Bayesian threshold analysis of direct and maternal genetic parameters for piglet mortality at farrowing in Large White, Landrace, and Pietrain populations

A Bayesian threshold model was fitted to analyze the genetic parameters for farrowing mortality at the piglet level in Large White, Landrace, and Pietrain populations. Field data were collected between 1999 and 2006. They were provided by 3 pig selection nucleus farms of a commercial breeding company registered in the Spanish Pig Data Bank (BDporc). Analyses were performed on 3 data sets of Large White (60,535 piglets born from 4,551 litters), Landrace (57,987 piglets from 5,008 litters), and Pietrain (42,707 piglets from 4,328 litters) populations. In the analysis, farrowing mortality was considered as a binary trait at the piglet level and scored as 1 (alive piglet) or 0 (dead piglet) at farrowing or within the first 12 h of life. Each breed was analyzed separately, and operational models included systematic effects (year-season, sex, litter size, and order of parity), direct and maternal additive genetic effects, and common litter effects. Analyses were performed by Bayesian methods using Gibbs sampling. The posterior means of direct heritability were 0.02, 0.06, and 0.10, and the posterior means of maternal heritability were 0.05, 0.13, and 0.06 for Large White, Landrace, and Pietrain populations, respectively. The posterior means of genetic correlation between the direct and maternal genetic effects for Landrace and Pietrain populations were -0.56 and -0.53, and the highest posterior intervals at 95% did not include zero. In contrast, the posterior mean of the genetic correlation between direct and maternal effects was 0.15 in the Large White population, with the null correlation included in the highest posterior interval at 95%. These results suggest that the genetic model of evaluation for the Landrace and Pietrain populations should include direct and maternal genetic effects, whereas farrowing mortality could be considered as a sow trait in the Large White population.     

Genomic prediction of growth in pigs based on a model including additive and dominance effects

Independent of whether prediction is based on pedigree or genomic information, the focus of animal breeders has been on additive genetic effects or ‘breeding values’. However, when predicting phenotypes rather than breeding values of an animal, models that account for both additive and dominance effects might be more accurate. Our aim with this study was to compare the accuracy of predicting phenotypes using a model that accounts for only additive effects (MA) and a model that accounts for both additive and dominance effects simultaneously (MAD). Lifetime daily gain (DG) was evaluated in three pig populations (1424 Pietrain, 2023 Landrace, and 2157 Large White). Animals were genotyped using the Illumina SNP60K Beadchip and assigned to either a training data set to estimate the genetic parameters and SNP effects, or to a validation data set to assess the prediction accuracy. Models MA and MAD applied random regression on SNP genotypes and were implemented in the program Bayz. The additive heritability of DG across the three populations and the two models was very similar at approximately 0.26. The proportion of phenotypic variance explained by dominance effects ranged from 0.04 (Large White) to 0.11 (Pietrain), indicating that importance of dominance might be breed‐specific. Prediction accuracies were higher when predicting phenotypes using total genetic values (sum of breeding values and dominance deviations) from the MAD model compared to using breeding values from both MA and MAD models. The highest increase in accuracy (from 0.195 to 0.222) was observed in the Pietrain, and the lowest in Large White (from 0.354 to 0.359). Predicting phenotypes using total genetic values instead of breeding values in purebred data improved prediction accuracy and reduced the bias of genomic predictions. Additional benefit of the method is expected when applied to predict crossbred phenotypes, where dominance levels are expected to be higher.     

长白和大白猪主要生长性状的遗传参数估计

旨在分析母猪的出生年份、出生季节、初生重、开测日龄等固定效应对长白、大白猪主要生长性状的影响,并对目标生长性状进行遗传参数估计（遗传力、遗传方差、表型相关和遗传相关）,为猪的遗传改良提供基本依据。本试验利用GLM模型分析试验猪群（398头长白猪和1 176头大白猪）的固定效应对猪生长性状的影响,并采用多性状动物模型对目标性状进行遗传参数估计。目标生长性状包括达100 kg体重日龄（age to 100 kg,AGE）、达100 kg背膘厚（backfat to 100 kg,BF）、100 kg平均日增重（average daily gain to 100 kg,ADG）。研究表明,在大白和长白猪中,猪的出生年、出生季、初生重以及开测日龄对生长性状均具有极显著的影响（P<0.001）;长白猪的AGE、ADG和BF的遗传力分别为0.321、0.327和0.324,大白猪对应性状的遗传力分别为0.454、0.469和0.408;长白猪的ADG和AGE之间的遗传相关、表型相关分别为-0.990、-0.995,大白猪的ADG和AGE之间的遗传相关、表型相关分别为-0.993、-0.998,均呈现较强的负相关。长白、大白猪的生长性状（AGE、ADG、BF）均属于中等遗传力性状,其出生年份、出生季节、初生重和开测日龄对猪的生长性状影响较大。在遗传参数估计分析时,提高样本数量并提升表型数据质量,可以增加遗传参数估计的可靠性。本研究中的生长性状遗传参数估计结果较为可靠,可为后续的遗传改良提供参考。     

