HEMATOLOGICAL INDICES AND THE RATE OF GROWTH DEPENDING ON DURATION OF EMBRYONIC GROWTH OF PIGS OBTAINED BY COMMERCIAL CROSS-BREEDING

Abstract

The studies were performed in pigs obtained by commercial cross-breeding under condiƟons of pig-breeding complex of Agricultural Open Joint-Stock Company Agrokombinat Kalyta. 115 crossbred breeding sows (Big White x Landras) – of similar age and development – were selected for the study; they were mated with purebred Big White boars. Three groups by five animals were selected from these breeding sows by pregnancy duraƟon. The first one (control group, the pregnancy duraƟon was the farm average) – 112-116 days; the second one (study group, reduced pregnancy duraƟon) – 103-111 days; the third one (study group, extended pregnancy duraƟon) – 117-120 days. The authors studied the growth duraƟon and hematological parameters of these breeding sows’ offsprings aŌer ablactaƟon unƟl the end of faƩening. The piglets were ablactated at the age of 26 days. The young stock were fed with dry feed stuff according to the convenƟonal technology. The feed level for the pigs of all groups was the same. The pigs were weighted upon birth at 1, 2, 4, 6 months, and the relaƟve weight gain and actual growth rate of the pigs were determined by Shmalgauzen and Brody formula. Hematological tests were performed at the age of 2, 4 and 6 months in four animals from each group (two gilts and two boars). Blood for tests was collected from auricular veins before feeding. Red blood cell count and hemoglobin concentraƟon were measured by hemascope, total protein, albumin and globulins were measured refractometrically. It has been established that the piglets obtained from the breeding sows with reduced pregnancy duraƟon had the lowest body weight at birth, and the piglets obtained from the extended pregnancy had the highest body weight. From the age of two months, the young stock with the reduced embryonic growth duraƟon were superior to the age-mates with the average and extended pregnancy in terms of body weight. The animals with reduced embryonic growth duraƟon had higher relaƟve weight gain and the actual growth rate factor, which characterizes their high growth intensity. The pigs obtained at commercial cross-breeding with different embryonic development duraƟon had different blood composiƟon. Thus, the piglets with reduced and average embryonic growth duraƟon, had higher red blood cells count, hemoglobin and total protein content. Higher hematological indicators in pigs with reduced embryonic period coincide with the period of their higher growth energy which indicates the interrelaƟon between the intensity of the animals’ growth and the red blood cell count, hemoglobin and total protein in blood. Therefore, the embryonic development period reducƟon posiƟvely affects the growth energy, that is associated with improved hematological indicators, which is advisable to consider in pigs selecƟon program

Keywords

• big white breed
• relative weight gain
• red blood cells
• hemoglobin