Assessment of the fertility potential of a breeding group of mini-pigs of ICIG SB RAS

The aim is to test the method developed by the authors for assessing the genetic potential of multiple breeding in domestic pigs.

Materials and methods. The work was carried out on mini-pigs of breeding of ICiG SB RAS. Since it was previously established that the multiple fertility of sows of epistatic white color is higher than the multiple fertility of sows of non-white, the analysis of these groups was carried out through comparison.

Results. It was found that white sows have a higher fertility potential per piglet than non-white sows (15 and 14 piglets per farrow, respectively). That is, at first glance, the multiplicity potentials of the mini-pigs of the ICiG SB RAS are clearly excessive compared to the optimum. At the same time, the modal distribution class of the sample maxima of multiple fertility in white sows is 11 piglets in a litter, and 9 in non-white sows. The limits of the optimal number of piglets in a litter for mini-pigs of the ICiG SB RAS determined in one of the previous studies are min=8 and max=11 individuals. However, the average multiplicity of mini-pigs of ICiG SB RAS is 7,210±0,161 (white sows) and 6,560±0,117 (non-white sows) piglets per farrowing, which is less than half of their multiplicity potentials. Thus, despite the apparent redundancy, the fertility potentials of white and non-white sows should not be considered too large, since they are realized in less than 3-14 % of farrowing. Assessing the breeding value of sows requires knowing which number of offspring in a litter is normal for a given breeding group, and which is an emergency and should not be taken into account. The study showed that litters with fewer than 3 piglets should be considered emergency during the first farrowing. For subsequent farrowing, the minimum norm should be 6 piglets in a litter of white sows and 5 piglets in a litter for non-white sows.

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