Multi-step evaluation of development and productivity of pedigree herds of pigs of Yorkshire breed of new generations

The purpose of the work was to carry out a multi-step evaluation of the development and productivity of breeding herds of pigs of Yorkshire breed of new generations. The studies have established that on average boars aged 12–23 months in the herd had a live weight of 202.7 kg, body length of 166.7 cm; sows aged up to 18 months had 207.0 kg and 150 cm, respectively, which has met or exceeded the requirements of the “elite” class. Monitoring of reproductive longevity showed that the maximum annual output of live-born piglets per sow per year was noted in animals bred in the State Enterprise ZhodinoAgroPlemElita Nucleus (31.2 and 31.5 heads) in sows in the fifth and sixth farrowings, which was 0.32–6.8 % higher than in other farrowings. The sows of ZAO Vitebskagroprodukt had the highest piglet output per sow per year in the fifth and seventh farrowings (32.1 and 33.1 heads), which exceeded the given indicator by 0.31–20.8 % in the context of 1–3 farrowings. Taking the first ejaculates from boars characterized their precocity. It was noted that the best animals were bred in RUE Minsk Breeding Enterprise and RUE Vitebsk Breeding Enterprise where the average indicator was 8.2–8.4 months. Animals housed at these artificial insemination stations at 8.0–9.4 months began to be used earlier to obtain off spring. The longevity of use of boars was 20.1–25.7 months. The best longevity of boars was in the Minsk Breeding Enterprise and the Brest Breeding Enterprise (23.4–25.7 months). The best prolificacy was demonstrated by sows of the Vitebsk Bacon State Unitary Enterprise. In sows with two or more farrowings in this farm prolificacy was 13.5 piglets per farrowing, which was 0.4–0.6 heads or 3.0–4.65% (p ≤ 0.05) higher than the same indicator in other farms. The highest milk capacity was demonstrated by sows of ZAO Vitebskagroprodukt 70.5 kg, which was by 0.2–1.2 kg more than in other farms. Piglets in the Vitebsk Bacon State Unitary Enterprise and the State Enterprise ZhodinoAgroPlemElita had a higher live weight at weaning, which was 7.3–8.0 kg. It was by 0.4–0.7 kg or 15.9–5.79 % higher than in ZAO Vitebskagroprodukt. The results of the studies can be used in breeding and industrial pig farming as reserves for increasing the quantity and quality of pig products.