PRODUCTIVITY AND EXTERIOR PARAMETERS OF THE REPLACEMENT GILTS WITH VARIOUS WAYS OF REARING

Abstract

The experimental part of the work was carried out at the industrial pig-breeding complex of AIC – Kursk “Troitskiy Pig Complex” LLC in the period 2020 – 2023. According to the experimental methodology, six groups of gilts were selected for the study, of which the first three groups of replacement gilts were raised in a group housing system, and the next three groups were raised in individual pens.

The study of the exterior and constitutional characteristics of animals is of practical importance. The general constitution is associated with important economic traits of animals, such as precocity – the ability of animals to early achieve complete development and the possibility of early economic use, the ability to fatten, mating activity, the nature of productivity, health, temperament, general resistance to external adverse effects, and so on. Since the constitution is an expression of all the anatomical and physiological characteristics of the organism to the conditions in which the animal exists, this parameter is considered a criterion for the health, strength and resilience of the animal. The selection of replacement gilts for reproduction purposes is influenced, along with growth energy and fat thickness, by exterior characteristics, which are assessed when the gilts reach 100 kg of live weight. First of all, this is the number and quality of nipples, the position of the limbs, the structure and texture of the hooves, as well as the development of the external reproductive organs. An underdeveloped vulva is an indicator of underdevelopment of the entire reproductive system. An important stage in pig breeding is the stage of formation of the sexual cyclic recurrence (puberty), during which the individuality of the exterior is mainly formed. It begins at the age of 4 months and ends by 8-9 months. At present, the topic of research on the timing of the onset of puberty remains relevant because it is necessary to take into account the period of puberty at enterprises, since early or late mating of gilts leads to a sharp decrease in productivity. It is important to consider that the phase of puberty may be different for different breeds.