Genetic parameters for testosterone production in boars

Data were collected in 1982 through 1989 from 66 sires and 358 Duroc boars. Testosterone production was measured from peripheral blood samples before (PRE) and after (POST) GnRH challenge. Additionally, data were collected on testes length at 168 d (TL168), testes width at 168 d (TW168), testes volume at 168 d (TVOL), birth weight (BWT), average daily gain (ADG), days to 104 kg (DAYS104), and backfat adjusted to 104 kg (FAT). Overall means for these traits were 24.6 ng.ml-1.h-1, 75.7 ng.ml-1.h-1, 12.3 cm, 11.6 cm, 422.0 cm3, 1.5 kg, .5 kg, 189.3 d, and 18.5 mm, respectively. Son-sire regressions were used to calculate genetic parameters. Heritabilities for PRE, POST, TL168, TW168, TVOL, BWT, ADG, DAYS104, and FAT were .37, .26, .33, .34, .33, .21, .42, .35, and 0, respectively. Moderately favorable genetic correlations were obtained for PRE and POST with growth measurements. Large positive genetic correlations were present for both PRE and POST with TL168, TW168, and TVOL, and testes measurements had large positive genetic correlations with growth traits. Selection for testes size or testosterone production should be equally effective. However, it seems that selection for testes size would result in larger changes in measures of growth than selection for testosterone. This study suggests that testes measurements are good predictors of both basal and challenge testosterone levels. Selection for increased testis size or increased testosterone levels would be expected to enhance growth.     

Relationships among measures of testicular development and endocrine function in boars

Nine blood samples were taken at 30-min intervals from 36 Landrace X Large White boars at each of eight ages (42, 56, 70, 84, 98, 112, 126 and 140 d). Serum concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone (T) and estradiol-17 beta (E2) were quantified by radioimmunoassay procedures. The maximum concentration of LH and the age at maximum concentration were predicted for each boar. Variability of LH samples was described for each boar by the pooled within age variance among LH samples and by the number of LH peaks. Measurements of testicular development taken at 140 d of age included: in situ testis width and length, excised testis weights and histological traits of excised testes (seminiferous tubule diameter, percentage of tubules with a lumen and percentage of tubules with active spermatogenesis). Pooled within line correlations were calculated with data from boars selected for either high or low testis weight. Correlations among the testicular traits ranged from .45 to .88. Luteinizing hormone concentration (mean over all ages) was related to measures of testicular development (r = .24 to .49). Concentrations of LH from 42 to 84 d of age were more highly correlated with testicular traits than were the concentrations from 98 to 140 d.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Testicular development and endocrine characteristics of boars selected for either high or low testis size

Thirty-six Landrace x Large White cross boars were selected from litters with either high or low estimated breeding values for 150-d paired testis weight. Blood samples were taken via jugular venipuncture at eight ages (42, 56, 70, 84, 98, 112, 126 and 140 d). At each sampling age, nine blood samples were taken at 30-min intervals. Luteinizing hormone (LH) was determined on the individual serum samples. Serum samples from each boar at each age were pooled and concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol-17 beta (E2) and testosterone (T) were determined. Paired testis width, testis length and body weight were measured at 98, 112, 126 and 140 d of age. Backfat probe, weights of excised testes and histological data on testes were obtained at 140 d of age. Boars with high testis weight (HTW) were heavier (P less than .05), had higher adjusted backfat probes (P less than .01) and had consistently larger in situ testis measurements (P less than .01) than did low testis weight (LTW) boars. Boars with HTW had heavier (P less than .01) testes and epididymides at 140 d of age. They also had a higher percentage of seminiferous tubules in which spermatogenesis was present (P less than .05), a larger percentage of tubules with a lumen (P less than .05) and tubules had a larger mean diameter (P less than .01) than did those of boar with LTW. Adjustment of in situ testis measurements and excised testis weights for body weight reduced line differences by less than 20%. A rise in LH concentrations occurred at approximately 100 d of age. Boars with HTW had higher (P less than .05) and more variable (P less than .01) LH concentrations than did boars with LTW. Boars with HTW also had higher maximum concentrations of LH during the pubertal rise (P less than .01) and these concentrations tended to reach maximum levels at younger ages. Concentrations of T increased in a fashion that was nearly linear with age (P less than .01) and tended to be higher for the boars with HTW (P less than .10). Concentrations of E2 changed little from 42 to 84 d of age but increased steadily thereafter. Boars with HTW had a more rapid increase in E2 concentrations than did boars with LTW (P less than .05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Genetic variation in testicular development and its relationship to female reproductive traits in swine

