Adaptive-productive qualities of sows of a large white breed of French selection and their evaluation according to a new mathematical model of the selection index

Abstract

Goal. To study the adaptive-productive qualities of sows of the large white breed of French selection, and based on the obtained data, to develop a new method for assessing these characteristics and selection criteria for highly productive animals in the controlled population. Methods. The study was conducted in 2024–2025 based on the State Enterprise «Experimental Economy of the Institute of Agriculture of the North-East of NAAS», the Laboratory of Animal Husbandry and Feed Production of the Institute of Agriculture of the North-East of NAAS, and the Laboratory of Animal Husbandry of the State Institution «The Institute of Grain Crops of NAAS», using the following methods: zootechnical (assessment of sows by indicators of long-term adaptation and reproductive qualities), statistical (determination of arithmetic mean, its errors, indicators of variability of quantitative characteristics, correlation-regression analysis). Results. It was established that sows of a large white breed of French selection were characterized by high life expectancy (36.2 ± 1.10 months), duration of breeding use (27.4 ± 1.15 months), as well as reproductive qualities (multiplicity was 11.6 ± 0.13 animals, nest weight at the time of weaning at the age of 30 days — 78.6 ± 0.71 kg). Significant difference between animals of experimental groups (group I compared to groups II and III) was determined by life expectancy (11.6 and 21.7 months), duration of tribal use (10.2 and 20.5 months), as well as in terms of «farrowing, total» (2.1 and 4.2), «live piglets were born, total» (26.8 and 53.0 goals.), «nest weight at the time of weaning at the age of 30 days» (4.4 and 6.8 kg), «nest weight at the time of weaning at the age of 60 days» (10.5 and 16.5 kg), selection index of reproductive qualities (3.17 and 6.31 points). Sows of experimental group III had the highest rate of preservation of piglets before weaning at the age of 30 days (93.7 ± 2.32%). The correlation coefficient between adaptive productive index (Kh2), life expectancy, duration of breeding use, and reproductive qualities of sows ranged from –0.153 (tr = 1.33) to +0.999 (tr = 4237.88). The criterion for selecting sows with high adaptive and productive qualities according to the Kh2 index should be its value at the level of 79.97–125.93 points. Conclusions. A new way to assess the adaptive performance of sows is effective for the selection of highly productive animals by life expectancy and breeding use, and by reproductive qualities. This conclusion was confirmed by calculations of the economic efficiency of the research results: the maximum increase in additional products received from sows of experimental group I (Kh2 = 79.97 – 125.93 points). It was +4.95%, and its cost was +257.95 UAH/animal/farrowing.