BREEDING PROGRAMS AS A MODEL FOR PLANNING AND AN ELEMENT FOR IMPROVING AGRICULTURAL ANIMAL BREEDS

The purpose of the study was to evaluate and characterize breeding programs for livestock breeds. Breeding programs for 30 breeds across four branches of animal husbandry were analyzed, including 11 pig breeds, 10 cattle breeds (5 dairy), 4 sheep breeds, and 4 horse breeds. Additionally, characteristics of mulberry silkworm breeds and hybrids were provided. It should be noted that the breeding programs were developed between 2001 and 2012, and only the Ukrainian Black-and-White Dairy, Ukrainian Red-and-White Dairy, Ukrainian Red Dairy, Southern Meat, Aberdeen Angus cattle breeds, and Large White pig breed have continued to be developed. The main objectives of the studied breeding programs are the progressive development of breeds, with primary elements for their optimization including an assessment of the breeds and genealogical structures, identification of animals' biological and productive characteristics, and a description of promising directions for future breeding work, considering animal selection and evaluation, selection principles, and breeding methods.