Genetic analysis of age at first service, return rate, litter size, and weaning-to-first service interval of gilts and sows

The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters of seven traits related to sow reproductive performance. Data on all Norwegian Landrace pigs (NL) born in nucleus herds and raised in nucleus or multiplying herds from 1990 to 2000 were extracted from the Norwegian national recording scheme. Reproductive traits investigated were age at first service (AFS), return rate in gilts (RRg), age at first farrowing (AFF), live-born piglets in the first litter (NBA1), interval from weaning to first service after first litter (WTS1), return rate after first litter (RR1), live-born piglets in the second litter (NBA2), and interval from weaning to first service after second litter (WTS2). After editing, the data set comprised 12,583 to 56,042 records, depending on the trait. A mixed linear and a joint linear threshold animal model were used to estimate (co)variance components. A full Bayesian approach via Gibbs sampling was adopted. The statistical model used for analysis included contemporary groups of herd-year (-season), purebred or crossbred litter, single or double insemination, mating type, parity in which the animal was born, a regression on lactation length, and an additive genetic effect. Neither the estimated heritabilities nor the genetic correlations differed much between the two approaches, but there was a tendency for higher genetic correlations using the joint linear threshold model approach. Average heritabilities were as follows: AFS = 0.31; RRg = 0.03; RR1 = 0.02; NBA1 = 0.12; NBA2 = 0.14; WTS1 = 0.08; and WTS2 = 0.03. The highest genetic correlations were estimated between NBA1 and NBA2 (r(g) = 0.95), RR1 and WTS1 (r(g) = 0.93), and between WTS1 and WTS2 (r(g) = 0.78). The estimated genetic correlation between NBA and WTS were close to zero. Selection for increased NBA will slightly increase AFS and reduce the probability of a return. Selection for decreased AFS will have a favorable effect on WTS intervals; however, selection for decreased AFS seems to have an unfavorable effect on return rate both on gilts and sows. Conversely, selection for decreased WTS intervals will reduce the probability of a return. Potential selection candidates to include in a multivariate fertility index are AFS, NBA, and WTS1. Due to the low heritability and low, but favorable, genetic correlations to NBA and WTS, RR is not recommended as a selection candidate.     

应用BLUP方法对猪繁殖性状和生长性状遗传评估的研究

【目的】估计杜洛克猪(Duroc,DD)、长白猪(Landrace,LL)、大白猪(Yorkshire,YY)繁殖性状和生长性状的遗传参数,分析不同年份育种值变化的遗传趋势,为制定合理的育种方案提供理论依据。【方法】以杜洛克猪、长白猪、大白猪繁殖性状和生长性状的性能测定数据为研究材料,其中繁殖性状数据10 963条,包括总产仔数(total number born,TNB)、产活仔数(number born alive,NBA)、出生窝重(litter born weight,LBW)和21日龄窝重(litter weight at 21 days,LW21);生长性状数据25 257条,包括达100 kg体重日龄(age at 100 kg live weight,AGE)和达100 kg体重背膘厚(backfat adjusted to 100 kg,BF)。采用基于动物模型的最佳线性无偏预测(best linear unbiased prediction,BLUP)方法,使用ASReml统计分析软件进行遗传力、遗传相关和育种值估计。【结果】TNB、NBA和LBW的遗传力在0.08~0.20之间,LW21的遗传力在0.02~0.05之间;AGE和BF的遗传力在0.22~0.37之间。繁殖性状TNB、NBA、LBW、LW21的遗传相关系数总体分布在0.20~0.97之间,呈中等偏上正相关;生长性状AGE和BF的遗传相关系数分布在-0.07~-0.03之间,呈微弱的负相关。杜洛克猪繁殖性状的遗传趋势上升幅度较大,长白猪、大白猪繁殖性状的遗传趋势上升幅度较小;生长性状中AGE的遗传趋势均呈下降趋势,且下降幅度较大,BF的遗传趋势变化幅度较小。【结论】本研究对杜洛克猪、长白猪、大白猪繁殖性状和生长性状的遗传参数和遗产趋势进行了准确的评估,结果可为该育种场的育种工作提供参考。     

