The influence of the age of boars on their breeding qualities

Abstract

The reproductive performance of sows depends partly on the fertility of the boar. Many factors influence the fertility of the boar: external (environment) and internal (genetics). Acceleration of growth of young pigs occurs, as a rule, due to genetic improvements. The article presents the results of studies of sexual development and fertilizing ability of boars of three imported breeds (Landrace, Yorkshire and Duroc). Boars reach sexual maturity at 7-8 months of age, although they reach their full reproductive potential at an older age. One of the most important reasons for the different ability of breeding boars to inseminate with sperm is genetic differences, primarily breed differences. Therefore, conducting research to study the dynamics of ejaculate parameters associated with sexual development in young boars of imported breeds is relevant. In this article, we assessed the rate at which boars reach full breeding maturity and their fertilizing ability by analyzing the parameters of ejaculates with age. After sampling, the ejaculate volume, sperm concentration and percentage of progressively motile sperm were taken into account. The physical parameters of the ejaculate change with the age of the boar. The dynamics of age-related changes in the physical parameters of ejaculates in Duroc boars is significantly lower compared to the Landrace and Yorkshire boar breeds. Duroc boars have better sexual development and differ from Landrace and Yorkshire boars, which are characterized by an earlier cessation of growth. Duroc boars reached their peak ejaculation 6 months earlier than Landrace and Yorkshire boars, at 23 -24 months of age. The most favorable course of sexual development was observed in Landrace boars. Both the volume of ejaculate and the number and motility of sperm in this breed dynamically increased with age. Regardless of the age of the animal, it was possible to prepare a larger number of spemodoses from the ejaculates of boars of a given breed, in contrast to analogues of other breeds.