Estimation of combining ability of lines farm animals
The current situation with domestic livestock and the state program of import substitution dictate the need to create a breeding base in Russia with the selection of specialized lines and breeds. The implementation of this direction will require a complex set of measures and programs for the development of selective centers, in which it is necessary to introduce a test of specialized lines for combinational ability. The developed electronic templates and programs «PRACS-I» and «SELECTION-1» are universal for all types of farm animals and poultry, they allow to quantify the assessment of the combinational ability of lines in hybridization or crossing systems. Conducted testing of experimental material, breeding plants, as well as the results obtained by evaluating combining ability of lines of farm animals sub-confirm theoretical background of the relationship of heritability and the manifestation of the heterosis effect. Importation of imported livestock in the Russian economy should be based on the guaranteed effect of heterosis, that is, the acquired livestock should be checked for combinational compatibility and only after identifying positive options to use in the hybridization system. Only the development of the entire system - from breeding plants, reproducers, breeding and genetic centers to commodity reproducers-will allow to quickly produce high quality meat products.