Estimation of genetic parameters for farrowing traits in purebred Landrace and Large White pigs

Genetic parameters were estimated for six reproductive traits related to farrowing events in Landrace and Large White pigs; total number born (TNB), number born alive (NBA), number stillborn (NSB), total litter weight at birth (LWB), mean litter weight at birth (MWB), and gestation length (GL). We analyzed 62,534 farrowing records for 10,637 Landrace dams and 49,817 farrowing records for 8,649 Large White dams. Estimated heritabilities of TNB, NBA, NSB, LWB, MWB, and GL by single‐trait repeatability model analyses were 0.12, 0.12, 0.08, 0.18, 0.19, and 0.29, respectively, in Landrace, and 0.12, 0.10, 0.08, 0.18, 0.16, and 0.34, respectively, in Large White. Genetic correlation between NBA and NSB was unfavorable: 0.20 in Landrace and 0.33 in Large White. Genetic correlations of GL with the other five traits were weak: from ?0.18 with NSB to ?0.03 with NBA in Landrace, and from ?0.22 with NSB to ?0.07 with NBA in Large White. LWB had a highly favorable genetic correlation with NBA (0.74 in both breeds), indicating the possibility of using LWB for the genetic improvement of NBA.     

Genetic parameters and trends for production traits and their relationship with litter traits in Landrace and Yorkshire pigs

Genetic parameters and trends in the average daily gain (ADG), backfat thickness (BF), loin muscle area (LMA), lean percentage (LP), and age at 90 kg (D90) were estimated for populations of Landrace and Yorkshire pigs. Additionally, the correlations between these production traits and litter traits were estimated. Litter traits included total born (TB) and number born alive (NBA). The data used for this study were obtained from eight farms during 1999 to 2016. Analyses were carried out with a multivariate animal model to estimate genetic parameters for production traits while bivariate analyses were performed to estimate the correlations between production and litter traits. The heritability estimates were 0.52 and 0.43 for ADG; 0.54 and 0.45 for BF; 0.25 and 0.26 for LMA; 0.54 and 0.48 for LP; and 0.56 and 0.46 for D90 in the Landrace and Yorkshire breeds, respectively. The ADG and D90 showed low genetic correlation with BF and LP. The LMA had ?0.40, ?0.32, 0.49, and 0.39 genetic correlations with ADG, BF, LP, and D90, respectively. Genetic correlations between production and litter traits were generally low, except for the correlations between LMA and TB (?0.23) in Landrace and ADG and TB (?0.16), ADG and NBA (?0.18), D90 and TB (0.19), and D90 and NBA (0.20) in Yorkshire. Genetic trends in production traits were all favorable except for LMA.     

Population parameter estimates for performance and reproductive traits in Polish Large White nucleus herds

Performance test records from on-farm tests of young Polish Large White boars and reproductive records of Polish Large White sows from 94 nucleus farms during 1978 to 1987 were used to estimate population parameters for the measured traits. The number of boar performance records after editing was 114,347 from 3,932 sires, 21,543 dams, 44,493 litters and 1,075 herd-year-seasons. Reproductive performance records of sows involved 41,080 litters from 2,348 sires, 18,683 dams and 1,520 herd-year-seasons. Both data sets were analyzed by using restricted maximum-likelihood programs. The model used for the performance records included fixed herd-year-seasons, random sires, dams and error effects, and covariances for the year of birth of sire and year of birth of dam. The model used for the reproduction data set was the same as the performance data with parity as an additional fixed effect. Estimated heritabilities were .27, .29, .26, .07, .06, .06 for average daily gain standardized to 180 d (ADG), backfat thickness standardized to 110 kg BW (BF), days to 110 kg (DAYS), litter size at birth born alive (NBA), litter size at 21 d (N21) and litter weight at 21 d (W21), respectively. Estimated common environmental effects for the same traits were .09, .10, .09, .06, .07 and .08, respectively. Genetic correlations were .25 (ADG and BF), -.99 (ADG and DAYS), -.21 (BF and DAYS), .91 (NBA and N21), .68 (NBA and W21) and .80 (N21 and W21). The respective phenotypic correlations were .23, -.99, -.20, .88, .75, .86. These population parameters for Polish Large White pigs are similar to those for breeds in other countries.     

