Assessment of males of the Airedale Terrier breed by the intensity of growth of offspring

Abstract

Goal. To substantiate approaches to determining the tribal value of Airedale terriers, taking into account the origin, exterior-constitutional indicators, age dynamics of growth, and quality of offspring of sires. Methods. The research was carried out by methods of somatometry, calculation of indices of body structure, monitoring of live weight, and growth energy. Evaluation of the breeders was carried out based on the quality of the descendants. The probability of the results was confirmed by the methods of variational statistics using the Student’s criterion. The obtained data were processed by the method of variational statistics using Microsoft Excel 2010. Results. It was established that the most intensive increase in the live weight of puppies, on average 18–22% per month, was at the age of 2–6 months, while in 6–12 months the growth rate decreased to 6–9%. It was confirmed that compliance with optimal growing conditions during critical periods of postnatal ontogeny contributed to the formation of a harmonious physique and improved the exterior characteristics of young stock by 8–12%. It was proved that the quality of offspring was the most objective indicator of the degree of realization of the hereditary potential of sires, and the limited use of individual sires led to an increase in the coefficient of kinship in the population by 1.5–2.0% within one generation. Conclusions. The expediency of combining exterior and functional selection with inbreeding control as the basis for effective breeding work with Airedale terriers was substantiated.