不同品种猪α1-岩藻糖转移酶基因遗传变异初析

本实验采用PCR RFLP方法对 5个瘦肉型猪种杜洛克、长白猪、大白猪、汉普夏猪和皮特兰猪共计 2 5 0头猪的α1 岩藻糖转移酶基因 (FUT1)进行多态性分析。结果表明 :本研究中的 5个猪种在该FUT1基因座位存在多态性 ,均分布着三种基因型 (AA ,AG和GG) ,抗性基因型AA分布频率为 0 .0 2 8,易感基因型AG与GG分布频率分别为0 .2 4 4和 0 .72 8。卡方检验结果表明 ,长白猪与大白猪基因型频率差异极显著 (P <0 .0 1) ,与皮特兰猪之间差异显著(P <0 .0 5 ) ,其它猪种之间差异均不显著。     

不同猪种TGF-β1基因单核苷酸多态性分析

以二花脸猪、大白猪、长白猪、皮特兰猪和圣特西猪共计861 头为研究材料,采用PCR-SSCP技术,对猪TGF β1基因6 7外显子区的1156 bp序列进行多态性分析,发现一个多态位点。经克隆测序分析,位于第6内含子区内存在C→T突变,该突变位点为第7外显子上游的第9位碱基(序列:AJ621785中的第1043位点)。对不同猪群的基因型和基因频率统计结果表明,二花脸猪以等位基因T为主,而大白猪、长白猪、皮特兰猪和圣特西猪则以等位基因C为主,且各猪群均处于Hardy Weinberg平衡。     

不同猪种ADIPOQ基因外显子2多态性及其与山西白猪体重和体尺性状的关联分析

本研究旨在检测猪脂联素（adiponectin,ADIPOQ）基因外显子2的多态性,并分析其对山西白猪体重和体尺性状的影响。采用PCR-SSCP技术检测了长白猪、大白猪、杜洛克猪、山西白猪、山西黑猪和马身猪6个猪种392个个体ADIPOQ基因外显子2的多态性,并采用GLM程序分析了ADIPOQ基因外显子2多态性与山西白猪体重和体尺性状的关联性。结果显示,在ADIPOQ基因外显子2的89 bp处检测到G→A错义突变,引起缬氨酸（Val）向异亮氨酸（Ile）的转变。ADIPOQ基因外显子2存在3种基因型：AA、AB、BB,2个等位基因：A和B。杜洛克猪中只有BB基因型,长白猪、大白猪、山西白猪和山西黑猪中BB基因型为优势基因型,马身猪中AA基因型频率最高。在引入品种长白猪、大白猪和杜洛克猪中B等位基因为优势等位基因,基因频率分别为0.96、0.96和1.00;在地方品种马身猪中A等位基因频率（0.52）略高于B等位基因（0.48）;在培育品种山西白猪和山西黑猪中B等位基因频率分别为0.76和0.78,介于引入猪种和地方品种之间。基因型频率分布在马身猪、山西白猪和山西黑猪之间无显著差异（P>0.05）,杜洛克猪与长白猪、大白猪间差异均不显著（P>0.05）,而长白猪和大白猪间差异显著（P<0.05）,任意一个引入品种与马身猪、山西白猪和山西黑猪之间的差异均达到极显著水平（P<0.01）。ADIPOQ基因外显子2多态性对断奶重有显著影响,其中BB基因型个体28日龄断奶重显著高于AA和AB基因型（P<0.05）,AA和AB基因型间无显著差异（P>0.05）,但对其他性状无显著影响,说明该位点只在个体发育早期阶段起作用。     

Post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) clinical expression under field conditions is modulated by the pig genetic background