Genetic parameters for reproduction and production traits of Landrace sows in Thailand

Data from Thai Landrace sows were used to estimate genetic parameters for reproduction and production traits in first and later parities. The reproduction traits investigated were total number of piglets born per litter (TB), number of stillborn piglets (SB), and number of piglets born alive but dead within 24 h (BAD). The reproduction data pertained to 12,603 litters born between 1993 and 2005. The production measures were ADG and backfat thickness (BF); these were recorded in 4,163 boars and 15,171 gilts. Analyses were carried out with a multivariate animal model using average information REML procedures. Heritability estimates of reproduction traits for first parity were 0.03 +/- 0.02 for TB, 0.04 +/- 0.02 for SB, and 0.06 +/- 0.02 for BAD. For later parities, they were 0.07 +/- 0.01 for TB, 0.03 +/- 0.04 for SB, and 0.02 +/- 0.01 for BAD. Heritability estimates for production traits were 0.38 +/- 0.02 for ADG and 0.61 +/- 0.02 for BF. Genetic correlations between ADG and TB tended to be favorable, and genetic correlations between BF and TB tended to be unfavorable in all parities. However, BF was genetically correlated unfavorably with SB in later parities, and the genetic correlations between TB and BAD tended to be unfavorable in all parities. The genetic correlations of TB, SB, and BAD between first and later parities were 0.85 +/- 0.13, 0.79 +/- 0.16, and 0.71 +/- 0.24, respectively. Selection for high growth rate will probably increase TB, and selection for low BF will decrease TB and increase SB. The results obtained also indicated that BAD will increase if there is selection pressure for high TB.     

Prediction of performance of progeny from test station boars.

Data were obtained from 1,954 Duroc and 2,252 Yorkshire purebred and crossbred progeny sired by 34 Duroc and 32 Yorkshire boars, respectively. Boars were purchased from the North Carolina Swine Evaluation Station during August 1983 to December 1988. Boars were selected to represent high and low indexes at the test station. Progeny were raised and tested under conditions similar to commercial pig production at the Tidewater Research Station. For each breed of boar (Duroc and Yorkshire), breed type (purebred and crossbred), and sex (castrates and gilts) of progeny, regression coefficients of progeny traits on each sire trait were computed. Progeny traits were ADG, days to 104.3 kg BW (DAYS), backfat thickness (BF), and feed conversion ratio (FC). Sire traits were ADG, DAYS, BF, FC, and INDEX. Effects of boar test group and progeny test group were included in the models. Averaged over breed type and sex, a 25-unit (1 SD) increase in sire INDEX resulted in 14.5 g more ADG, 3.2 fewer DAYS, .57 mm more BF, and .017 lower FC in Durocs and 5.6 g more ADG, .01 more DAYS, .81 mm less BF, and .083 lower FC in Yorkshires. The low magnitude and variable signs of some regression coefficients suggested that predictions of progeny performance from performance of individual sires at the North Carolina Swine Evaluation Station were not very reliable. Differences between regressions for purebreds and crossbreds implied small correlations between the two breed types. Differences between Durocs and Yorkshires indicated that genetic parameters might not be the same for the two breeds.     

