INFLUENCE OF SUCKLING PERIOD ON REPRODUCTIVE TRAITS OF SOWS

Abstract

Pig farming can be profitable only if world-class performance characteristics are achieved. Pork production and its cost are determined by the number of piglets raised per year from one sow. The cost of maintaining the breeding stock is 30-35% of the total production costs. Therefore, the efficiency of the industry and cost reduction directly depend on the reproductive productivity of sows. The purpose of the research was to study the effect of the duration of the suckling period on the efficiency of reproduction in sows. Early weaning of piglets contributes to an increase in pork production in large industrial complexes, but its efficiency depends on several factors. It would be successful only if sows did not experience a decrease in prolificacy, fertility did not decline, the number of sows that dropped out for various reasons did not increase, and the cost of raising early weaned piglets did not increase. Early weaning allows for an increase in the number of farrowings in a sow, but a steep reduction in the lactation period can lead to a decline in its reproductive traits. If weaned too early, sows do not come in heat well, their reproductive capacity decreases, and the survival rate of piglets worsens. The experiment was conducted at the pig farm of JSC “Niva” in Beloglinsky District in 2023-2024. In order to conduct the study, three groups of sows were formed according to the principle of analog pairs (40 individuals in each group). As a result of the influence analysis of suckling period duration on the reproductive traits of sows, it was established that with a suckling period duration of 24 days, an economic effect of 506,49 rubles per sow per year and a profitability level of 16,2% were obtained.