Post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) is a worldwide distributed disease of multifactorial origin and porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) has been identified as its essential infectious aetiology. Pig genetic background has been pointed to influence disease expression. In the present study, three different boar lines, namely A (100% Pietrain), B (50% Large White × 50% Pietrain) and C (25% Large White × 75% Duroc), were used to inseminate sows from the same genetic line (37.5% Large White × 37.5% Duroc × 25% Landrace) located on two PMWS-affected farms (farm-1 and farm-2). The PMWS clinical expression of their offspring was studied from weaning to slaughter, evaluating three parameters: total post-weaning mortality (PWM), PWM associated to PMWS (PMWS-PWM) and body weight (BW) evolution. The effect of other variables potentially related with PMWS, including sow and piglet PCV2 exposure, sow parity, piglet gender and piglet BW at weaning, were also considered in the study design. Overall, a total of 6.5% PWM and 4.3% PMWS-PWM occurred in the monitored farms. Pigs from boar line C showed the highest PWM (16.3%) and PMWS-PWM (12.4%), and the lowest BW; pigs from boar line A showed the lowest PWM (1.8%) and the highest BW. Furthermore, PWM was also higher in piglets from farm-2 and from multiparous sows. In farm-2, PMWS-PWM was higher in piglets from multiparous sows. Finally, BW was influenced by interactions between genetics and both farm and pig age, and was lower in piglets from farm-2. This study represents a consistent observation of the genetic background effect on PMWS clinical expression under field conditions.     

Genetic relationship of litter traits between farrowing and weaning in Landrace and Large White pigs

We estimated genetic parameters in Landrace and Large White pig populations for litter traits at farrowing (total number born, number born alive, number stillborn, total litter weight at birth (LWB), and mean litter weight at birth) and those at weaning (litter size at weaning (LSW), total litter weight at weaning (LWW), mean litter weight at weaning (MWW), and survival rate from farrowing to weaning). We analyzed 65,579 records at farrowing and 6,306 at weaning for Landrace, and 52,557 and 5,360, respectively, for Large White. Single‐trait and two‐trait repeatability animal models were exploited to estimate heritability and genetic correlation respectively. Heritability estimates of LSW were 0.09 for Landrace and 0.08 for Large White. Genetic correlations of LSW with MWW were –0.43 for Landrace and –0.24 for Large White. Genetic correlations of LSW with LWW and LWB ranged from 0.5 to 0.6. The genetic correlation of MWW with LWW was positive, but that with LWB was negligible. The results indicate that utilizing LWW or LWB could improve LSW efficiently, despite the antagonistic genetic correlation between LSW and MWW.     

4猪种Nramp1基因第6内含子多态性研究

天然抗性巨噬蛋白(Nramp)基因是与人、鼠的一些病原微生物的易感性和抗性有关的重要候选基因。为了研究猪Nramp1基因的多态性,利用PCR-RFLP技术检测了杜洛克、大白猪、长白猪和合作猪共270头个体Nramp1基因第6内含子NdeⅠ酶切位点多态性。结果表明,4个猪种群共检测到3种基因型(AA、AB和BB),其中AB基因型为杜洛克、大白猪和长白猪的优势基因型;AA基因型为合作猪的优势基因型。经卡方适合性检测,杜洛克、合作猪和长白猪处于Hardy-Weinberg平衡状态(P>0.05),大白猪处于Hardy-Weinberg不平衡状态。多态信息含量分析显示,Nramp1基因的第6内含子NdeⅠ酶切位点在各猪种表现出中度多态性。     

Impact of dominance effects on sow longevity

The purpose of the current study was to estimate variance components, especially dominance genetic variation, for overall leg action, length of productive life and sow stayability until third and fifth parity in the Finnish pig populations. The variance components were estimated in two purebred [Landrace (LR), n = 23 602 and Large White (LW), n =22 984] and crossbred (LR × LW, n = 17 440) data sets. Five different analyses were carried out for all the traits to compare the effect of sows’ inbreeding, common litter environment and parental dominance in the statistical model when determining the genetic correlations of the traits for the two purebred and crossbred populations. Estimated heritabilities for the traits ranged from 0.04 to 0.06. The estimates for the proportion of dominance variance of phenotypic variance (d²) varied between 0.01 and 0.17, and was highest in the crossbred dataset. The genetic correlations of the same traits in purebred and crossbred were all high (>0.75). Based on current results, the effect of dominance should be accounted for in the breeding value estimation of sow longevity, especially when data from crossbred animals are included in the analyses. Because dominance genetic variation for sow longevity exists that variation should be utilized through planned matings in producing sows for commercial production.     