Genetic parameters for litter traits at different parities in purebred Landrace and Yorkshire pigs

Comparison of the multi‐trait animal model and the traditional repeatability model was carried out using data obtained from 6,424 Landrace and 20,835 Yorkshire sows farrowed from January 2000 to April 2018 in order to estimate genetic parameters for litter traits at different parities. Specifically, records of the total number born (TNB), number born alive (NBA), total number of mortality (MORT), number of stillborn (NSB) and number of mummified pigs (MUM) were used. Although results showed the heterogeneity of heritability for litter traits at different parities, the mean heritability estimates from the multi‐trait model were found to be higher than those of the repeatability model for all traits in both pig breeds. In terms of genetic correlation between parities, a slight difference in genetic control in the first parity was noted for TNB and NBA in Landrace and Yorkshire pigs. The correlation between the first parity and later parities ranged from 0.48 to 0.74 for TNB and NBA in both breeds. Moreover, genetic correlation between parities for MORT and NSB was observed to be high for parities higher than 2 in Yorkshire pigs. For MUM, genetic correlation between the first and other parities was generally low in both breeds, indicating that culling pigs on the basis of MUM at the first parity could probably be unreasonable. Overall, the results of this study suggest that the multi‐trait approach for litter size traits is useful for the accurate estimation of genetic parameters.     

Genetic and phenotypic parameters estimated from Nebraska specific-pathogen-free swine field records

Records collected during 1971 through 1979 from 101,606 hogs raised in 18 Nebraska Specific Pathogen Free herds were analyzed. Traits considered were backfat at 100 kg (BF), weight at 140 d of age (WT) and, in some analyses, number of live pigs/litter at birth (NBA). The phenotypic correlation of BF and WT, averaged across herds, was -.07. The correlations between BF and NBA and between WT and NBA were .04 and -.05, respectively. Average phenotypic standard deviations for BF, WT and NBA were 2.6 mm, 8.8 kg and 2.0 pigs. Estimates of the heritability of BF and WT were lower than most estimates reported from university research herds. Within breed, herd and sex estimates of heritability ranged from -.22 and .51 (unweighted mean = .16 +/- .025) for BF and ranged from -.28 to .49 (mean = .16 +/- .016) for WT. Estimates of the genetic correlation between BF and WT were extremely variable (mean = -.62 +/- 14.3, range = -9.42 to 1.30) among breed-herd-sex subclasses.     

四川省外种猪雌激素受体基因对繁殖和生长性状的影响

本试验以四川省外种母猪的 3个品种 (大约克、长白、杜洛克 )为研究对象 ,采用PCR RFLPs的方法检测其ESR基因的PvuⅡ多态性 ,分析了该基因与产仔数及生长性状之间的关系。结果表明 :初产胎次中 ,ESR基因型间总产仔数 (TNB)和产活仔数 (NBA)差异极显著 (P <0 .0 1) ,BB和AA纯合子间TNB和NBA分别相差 5 .97和 3.72头 ,基因加性效应分别为每个B基因 2 .98和 1.86头 ;对于经产胎次 ,总产仔数 (TNB)在AA、AB基因型与BB基因型的差异达到 0 .0 1的极显著水平 ,产活仔数 (NBA)在AA基因型与BB基因型间显著差异 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,TNB和NBA母猪每窝BB纯合子比AA纯合子分别多 3.6 8和 2 .89头 ,基因的加性效应为每个B基因分别为 1.84和 1.4 4头。头胎和经产胎次中ESR基因型在初生窝重、2 0日龄头数和窝重、30 / 4 5日龄头数和窝重以及 70日龄窝重之间的差异普遍不显著 (P >0 .0 5 ) ,但是以上 6个性状在ESR基因的 3种基因型间存在BB >AB >AA的趋势     

