Phenotypic consolidation in terms of the reproductive capacity of sows of Danish breeding in Ukraine

Abstract

Goal. To study the phenotypic consolidation of the reproduction ability of sows of Danish breeding in different combinations in Ukraine. Methods. Groups of animals for research were formed by the method of groups of analogs. Absolute sow reproducibility scores were processed by variational statistics using MS Excel 2016 and Statistica 10. The BIRQP index (breeding index of reproductive ability (reproductive qualities) of pigs) was calculated using the index estimation method. The degree of phenotypic consolidation of features was determined both through standard deviation and through the coefficient of variability. Results. Evaluation by the BIRQP index indicates the superiority of the sows of a Large white breed, combined with the boars of Landrace. According to the indicator of the total number of piglets at the time of birth, sows of a Large white breed were noted as the least consolida­ted at purebred breeding, and sows of Landras crossed with boars of a Large white breed. Similar results were obtained in terms of multiple fertility. As for the mass of the piglets’ nest and the average mass of 1 piglet at the time of weaning, the best consolidation was noted by a group of sows of Landrace crossed with boars of a Large white breed. Conclusions. It was established that the sows of a Large white breed in the case of combination with the boars of Landras by the mass of the piglets’ nest at the time of birth and weaning, as well as by the average mass of one piglet at the time of wea­ning, were characterized by less consolidation compared to other groups of animals. By the mass of the piglet’s nest and the average mass of one piglet at the time of weaning, Landras sows, combined with boars of a Large white breed, had better consolidation compared to other groups.