Realization of the genetic growth potential of danish–bred hybrid piglets under different feeding conditions and the influence of feeding method on sow utilization intensity

Abstract

The article studied the dependence of the realization of the genetic potential of reproductive qualities and the intensity of use of crossbred F1 sows of Danish selection when hybridizing them with boars of the specialized parent line of the Danish Durok breed on the system of feeding piglets in the post-weaning period. The influence of the multifertility of sows and the system of feeding their piglets on the leading indicators of the reproductive function of sows and the intensity of their use and the use of machine equipment. It was established that pig enterprises that used a liquid system of feeding piglets were 30 % larger than farms that used a dry feeding system. Their sows had 1.2 % higher fertility and 2.6 % better survival of piglets, resulting in a 4.4 % greater number of piglets at weaning. At the same time, due to the 9.7 % higher average daily growth, the live weight of each piglet at weaning in farms where their liquid feeding was used was 8.0 % higher, which, together with the more significant number of animals in the nest, led to a 12.8 % increase in weight their nests are not this time. According to the comprehensive indices of reproductive productivity of sows, their level in farms where liquid feeding was used was higher by 3.9–5.0 %. It has been proven that the use of a liquid piglet feeding system contributed to an increase of 1.5 % in the number of farrowing per year, 6.0 % in the number of weaned piglets per sow per year, 4.4 % in the average annual number of weaned piglets per machine, by 3.2 % to improve the farrowing ratio of sows. At the same time, it led to a decrease of 7.2 % in the period from weaning of piglets to insemination of the sow, 18.1 % of the average annual number of non-productive days per sow, by 8.3 % of feed consumption by the sow based on one kilogram of live weight of weaned piglets, by 2.1 % of the average annual number of dead sows and by 16.8 % of the share of introduction of piglets into the main herd. At the same time, animals in these farms consumed 5.0 % more feed annually than their counterparts in farms where traditional dry feeding of piglets was used. It was established that multifertility likely affected the weight of one piglet at weaning. In comparison, the method of feeding piglets in the post-weaning period likely affected piglets' survival before weaning and one piglet's weight at weaning. In contrast, the interaction of these factors has a probable impact only on the survival of piglets before weaning. These two factors had no possible influence on the rest of the studied productivity characteristics and technological indicators of the use of sows.