared with the boar genotype factor in the reproductive performance of sows and their complex indices. It is advisable to use sows (Yi × Li) as a productive maternal form in order to obtain commercial hybrids.