四川省外种猪ESR基因对繁殖及生长性状的影响

试验以四川省外种母猪的 3个品种 (大约克、长白、杜洛克 )为研究对象 ,采用PCR -RFLps的方法测其ESR基因的PvuⅡ多态性 ,分析了该产仔数及生长性状之间的关系。结果表明 :初产胎次中 ,ESR基因型间总产仔数 (TNB)和产活仔数 (NBA)差异极显著 (P <0 0 1 ) ,BB和AA纯合子间TNB和NBA分别相差 5 97和 3 72头 ,基因加性效应分别应为每个B基因 2 98和 1 86头。对于经产胎次 ,总产仔数在AA ,AB基因与BB基因型的差异达到极显著水平 (P <0 0 1 ) ,产活仔数在AA基因型与BB基因型间差异显著 (P <0 0 5 ) ,TNB和NBA母猪每窝BB纯合子比AA纯合子分别多 3 6 8和 2 89头 ,基因的加性效应为每个B基因分别为 1 83和 1 4 4头。头胎和经产胎次ESR基因型在初生窝重、2 0日龄头数和窝重、30或 4 5日龄头数和窝重以及 70日龄窝重之间的差异不显著 (P >0 0 5 ) ;但是以上 6个性状在ESR基因的 3种基因型间存在BB >AB >AA的趋势     

北京地区猪生长和繁殖性状边际效益的研究

本研究旨在估计北京地区猪生长和繁殖性状的边际效益.以差额法和系统分析法为基础建立农场模型,模拟商品猪群的生产过程,采集了北京地区多个具有代表性的猪场的数据,确定北京地区猪6个生长和繁殖性状的边际效益为:窝产活仔数(头)20.5元、达100kg体质量日龄(d)-0.3元、肥育期日增体质量(g·d-1)0.04元、饲料转化效率(kg·kg-1)-186.4元、胴体背膘厚(mm) 15元、母猪繁殖寿命(胎)1.8元.结果表明,市场价格的变化对性状边际效益的影响很大.     

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.     

撒坝猪专门化母系繁殖性状的相关与通径分析

利用撒坝猪专门化母系 7个世代共 576头母猪的繁殖性能数据 ,对总产仔数 (x1 )、活产仔数 (x2 )、初生窝重 (x3)、 2 0日龄窝重 (x4 )、断奶窝重 (x5)、育成率 (x6 )和断奶仔数 (y) 7个繁殖性状进行了相关和通径分析 ,并在此基础上建立了估计断奶仔数的最优回归方程。结果表明 ,撒坝猪专门化母系的繁殖性能在经过 7个世代的选育后 ,获得了明显提高。各繁殖性状间在表型值上都存在不同程度的相关 ,其中以总产仔数与活产仔数的相关程度最高 (r=0 92 0 1 ) ,其次为 2 0日龄窝重与断奶仔数 (r=0 82 88) ,而初生窝重与育成率间的相关系数最低 (r=0 0 381 )。在所分析的 7个性状中 ,除了总产仔数和活产仔数与育成率间为负相关外 ,其余性状间均为正相关。所建立的估计断奶仔数的多元回归方程为 :y=- 6 1 1 90 +0 6986x2 +0 0 33 7x4 +0 0 0 4 8x5+0 0 71 8x6 。     

Genetic parameter estimation for number born alive at different parities in Landrace and Large White pigs

We estimated genetic parameters for number born alive (NBA) from the first to the seventh parities in Landrace and Large White pigs using three models. Analyzing 55,160 farrowing records for 12,677 Landrace dams and 43,839 for 10,405 Large White dams, we used a single‐trait animal model to estimate the heritability of NBA at each parity and a two‐trait animal model and a single‐trait random regression model to estimate the genetic correlations between parities. Heritability estimates of NBA at each parity ranged from 0.08 to 0.13 for Landrace and from 0.05 to 0.16 for Large White. Estimated genetic correlations between parities in all cases were positive. Genetic correlations between the first and second parities were slightly lower than those between other neighboring parities. Genetic correlations between more distant parities tended to be lower, in some cases <0.8. The results indicate the necessity to investigate the applicability of evaluating NBA at different parities as different traits (e.g., the first and later parities), although a repeatability model might still be reasonable.     