In situ length and width of both testes and body weight were recorded on 40 Chester White, 60 Landrace, 60 Large White and 62 Yorkshire boars born in the spring and on 57 Duroc, 54 Hampshire, 57 Pietrain and 50 Spot boars born in the fall. Testicular biopsies on one-half of the boars in each breed group were evaluated for percentage of tubules with complete spermatogenesis and for diameter of tubules. Testicular volume of both testes was estimated at 98 and 154 d of age and 36 and 81 kg. Breed effects were significant for all testicular traits except testicular volume at 36 kg in the spring farrowing and testicular volume at 98 d of age in the fall farrowing. The estimate of heritability for testicular volume was low at 98 d of age (.12 +/- .14) but large at 154 d of age (.55 +/- .12). Heritability estimates for testicular volume were lower at constant weights (.11 +/- .14 and .14 +/- .12) than at constant ages (.12 and .55). Heritability estimates for traits measured by biopsy were moderate to large (.22 +/- .22 to .78 +/- .18). Phenotypic correlations of in situ testicular volume with traits measured by biopsy were moderate and positive when estimated within a breed (.16 to .52). Genetic correlations of testicular volume at constant ages and weights with traits measured by biopsy were moderate to large and positive (.58 to greater than 1.0); similar correlations among bred means were quite variable (-.35 to .91). Selection for increased testicular volume would not be antagonistic to selection goals for growth and backfat. However, selection for improvement in traits measured by biopsy may result in undesirable changes in growth rate and backfat probe. Genetic correlations of testicular traits with age at puberty and litter size of females were not consistent in magnitude or sign between the two estimation procedures.     

Genetic parameter estimates for reproductive traits of male and female littermate swine

Reproductive traits of purebred and crossbred pigs produced in a four-breed diallel mating system using the Duroc, Landrace, Spotted and Yorkshire breeds were collected for five consecutive farrowing seasons (two farrowing seasons/year) beginning in fall 1976. Paternal half-sib heritabilities and genetic correlations for testicular traits (120 boars from 36 sires), serum testosterone (TE) and luteinizing hormone (LH) concentrations before and after treatment with gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH; 131 boars from 37 sires) and breeding performance traits (151 boars from 38 sires) were estimated. Heritability estimates were generally small to moderate except for sperm/gram testis (SGT), LH concentrations before (LHO) and at 3 h (LH3) after treatment with GnRH (.73 +/- .48, .61 +/- .46 and 1.19 +/- .45, respectively). A large positive genetic correlation was found for LHO with LH3 (.94 +/- .39), while a negative relationship existed for LH3 with TE concentrations at 3 h after GnRH injection. The genetic correlation between a boar's average first service conception rate and average conception rate also was significant (.82 +/- .54). Genetic correlations among littermate traits would suggest that selection for decreased age at puberty in gilts could cause an increase in LH concentrations in boar offspring, before and after GnRH injection, and may also have adverse effects on their ability to settle females. Selection for increased weight at puberty of gilts could cause TE concentrations of boar offspring to increase while having little effect on their breeding performance.     