Identification of carcass and meat quality quantitative trait loci in a Landrace pig population selected for growth and leanness

The identification of QTL related to production traits that are relevant for the pig industry has been mostly performed by using divergent crosses. The main objective of the current study was to investigate whether these growth, fatness, and meat quality QTL, previously described in diverse experimental populations, were segregating in a Landrace commercial population selected for litter size, backfat thickness, and growth performance. We have found QTL for carcass weight (posterior P > 0.75), cutlet weight (posterior P > 0.99), weight of ham (posterior P > 0.75), shoulders weight (posterior probability > 0.99), and shear firm-ness (posterior P > 0.99) on pig Chromosome 2. Moreover, QTL with posterior P > 0.75 for fat thickness between the 3rd and 4th ribs (Chromosome 7), rib weights (Chromosome 8), backfat thickness (Chromosomes 8, 9, and 10), and b Minolta color component (Chromosome 7) were identified. These results indicate that commercial purebred populations retain a significant amount of genetic variation, even for traits that have been selected for many generations.     

Relationships between longevity,lifetime productivity,carcass traits and conformation in Polish maternal pig breeds

The objective of this study was to obtain heritability estimates for longevity (length of life, length of productive life, number of litters) and lifetime productivity traits (lifetime pig production, lifetime pig efficiency, lifetime litter efficiency) and genetic correlation between them and litter size at first farrowing, growth (ADG), backfat thickness (BF), loin depth, lean meat percentage (LMP), phenotypic selection index (PSI), and exterior in 19423 Polish Landrace (L) and 16049 Polish Large White (LW) sows. Heritabilities for longevity and lifetime productivity traits were 0.10–0.13 for L sows and 0.09–0.11 for LW sows depending on the trait definition. The genetic correlations among these traits were all high and positive, ranging from 0.76 to 0.99. Antagonistic genetic correlations (?0.21 to ?0.26) were found between longevity traits and PSI and LMP in LW sows, while in L sows the respective parameters were lower and not significant for length of productive life. The number of live‐born piglets in the first litter was positively correlated with lifetime pig production and lifetime pig efficiency in both breeds. The genetic correlations of longevity and lifetime pig production with ADG, BF, loin depth and exterior were small, and in most cases, not significant.     

11个猪种SLC6A14基因3个SNPs的群体遗传变异研究

本研究旨在了解猪种的遗传变异、种群间的亲缘关系和遗传分化。以白色杜洛克×二花脸资源家系F0代的17头二花脸母猪和2头白色杜洛克公猪的DNA池为模板,通过直接测序在猪SLC6A14基因内识别4个SNPs,以3个突变位点(g.7944AT、c.1438GA、g.21063GT)为基础,通过PCR-RFLP技术,对11个中外猪种进行多态性检测。结果表明:在SLC6A14g.7944AT和g.21063GT2个突变位点上,所有检测猪种都出现变异,其中槐猪、二花脸猪在g.7944AT位点上变异显著(0.01P0.05);而里岔黑猪、槐猪、玉山黑猪、合作藏猪、八眉猪在g.21063GT内变异极显著(P0.01),以GT基因型为主,且二花脸猪中出现TT基因型;在SLC6A14c.1438GA突变位点上,3个欧洲猪种(长白、大白、杜洛克)没有出现变异,均为GG纯合型,而其他猪种在此位点上均存在变异;再根据11个猪种3个位点的多态性信息计算Nei氏遗传距离,由UPGMA法构建聚类图,说明中国地方猪种与外引猪种存在明显的遗传分化;由此得出中国地方猪种比外引猪种有高的遗传多样性和变异,且存在明显的遗传分化,品种间多数猪种符合品种地域分布和品种特性。     