FSHβ基因的多态性分布及其对大白猪产活仔数的影响

为了研究猪繁殖性状候选主效基因FSHβ在大白猪不同胎次中的遗传效应,并应用于大白猪繁殖性状的遗传改良,采用PCR方法检测了该基因在2个大白猪育种群共802头母猪中的多态性分布,并分析了其对产活仔数的影响,其中湖北天种公司大白猪群体样本数为472头,分析统计胎次1774胎,等位基因A的频率为0.447、等位基因B的频率为0.553;宜昌正大公司大白猪群为330头,分析统计胎次1644胎,等位基因A、B的频率分别为0.312、0.688。分析该位点的多态性与产活仔数的关系,结果发现,头胎不同基因型对产活仔数的影响为ABBBAA,二胎为AAABBB,经产胎次和所有胎次均为ABAABB,但差异均不显著。综合分析结果表明,A等位基因对大白猪产活仔数的影响要优于B等位基因,AB基因型母猪的产活仔数要优于其他2种基因型,提高生产猪群该基因的杂合子个体数比例有望取得更大的经济效益。     

Genetic parameters and trends for production and reproduction traits in Thai Landrace sows

Data from Thai Landrace sows were used to estimate the genetic parameters and trends for production and reproduction traits, over the first four parities. The reproduction traits investigated were age at first conception (AFC), total number of piglets born per litter (TB) and weaning to first service interval (WSI). The reproduction data was gathered from 9194 litters born between 1993 and 2005. The production measures were average daily gain (ADG) and backfat thickness (BF). These were recorded from 4163 boars and 15 171 gilts. Analyses were carried out using a multivariate animal model inputting average information restricted maximum likelihood procedures. Heritability estimates on the reproduction traits for AFC was 0.21, for TB in the first four parities it ranged from 0.02 to 0.11 and for WSI over the first three parities it ranged from 0.16 to 0.18. Heritability estimates for production traits were: 0.31 (ADG) and 0.45 (BF). AFC was genetically correlated favorably with TB (− 0.48) and WSI (0.35) in the first parity. Genetic trends were 4.71 g, − 0.23 mm and 0.23 days per year for ADG, BF and AFC respectively. There was no genetic progress for the other traits. It was concluded that selection for low AFC will increase TB and decrease WSI. The results further revealed that the ongoing selection being used improved growth rate and reduced backfat thickness. However, there was no genetic improvement in TB.     

Maternal effects on daily weight gain and ultrasonically recorded backfat in swedish landrace,swedish yorkshire,and swedish hampshire purebred pigs

The aim of this study was to estimate the genetic association between direct and maternal effects for important economic traits measured early and late in the growth period; daily gain (DG) between birth and 12 weeks of age (DG_0-12), between 12 weeks of age and ultrasonic test (at approx. 100 kg; DG_12-UT), between birth and ultrasonic test (DG_0-UT); and backfat at ultrasonic test (BF). Records from Landrace (L; 39,130), Yorkshire (Y; 33,737), and Hampshire (H; 17,832) pigs born between 1997 and 2001 from the Swedish breeding organization Quality Genetics databank were available. Univariate and bivariate analyses were applied. Two statistical models were used. The first model applied for all traits, included the random effect of herd-birth year-birth month combination, the litter environmental effects, and the direct genetic effects. The second model applied only for DG_0-UT and BF, and included also the maternal genetic effects. Based on the first single-trait model, estimates of direct heritability (h²) were 0.12, 0.09, and 0.43 for DG_0-12; 0.16, 0.22, and 0.41 for DG_12-UT; 0.18, 0.24, and 0.28 for DG_0-UT; and 0.37, 0.42, and 0.43 for BF in the L, Y, and H breeds respectively. Estimates of litter environmental effects ranged from 0.05 to 0.17. Based on the second single-trait model, the maternal genetic effects were 0.03, 0.05, and 0.09 for DG_0-UT, and 0.02, 0.01, and 0.04 for BF. Estimates of direct h² from the second model were lower and ranged from 0.14 to 0.42 for all traits across breeds. Moderate-low genetic correlation between DG_0-12 and DG_12-UT (?0.25 to 0.40) and high correlation between DG_12-UT and DG_0-UT (0.84 to 0.96) were noted in all three breeds together with less maternal influence on traits expressed late in life. This indicates the possibility to treat early growth rate as a maternal trait, and late or overall growth rate as a direct trait in the breeding evaluation.     