Genetic correlations between male reproductive traits and growth traits in growth performance tested Duroc,Landrace and Yorkshire breed boars

Male‐related traits at 180–225 days of age for 6464 grow‐finish performance tested boars were measured from 2000 to 2016. Heritability estimates and genetic correlations among average daily gain, feed efficiency, back fat thickness, teat counts, mounting libido, leg locomotion, penile length, sperm motility, sperm concentration and total sperm counts were estimated by VCE software using a multiple traits animal model in each breed. Growth‐tested boars had heritability estimates of male reproductive traits in 0.34–0.56 of teat counts, 0.12–0.20 of libido, 0.08–0.12 of locomotion, 0.17–0.58 of penile length, 0.04–0.21 of sperm motility and concentration, 0.17–0.30 of total sperm counts. Total sperm counts were genetically positively correlated with penile length in all breeds. Boars with higher total sperm counts had genetically better libido and locomotion. Genetic correlation between feed efficiency and sperm motility and feed efficiency and sperm concentration were positive in Duroc and negative in Landrace and Yorkshire. Sperm motility and concentration were genetically negatively correlated with average daily gain in Yorkshire. Male reproductive traits of imported breeds could be improved with care in the change of growth traits, especially in Yorkshire.     

Estimation of genetic parameters and season effects for semen traits in three pig breeds of South China

The economic profitability of a boar station largely depends on semen quantity and quality traits. However, genetic analysis of semen traits has not yet been done in the boar population in China. In this study, we aimed to estimate genetic parameters for semen traits and the influence of seasons on these traits by using data of Duroc, Landrace and Yorkshire boars in South China. The following four semen traits were analysed: semen volume (ml; VOL), sperm concentration (10⁶/ml; DEN), sperm motility (MOT) and percentage of abnormal sperm (ABN). Genetic parameters and season effects were estimated simultaneously for each breed by using a multiple‐trait (4 × 4) repeatability animal model. The four traits had a moderate heritability with average estimates of 0.23, 0.28, 0.26 and 0.17 across the three breeds, respectively. The estimates of genetic correlations among four traits differed in the three breeds. In particular, in Yorkshire, the four traits were nearly genetically independent. The season of collecting semen had a significant impact on these four semen traits except ABN in Duroc (Bonferroni adjusted p < 0.05/6). The moderate heritabilities indicate the possibility of effective selection of boars for semen traits. Different genetic correlations for the three breeds suggest that the selection strategy for the four traits should be investigated separately for each breed. Some necessary actions should be taken to reduce the influence of seasons on semen traits.     

Maternal effects on traits measured during postweaning performance test of swine from four breeds

The objective of this study was to investigate the importance of maternal genetic effects on postweaning performance traits of Yorkshire, Landrace, Duroc, and Hampshire breeds of swine. Data consisted of performance test records collected in a commercial swine operation from 1992 to 1999. Boars from 60% of the litters were culled at weaning based on a combination of maternal and performance indexes that differed by breed. Remaining boars and all females were grown to 100 d of age. At this time all pigs were weighed (WT100) and selected for testing using recalculated breed-specific indexes (n = 15,594, 55,497, 12,267, and 9,782 for Landrace, Yorkshire, Duroc, and Hampshire, respectively). All pigs were weighed at the end of the 77-d test, and backfat (BF) and loin eye area (LEA) were measured over the 12th rib by ultrasound. Average daily feed intake was calculated for boars, and ADG was calculated for all animals. Genetic parameters were estimated for each breed and trait using multiple-trait DFREML procedures. Fixed effects were contemporary groups and either initial or final test age as a covariate. Four models were examined. Model 1 included only the additive genetic effect of the animal. Model 2 added the common litter environmental effect; Model 3 added the maternal genetic value assumed to be uncorrelated with additive genetic effects. Model 4 was the same as Model 3 with additive and maternal genetic effects assumed to be correlated. All models were two-trait models with WT100 as the second trait. Ratios of likelihoods were used to compare models. Maternal effects were important (P < 0.05) for WT100, ADG, ADFI, LEA, and BF in Landrace; for WT100, ADG, LEA, and BF in Yorkshire; for WT100 and ADG in Duroc, and for WT100 in Hampshire. Estimates of heritabilities for direct additive effects using the appropriate model for ADG, ADFI, LEA, and BF were 0.28, 0.34, 0.48, and 0.63 for Landrace; 0.26, 0.31, 0.39, and 0.65 for Yorkshire; 0.14, 0.20, 0.26, and 0.35 for Duroc; and 0.17, 0.23, 0.25, and 0.31 for Hampshire, respectively. Heritability estimates for maternal genetic effects for ADG, ADFI, LEA, and BF were 0.02, 0.05, 0.06, and 0.07 for Landrace and 0.02, 0, 0.04, and 0.06 for Yorkshire, respectively. They were zero for all traits except ADG (0.03) in Duroc and for all traits in Hampshire. Maternal effects may need to be considered in genetic evaluation of performance traits in some breeds of swine.     