贵州地方猪BF基因的群体遗传特性分析

以BF基因为候选基因,利用PCR和直接测序技术对贵州白香猪、可乐猪、大约克猪3个品种共95个个体BF基因外显子15、16、17的733 bp进行多态性分析,并对不同品种进行群体遗传学分析。结果显示:在第16外显子45 bp处存在A→C的碱基突变,命名为BF-exon16-A45C,导致编码的氨基酸由谷氨酸(Glu)突变为天冬氨酸(Asp);在贵州白香猪和可乐猪群体内均检测到AA、AC和CC三种基因型,在大约克猪群体内只检测到AC和CC两种基因型,贵州白香猪处于低度多态,可乐猪和大约克猪处于中度多态。经χ2适合性检验表明:贵州白香猪在该位点偏离了Hardy-Weinberg遗传平衡状态,可乐猪和大约克猪均处于Hardy-Weinberg遗传平衡状态。     

SNaPshot based genotyping of the RYR1 mutation in Portuguese breeds of pigs

The porcine stress syndrome or malignant hyperthermia is an inherited autosomic recessive disease, which results in neuromuscular disorders leading to death in homozygous individuals and is associated with deterioration of meat quality. The defect in susceptible animals results from modifications in the calcium release channel or Ryanodine Receptor (RYR1), with a mutation leading to a C to T transition in nucleotide 1843 of the gene. The objective of this work was to develop a method based on analysis of SNPs to detect the mutation described in the RYR1 locus in pigs, and study polymorphisms of the gene in four exotic (Large White, Landrace, Duroc and Pietrain) and three native (Bísaro, Alentejano and Malhado de Alcobaça) breeds of pigs in Portugal. The method was successful in identifying the mutation by analysis of SNPs, and results indicate a high incidence of the mutant allele in Pietrain (0.75) and, to a lesser degree, in Malhado de Alcobaça (0.34) and Landrace (0.28); frequencies in Alentejano, Bísaro and Large White ranged between 0.04 and 0.09. These results suggest the need to establish breeding programs aimed at eliminating the susceptibility allele from those populations.     

Genetic analysis of Mexican hairless pig populations.

The main Creole pig population in Mexico, the hairless Mexican pig, remains as an unimproved and endangered genetic resource. In order to learn more about the genetic characteristics of this pig population, we assessed the allele frequency of 10 microsatellite loci in 177 unrelated hairless pigs from seven regions at Mexico and in 111 pigs of four commercial breeds (Landrace, Large White, Hampshire, and Duroc). Genetic diversity in each population was estimated by the unbiased average heterozygosity and the allele number. Nei's standard genetic distances and a neighbor-joining dendrogram were used to reveal the genetic relationships among these populations. In this report, we present data showing that the level of the genetic diversity in Mexican hairless pigs is high compared with previous reports, and that they belong to a genetic lineage divergent from commercial breeds. Furthermore, Mexican hairless pigs seem to have developed several genetically distinct lines associated with their geographic location. We conclude that the Mexican Creole pig populations may be a reservoir of genetic diversity that is important to preserve and evaluate as a source of new alleles for the future improvement of commercial pig lines.     

Comparison of two models to estimate genetic parameters for number of born alive in pigs

The performance of the two‐trait animal model that regards the first parity and later parities as two different traits in estimating genetic parameters for number of born alive (NBA) was examined using real and simulated data. Genetic parameters for NBA were estimated in purebred Landrace and Large White pigs using a single‐trait repeatability model (Model 1) that regards all parities as the same trait and a two‐trait animal model (Model 2) that regards the first and the later parities as different traits. For Model 2, the permanent environmental effect was fitted to only the records of the later parities. Heritability for NBA estimated using Model 1 was 0.12 for Landrace and 0.11 for Large White. Estimated heritability for NBA of the first parity and the later parities was 0.21 and 0.16, respectively, for Landrace; 0.18 and 0.16, respectively, for Large White obtained using Model 2, and higher than those in both breeds obtained using Model 1. Further results based on data simulated using the Monte Carlo method suggest that estimated additive genetic variance could be more biased using Model 2 than Model 1.     

A new HpaII PCR-RFLP within the porcine prolactin receptor (PRLR) gene and study of its effect on litter size and number of teats

DNA polymorphism of the porcine prolactin receptor gene ( PRLR ) was investigated and used to study its effect on litter size and number of teats in pigs. By means of PRLR gene sequence homology in pig, human and other species, primers were designed for PCR amplification within 5' unknown (to date) part of the prolactin receptor gene in pigs. In this part of the gene, a new polymorphism with Hpa II restriction endonuclease was detected. Alu I polymorphism described before and our new Hpa II polymorphism were used to study the associations with reproduction traits. The PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method was used to genotype Alu I and Hpa II loci of the PRLR gene in line A with 83 sows of Landrace breed and in two lines (B and C) with 75 and 86 Large White sows, respectively. Statistical analysis of 1020 litters showed that Alu I locus was associated with litter size mainly in Landrace and affected the first parities, while Hpa II locus of the gene was associated with the same traits in Landrace and Large White pigs and mainly affected numbers of weaned of pigs. The magnitude of the effect varied by population with the effects exceeding two pigs per litter in Landrace line and 1 pig per litter in Large White populations.     

