Digitalization - mainstream in optimizing the solution of breeding problems

Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution “All-Russian Research Institute of Horse Breeding”, 391105, Institute of Horse Breeding, Divovo settlement, Rybnovsky District, Ryazan Region, Russia

^* Corresponding author: labgenetics79@gmail.com

Abstract

In the Strategy of Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation, technical and technological modernization of all sectors of the national economy is defined as a strategic condition for the effective development of the Russian economy. Along with other branches of animal husbandry, horse breeding is also subject to modernization, especially in terms of optimizing the solution of breeding problems. The assessment of typicality and conformation becomes extremely important for those breeds where breeding work has been focused on maintaining an authentic type of constitution for a long time. The purpose of the research was to analyze alternative methods for assessing the conformation of horses of different breeds and productivity directions, to develop a method for photographing animals with subsequent image processing using digital technologies. The article discusses the actual problem of the subjectivity of horse conformation evaluation. It has been determined that obtaining sufficiently reliable data is possible both from a photograph taken with a camera with a long-focus lens and using a smartphone camera. Significant conformation differences have been established between the original and Russian populations of Shetland ponies. The expediency of using an innovative assessment method that meets the modern needs of horse breeding was shown.