Evaluations of Boar Gonad Development,Spermatogenesis with regard to Semen Characteristics,Libido and Serum Testosterone Levels based on large White Duroc × Chinese Erhualian Crossbred Boars

Chinese Erhualian pigs are known for prolificacy with distinct reproductive traits compared with Western commercial breeds. In this study, a four‐generation intercross resource population was constructed using White Duroc boars and Chinese Erhualian sows as founder animals, and a total of 14 male reproductive traits were recorded in 411 F₂/F₃ boars including the testis and epididymis weights, the seminiferous tubular diameter and spermatogenesis at 60, 90 and 300 days of age, semen characteristics, serum testosterone concentration and libido level at 300 days of age. The White Duroc–Erhualian boars showed remarkable segregations in the traits measured except for the seminiferous tubular diameter and had high ratio (13.9%) of the abnormality of spermatogenesis, providing a good experimental population for detecting quantitative trait loci affecting these male reproductive traits. Furthermore, the correlations among nine male reproductive traits at 300 days of age indicated that the testis weight and the body weight were strongly correlated with the sperm production, supporting the two traits as important parameters for boar selection to increase sperm production and ultimately improve boar fertility. The libido level in the White Duroc–Erhualian boars that was evaluated by a new and easily recorded scoring system showed a significant correlation with serum testosterone concentration. Yet, both libido and serum testosterone concentration were not correlated with the sperm production. Results of this study provided new information on the male reproductive physiology and genetics in Chinese Erhualian and White Duroc boars.     

品种、季节、胎次、采精月龄及采精间隔对猪精液品质的影响

【目的】探究品种、公猪出生胎次、公猪同窝仔猪数、公猪乳头数、采精季节、采精月龄和采精间隔对猪精液品质的影响,以及不同品种对精液质量稳定性的影响。【方法】选取909头杜洛克、长白、大白种公猪为试验群体,收集2021年4月至2022年4月27 408条精液测定记录,采用混合线性分析模型和方差分析探究品种、公猪出生胎次、公猪同窝仔猪数、公猪乳头数、采精季节、采精月龄和采精间隔对精液体积、精液密度、精子活力、直线前进运动精子比例、精子畸形率、总精子数及各精液性状稳定性的影响。【结果】从不同品种对精液品质的影响来看,长白猪精液体积和总精子数均显著高于大白猪、杜洛克猪(P<0.05),杜洛克猪精液密度显著高于大白猪和长白猪(P<0.05),杜洛克猪、大白猪精子活力均显著高于长白猪(P<0.05),大白猪直线前进运动精子比例显著高于长白猪和杜洛克猪(P<0.05),长白猪和大白猪精子畸形率均显著低于杜洛克猪(P<0.05);从不同公猪出生胎次对精液品质的影响来看,1～3胎出生的公猪具有较高的精液品质;从不同采精季节对精液品质的影响来看,精液密度、精子活力和总精子数秋、冬...     