Genetic parameters and trends for litter traits in U.S. Yorkshire,Duroc, Hampshire,and Landrace pigs

Records on 251,296 Yorkshire, 75,262 Duroc, 83,338 Hampshire, and 53,234 Landrace litters born between 1984 and April of 1999 in herds on the National Swine Registry Swine Testing and Genetic Evaluation System were analyzed. Animal model and restricted maximum likelihood procedures were used to estimate variances of animal genetic (a), maternal genetic (m), permanent environmental, and service sire, and the covariances between a and m for number born alive (NBA), litter weight at 21 d (L21WT), and number weaned (NW). Fixed effects of contemporary groups were included in the analysis. Based on a single-trait model, estimates of heritabilities were 0.10, 0.09, 0.08, and 0.08 for NBA; 0.08, 0.07, 0.08, and 0.09 for L21WT; and 0.05, 0.07, 0.05, and 0.05 for NW in the Yorkshire, Duroc, Hampshire, and Landrace breeds, respectively. Estimates of maternal genetic effects were low and ranged from 0.00 to 0.02 for all traits and all breeds. Estimates of permanent environmental effects ranged from 0.03 to 0.08. Estimates of service sire effects ranged from 0.02 to 0.05. A bivariate analysis was used to estimate the genetic correlations among traits. Average genetic correlations over the four breeds were 0.13, 0.15, and 0.71 for NBA with L21WT, NBA with NW, and L21WT with NW, respectively. Average genetic trends were 0.018 pigs/yr, 0.114 kg/yr, and 0.004 pigs/yr for NBA, L21WT, and NW, respectively. Although estimates of heritabilities for litter traits were low and similar across breeds, genetic variances for litter traits were sufficiently large to indicate that litter traits could be improved through selection. This study presents the first set of breed-specific estimates of genetic parameters available from large numbers of field records. It provides information for use in national genetic evaluations.     

Heterosis and recombination effects in Hampshire and Landrace swine: I. Maternal traits.

Hampshire and Landrace sows and crossbreds of the two breeds were used to determine heterosis and recombination effects for milk production, milk composition, and litter traits at birth and d 21. Twelve mating types were represented in this study: two purebred, two F1, two F2, two F3, and four backcross. Information was gathered on a total of 358 litters over four farrowing seasons. Milk production was measured at d 10 and 20 of litter age according to the weigh-suckle-weigh procedure. Milk samples were collected at d 10 and 20 of litter age and evaluated for percentages of fat (PCFA), protein (PCPR), lactose (PCLA), and solids-not-fat (PCSN). The model used to evaluate litter traits at birth included main effects of mating type, parity, and farrowing season. The model used for milk production and milk composition traits included these main effects and number of pigs nursed as a covariate. Estimates of maternal genetic effects showed that Landrace females were superior to Hampshire females for number born (NB), number born alive (NBA), litter birth weight (LBW), adjusted 21-d litter weight (ALW), and milk production at d 10 of litter age (WT10). Hampshires were superior to Landrace for PCPR at d 10 of litter age and PCSN at d 10 and 20 of litter age. Heterosis effects were significant (P less than .05) for NBA (.97) and LBW (1.46 kg). Maternal heterosis effects were significant for LBW (3.94 kg; P less than .01). Epistatic recombination losses in the offspring were significant for LBW (6.80 kg; P less than .05). Differences in maternal performance of reciprocal F1 dams were generally not significant. Heterosis and recombination effects were not significant for milk production or milk composition.