Breeding and selection of mini-pigs in the ICG SB RAS

Abstract

The article considers methods used for breeding and selection of mini-pigs in the ICG, SB RAS, the theoretical justifcation of these methods and the purposes for which they are used. We showed the genealogical structure of the herd and the contribution of inbreeding to the genetic similarity of modern representatives of genealogical lines and families with the founders of the breeding group. We characterized the phenotypic diversity of the ICG mini-pigs in colours, weight categories, types of growth and features of constitution. We listed measures supporting genetic diversity in the herd of the ICG mini-pigs. We explained the possibility of using similarity indices calculated by using portions of the ancestors’ blood (genome) for the selection of parental pairs and the evaluation of genetic consolidation of the herd. We showed that the average index of similarity between males and females, calculated by using portions of the ancestors’ blood, in the ICG minipigs is close to the limit value. It turned out that effective evaluation of the genetic potential of mini-pigs in growth rate and fnal size of individuals is only possible under the condition of a rich and full feeding of young animals. The time scale of estimation of growth of live weight of the ICG mini-pigs for three weight categories allocated in the selection group is presented. The types of growth and development of mini-pigs observed in the ICG breeding group and the type inherent to individuals in the small weight category are considered. We justifed the minimum live weight of a newborn piglet in the herd of the ICG mini-pigs. Values of optimal multiple pregnancy for the three categories of ICG mini-pig sows were calculated.

Keywords

• mini-pigs
• breeding
• selection
• inbreeding
• genetic diversity
• similarity index
• thorought-bredness
• weight category
• weight of a newborn piglets
• quantity of piglets in nest