Realized heritability estimates in boars divergently selected for testosterone levels(1,) (2)

SUMMARY: Data were collected from 1982 through 1992 from 100 sires and 891 Duroc boars. Testosterone production was measured from peripheral blood samples before (PRE) and after (POST) GnRH challenge. Additionally, data were collected on testes volume at 168 d (TVOL), days to 104 kg (DAYS104), number born alive (NBA) and backfat adjusted to 104 kg body weight (FAT). Realized heritabilities were estimated from the regression of response on cumulative selection differentials. Heritabilities for POST were .15 ± .18 and .24 ± .08 in the low and high lines, respectively. This compares with the estimate of .26 ± .21 from son-sire regressions. The regression of other traits on cumulative selection differentials can be viewed as realized correlated responses to selection. After 10 generations, the high line was approximately three times greater than the low line for both PRE and POST levels of testosterone. Although not significant, high line pigs required fewer days to reach 104 kg, had more backfat and larger testes than low line pigs. Litter size was significantly larger for high line than for low line. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Realisierte Heritabilit?tssch?tzungen von Divergenz für Testosteronspiegel selektierten Ebern Die Daten stammen aus dem Zeitraum 1982-1992 von 891 Duroc Ebern aus 100 Vatertieren. Testosteronproduktion wurde von peripheren Blutproben vor (PRE) und nach (POST) GnRH-Gaben gemessen. Zus?tzlich wurden Angaben über Hodenvolumen am Tag 168 (TVOL), Zeitraum bis 104 kg Lebendgewicht (DAYS104), Zahl lebend geborener (NBA) und auf 104 kg K?rpergewicht korrigierte Rückenspeckdicke (FAT) erhoben. Realisierte Heritabilit?tswerte wurden aus der Regression von Selektionserfolg auf kumulative Selektionsdifferenzen gesch?tzt. Heritabilit?t für POST waren 0,15 ± 0,18 und 0,24 ± 0,08 in der Minus- und in der Pluslinie. Aus Sohn-Vater-Regressionen ergab sich 0,26 ± 0,21. Die Regression anderer Eigenschaften auf kumulative Selektionsdifferenzen k?nnen als realisierte korrelierte Selektionserfolge betrachtet werden. Nach 10 Generationen hatte die Pluslinie etwa dreimal h?here PRE- und POST-Spiegel von Testosteron als die Minuslinie. Obwohl nicht signifikant, brauchten Schweine der Pluslinie weniger Tage bis 104 kg, waren fetter und hatten gr??ere Hoden als Schweine der Minuslinie. Die Wurfgr??e der Pluslinie war h?her als in der niedrigen Linie.     

A genetic analysis of sow productivity traits

Genetic and phenotypic parameters for sow productivity traits were derived from analyses of records for 999 purebred Duroc and Yorkshire litters at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center. Included were 682 spring-farrowed litters and 317 fall-farrowed litters. Primary traits examined were number of pigs born alive in the litter (NA), litter size at 21 d of age (N21), litter weight at 21 d (W21) and an index (I21) combining the three traits. Also analyzed were total number of pigs farrowed alive or stillborn, litter weight of pigs born alive and litter size and litter weight at 42 d of age (weaning). Selection was based mainly on the sow productivity index among litters in the spring season and mainly on performance traits among fall-farrowed pigs. Select and control lines were maintained in both breeds in both seasons. Yorkshires started at higher levels of productivity than Durocs in spring 1975, showed more fluctuation and ended in spring 1982 at about their starting levels. Durocs started at lower productivity levels and recorded generally significant increases by 1982, with comparable selection differentials for the two breeds. Heritabilities, estimated from daughter-biparental (mid-dam, paternal granddam) regressions using records expressed as deviations from contemporary breed-line means, varied widely among the breed-line groups. Suggested composite heritability estimates were 5, 10 and 20% for NA, N21 and W21, respectively. Genetic correlations, computed from daughter-biparental covariances, were high and positive (.7 or above) among all traits. Based on estimated genetic gains, it was proposed that W21, alone or in combination with N21 and(or) NA in an index, be used as the primary selection criterion to bring about genetic improvement in sow productivity traits.     

