Growth and development of purebred and crossbred replacement piglets

Goal. To study the growth and development processes of purebred and crossbred replacement piglets of domestic selection to determine the optimal combination of the breeds under study. Methods. For the study, conducted in 2024 – 2025, two control groups were initially formed, consisting of purebred replacement piglets of the Meat and Welsh breeds. The next two groups were formed from replacement piglets resulting from reciprocal crosses between the Welsh and Poltava meat breeds, and another two groups were formed from replacement piglets resulting from direct crosses between the Welsh and Poltava meat breeds and boars of the Large White breed. The results were analyzed using variational statistics. Post hoc pairwise comparisons using Tukey’s criterion were performed following analysis of variance. Statistical analysis of the data was conducted using Microsoft Excel 2021. Results. The first statistically significant differences in live weight were observed in 2-month-old animals. At the age of 4 months, the differences between the groups of piglets became more pronounced. Despite slightly lower average daily weight gains in piglets during the growing period, the diffe­rences between the groups persisted in subsequent age periods. From birth to 8 months of age, crossbred piglets of all combinations showed higher average daily weight gains compared to purebred Poltava meat-type piglets. Backfat thickness at the level of the 6th – 7th thoracic vertebrae in the various groups of piglets ranged from 12.20 to 19.87 mm. Body length of piglets raised under different crossbreeding combinations at a live weight of 100 kg ranged from 120.33 to 122.13 cm. Conclusions. It was found that two-breed young stock from all crossbreeding combinations exhibited average daily weight gains that were 3.17 – 4.82% higher compared to purebred animals of the Poltava meat breed from birth to 8 months of age (p < 0.001). In terms of the age at which a live weight of 100 kg was reached, the advantage of the crossbred young stock was 2.87 – 4.21% (p < 0.001). For such indicators as backfat thickness at the le­vel of the 6th – 7th thoracic vertebrae and body length of growing piglets, the best results were achieved, respectively, by crossing Welsh sows with Poltava Meat or Large White boars and by crossing Poltava Meat sows with Welsh boars.