Genetic correlations between two strains of Durocs and crossbreds from differing production environments for slaughter traits

The aim of this study was to estimate the genetic correlations between 2 purebred Duroc pig populations (P1 and P2) and their terminal crossbreds [C1 = P1 x (Landrace x Large White) and C2 = P2 x (Landrace x Large White)] raised in different production environments. The traits analyzed were backfat (BF), muscle depth (MD), BW at slaughter (WGT), and weight per day of age (WDA). Data sets from P1, P2, C1, and C2 included 26,674, 8,266, 16,806, and 12,350 animals, respectively. Two-trait models (nucleus and commercial crossbreds) for each group included fixed (contemporary group, sex, weight, and age), random additive (animal for P1 and P2 and sire for C1 and C2), random litter, and random dam (C1 and C2 only) effects. Heritability estimates (+/-SE) for BF were 0.46 +/- 0.04, 0.38 +/- 0.02, 0.32 +/- 0.02, and 0.33 +/- 0.02 for P1, P2, C1, and C2, respectively. Heritability estimates for MD were 0.31 +/- 0.01, 0.23 +/- 0.02, 0.19 +/- 0.01, and 0.12 +/- 0.01 for P1, P2, C1, and C2, respectively. The estimates for WGT and WDA were 0.31 +/- 0.01, 0.21 +/- 0.02, 0.16 +/- 0.01, and 0.18 +/- 0.01 and 0.32 +/- 0.01, 0.22 +/- 0.02, 0.16 +/- 0.01, and 0.19 +/- 0.01, respectively. Genetic correlations between purebreds and crossbreds for BF were 0.83 +/- 0.09 (P1 x C1) and 0.89 +/- 0.05 (P2 x C2), for MD 0.78 +/- 0.05 (P1 x C1) and 0.80 +/- 0.08 (P2 x C2). For WGT and WDA, the correlations were 0.53 +/- 0.08 (P1 x C1), 0.80 +/- 0.10 (P2 x C2), and 0.60 +/- 0.07 (P1 x C1) and 0.79 +/- 0.09 (P2 x C2), respectively. (Co)variances in crossbreds were adjusted to a live BW scale. Compared with purebreds, the genetic variances in crossbreds were lower, and the residual variances were greater. Sire variances in crossbreds were approximately 20 to 30% of the animal variances in purebreds for BF and MD but were 13 to 25% for WGT and WDA. The efficiency of purebred selection on crossbreds, assessed by EBV prediction weights, ranged from 0.43 to 0.91 for line 1 and 0.70 to 0.92 for line 2. When nucleus and commercial environments differ substantially, the efficiency of selection varies by line and traits, and selection strategies that include crossbred data from typical production environments may therefore be desirable.     

β-adrenergic responsiveness in stress-sensitive and stress-resistant pigs

This study investigated whether enhanced metabolic responsiveness to beta-adrenergic stimulation might explain the liability of the stress-sensitive pig to develop an acidosis during stressful situations. Blood lactate, pH, PCO2 and heart rate response to an intravenous infusion of isoprenaline were examined in three lines of pentobarbitone anaesthetized, atropinized pigs. The lines were Pietrain X Hampshire which had been selected over eight generations for a positive reaction to the halothane test (stress-sensitive); Pietrain X Hampshire which had been selected over eight generations for no reaction to the halothane test (stress-resistant) and British Landrace which had been selected over four generations for a positive halothane reaction (stress-sensitive). The metabolic responses to isoprenaline were greater in the stress-sensitive Pietrain X Hampshire line than the stress-resistant line. The stress-sensitive Landrace pigs, however, had smaller changes in pH and PCO2 in response to isoprenaline than the stress-resistant Pietrain X Hampshire pigs. This inconsistent trend across the three lines led to the conclusion that enhanced beta-adrenergic responsiveness was not the likely cause of stress sensitivity.