不同配种模式对二元母猪繁殖性能的影响

为探讨不同配种方式对二元母猪产仔数的影响,以杜洛克猪、长白猪、大白猪、皮特兰猪四个品种公猪精液采用人工授精的方法对11654头长大二元母猪配种,对所产11654窝总产仔数、窝产活仔数、窝损失等进行统计和分析,分析不同配种模式对二元母猪繁殖性能的影响。结果表明,配种次数、不同品种公猪组合配种对二元母猪总产仔数、产活仔数以及窝损失均无显著影响（P〉0.05）,但杜洛克公猪所配二元母猪的总产仔数和窝产仔数均高于大白和长白猪（P〈0.05）;采用长×杜×大组合配种的二元母猪总产仔数和窝产活仔数均高于其它三种组合。试验结果表明,在生产中,可在长白、大白、杜洛克猪中任选两个品种,通过二次配种的方式提高母猪的产仔数。     

猪睾丸组织与雄性生殖相关circRNA鉴定

为研究环状RNA （circRNA）在杜洛克和大白猪睾丸中的表达差异，采用去除组织总RNA中核糖体RNA （rRNA）和线性RNA的方法构建特异性猪睾丸circRNA文库，并在Illumina PE150平台上进行测序，测序数据经过质控、比对、拼接后得到用于后续分析的数据。运用生物信息学软件find_circ和CIRI识别circRNA，并进行表达水平统计，从而得到猪睾丸组织circRNA表达谱，然后用DEseq2进行组间表达差异分析，对差异表达circRNA进行功能富集分析以筛选与雄性生殖相关的circRNA。结果发现，共识别到21 743个circRNAs，其中632个circRNAs在杜洛克和大白猪中的表达差异显著（|log₂（FoldChange）|>1，P<0.05），在杜洛克猪上调表达的circRNAs有281个，下调表达的有351个。差异表达circRNA富集结果显示，有52个GO条目与繁殖相关，其中有9个与雄性生殖相关。经进一步筛选鉴定，有6个与雄性生殖相关的circRNAs （circ_0030058、circ_0009504、circ_00178101、circ_0019933、circ_0033379和circ_0017932），它们可能参与精原细胞分化、精子发生和精子细胞发育等生物学过程。综上所述，杜洛克和大白公猪睾丸中存在表达丰度不同的circRNA，这些circRNA可能参与精子生成，可以作为预测公猪生育能力的生物标记。     

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.     

Genetic and phenotypic parameters for pig growth and body composition estimated by intraclass correlation and parent-offspring regression

Purebred Duroc and Yorkshire boars and gilts, farrowed in spring litters from 1974 through 1982 and in fall litters from 1974 through 1978, were maintained as closed select and control lines descended from the same base population. Spring-farrowed pigs were selected mainly on an index of sow productivity traits, whereas selection among fall-farrowed pigs was mainly on an index of pig performance traits. Basic traits analyzed were age of pig at 91 kg, postweaning average daily gain in weight, average backfat thickness (ABF) and longissimus muscle area (LMA), with ABF and LMA measured from ultrasonic scans at 91 kg. Also analyzed were estimated weight of trimmed wholesale lean cuts at 91 kg live weight and lean cuts growth rate from birth to 91 kg. Standardized selection differentials indicated that no significant selection pressure was applied to the four basic traits in the population. A nested analysis of variance of intraclass correlations among paternal half-sib families was computed with 1,930 gilt records, providing estimates of heritabilities and genetic and phenotypic correlations among the six traits. Also, estimates were computed for the portion of total phenotypic variance due to maternal-related covariances among littermates and the portion due to random environmental variances among individuals. In addition, estimates of the population parameters were computed from regressions of boars and gilts on sires, dams and mid-parental values with 974 boar and 1,686 gilt deviation records. Composite parameter estimates were then computed from the separate values weighted by the inverse of their standard errors.     

Effects of Duroc, Meishan, Fengjing, and Minzhu boars on productivity of mates and growth of first-cross progeny.

Meishan, Fengjing, Minzhu, and Duroc boars were mated by AI to crossbred gilts to compare the sire breeds for effects on productivity of their mates and performance of their progeny. Gilts were derived from a four-way cross of Chester White, Landrace, Large White, and Yorkshire. At weaning, litters sired by Meishan boars averaged 1.69 and 1.32 more pigs than those sired by Duroc and Minzhu boars, respectively (P less than .05). Pigs sired by Meishan and Fengjing boars averaged 1.2 to 1.8 more nipples than pigs sired by Duroc and Minzhu boars (P less than .05). Minzhu-sired pigs had a lower (P less than .05) survival rate to 14 and 28 d of age than did those sired by Meishan, Fengjing, and Duroc. Fengjing-sired pigs were heavier than Minzhu-sired pigs at birth and heavier than Minzhu- and Duroc-sired pigs at 14, 28, and 56 d of age (P less than .05). At 70 d of age, Meishan-sired pigs were heaviest, followed in order by Fengjing-, Duroc-, and Minzhu-sired pigs. At 98 d of age, Meishan-sired pigs were significantly heavier than all other breed groups and Duroc-sired pigs were significantly heavier than Minzhu-sired pigs. At 126 and 154 d of age, Duroc-sired pigs were heaviest, followed in order by Meishan-, Fengjing-, and Minzhu-sired pigs; all differences were significant. Average backfat thickness of gilts at 99.7 kg was least for Duroc-sired gilts and highest for Meishan-sired gilts. Sire breed groups did not differ significantly in feed efficiency from 70 to 98 d of age. Duroc-sired pigs were the most efficient (P less than .05) from 98 to 126 and 126 to 154 d of age. Results indicate that use of these Chinese breeds in crossbreeding programs will decrease performance traits. This decrease would have to be offset by increases in reproductive efficiency of Chinese sows, use of repartitioning agents, or other management techniques if Chinese pigs are to improve overall production efficiency of a crossbreeding program.     

Heritability of body length and measures of body density and their relationship to backfat thickness and loin muscle area in swine

The objective of this study was to estimate heritability for body length (LEN) at the end of performance testing and to estimate genetic correlations with backfat (BF) thickness and loin muscle area (LMA) in Landrace, Yorkshire, Duroc, and Hampshire breeds of swine. Also examined were two measures of body density involving body length and weight and their relationships to backfat and loin muscle area. Data consisted of performance test records collected in a commercial swine operation from 1992 to 1999. Boars from 60% of the litters were culled at weaning based on a maternal breeding value of the dam. Remaining boars and all females were grown to 100 d of age (15,594, 55,497, 12,267, and 9,782 Landrace, Yorkshire, Duroc, and Hampshire pigs, respectively). At this time, all pigs were weighed (WT100) and selected for performance testing based on a combination of maternal and performance indexes, which differed by breed. All pigs were weighed at the end of the 77 d performance test (WT177) when BF, LMA, and LEN were measured. Two measures of body density involving length were calculated: Body mass index (BMI) = WT177/LEN2 and body density (DENSITY) = WT177/LEN. For each breed, genetic parameters were estimated using an animal model with random litter effects and multiple-trait REML procedures. A series of three-trait models including WT100 and combinations of two other traits in each analysis was conducted. Fixed effects included contemporary group and age as a covariate. Average estimates of heritability were 0.16 to 0.32 for LEN (unadjusted for WT177), 0.12 to 0.26 for LEN (adjusted for WT177), 0.23 to 0.33 for DENSITY, and 0.16 to 0.25 for BMI. Genetic correlations between LEN and LMA were low. Genetic correlations between LEN (unadjusted for WT177) and BF were 0.10 to 0.41. Adjusting LEN for WT177 gave correlations of 0.11 for Landrace and Hampshire and negative correlations (-0.06 and -0.19, respectively) for Yorkshire and Duroc. Genetic correlations between LMA and DENSITY and between LMA and BMI were comparable and ranged from 0.44 to 0.54. Genetic correlations between BF and DENSITY were slightly higher (0.53 to 0.68) than those between BF and BMI (0.37 to 0.67). In these data, not much relationship between BF and body length at a constant weight and age was found. There was a negative relationship between LMA and LEN at a constant weight and age, implying that longer pigs had smaller LMA.     

Congenital defects inheritance of AI boars: Genetic parameters and breeding value estimation procedures

Genetic and phenotypic parameters were estimated for the congenital defects atresia ani (AA), intersexuality (IS), cryptorchidism (CR) and scrotal hernia (SH) in Dutch Landrace (DL) and Dutch Yorkshire (DY) pigs, based on data collected in Herdbook defects inventarization during 1976–1984 in the progeny of 194 DL and 294 DY AI boars.Heritabilities were estimated using analysis of variance with correction for categorical data type, and using the proband method derived by Falconer. The results of both methods differed considerably. Using the ANOVA estimates for CR and SH, and the proband estimates for AA and IS, h_HS² ranged between 0.16 and 0.35, and h_FS² between 0.34 and 0.94, indicating large non-additive genetic and maternal effects. Genetic correlation coefficients, estimated by the proband method, generally differed significantly from zero.Frequency distributions of the percentage affected litters per sire were approximated with chi-square functions; for AA and IS, estimated df of these functions were <1, indicating little between-sires variation of this percentage. For CR and SH, estimated df ranged between 1.5 and 4.8, indicating a more quantitative inheritance pattern for these traits.Based on the assumption of a quantitative inheritance pattern for CR and SH, and an oligogeneous one for AA and IS, selection criteria for AI boars were derived following the usual selection index approach, giving higher weights to traits with larger h², larger economical value and taking into account the variation present in the population, as indicated by the chi-square functions.     

Estimation of genetic parameters for reproductive traits in connectedness groups of Duroc,Landrace and Yorkshire pigs in China

The objective of this study was to estimate group- and breed-specific genetic parameters for reproductive traits in Chinese Duroc, Landrace, and Yorkshire populations. Records for reproductive traits between April 1998 and December 2017 from 92 nucleus pig breeding farms, which were involved in the China Swine Genetic Improvement Program, were analysed. Due to weak genetic connectedness across all farms, connectedness groups consisting of related farms were used. Three, two and four connectedness groups for Duroc, Landrace and Yorkshire were firstly established according to the genetic connectedness rating among farms. For each connectedness group a five-trait animal model was implemented, and via restricted maximum likelihood procedure the genetic parameters were estimated for five reproductive traits i.e., total number born (TNB), number born alive (NBA), litter weight at farrowing (LWF), farrowing interval (FI) and age at first farrowing (AFF). The average of heritabilities among connectedness groups ranged from .01 (for FI in Yorkshire) to .30 (for AFF in Duroc). Estimates of repeatability for litter traits ranged from .14 to .20 and were consistent for each breed, and for FI, the estimates varied from .01 to .11 across breeds and groups. The estimated genetic correlations among litter traits (i.e., TNB, NBA and LWF) were all significantly high (>.56) and similar across breeds. Averaged genetic correlations over three breeds were −.25, −.27, −.18, −.04, −.10, −.02, and .28 for FI-TNB, FI-NBA, FI-LWF, AFF-TNB, AFF-NBA, AFF-LWF and FI-AFF, respectively. The standard errors of the estimates were all very low (<0.01) in most situations. Results from this study suggest that selection based on TNB which is currently used in dam line selection index can improve NBA and LWF simultaneously. However, care should be taken on FI and AFF as they are both greatly influenced by non-genetic factors such as management and measurement.