Mass selection for increased 200-day weight in a closed line of Landrace pigs

Mass selection for increased weight at 200 d of age was conducted for six generations in a line of Landrace pigs. In the select line, the heaviest nine boars and 18 gilts were selected from each generation to produce the subsequent generation. A contemporaneous control line was maintained by randomly selecting a son from each sire and a daughter from each dam to attain a line size of five boars and 10 gilts. Inbreeding coefficients averaged .182 and .191 for the select- and control-line pigs and .150 and .162 for the select- and control-line dams, respectively, in the sixth generation. The 200-d weights and ultrasound backfat thickness data were collected from 1,022 pigs of 2,181 pigs farrowed. These pigs were sired by 92 boars and out of 210 sows. The generation interval was 13 mo. Twelve traits were studied: weights at birth and at 21, 35, 70, 154, and 200 d of age; daily gains from birth to 35 d, 35 to 70 d, 70 to 154 d, and 154 to 200 d; ultrasound backfat thickness at 200 d; and ultrasound backfat thickness adjusted for 200-d weight. Total weighted cumulative selection differential for 200-d weight was 88.7 kg. Realized heritability for 200-d weight was .26 +/- .08 with an average response of 4.2 +/- 1.3 kg/generation. Correlated responses resulted in increases for all weights and daily gains evaluated. Although ultrasound backfat thickness at 200 d increased in the select line compared to the control line, it was not altered by selection for 200-d weight when adjusted for 200-d weight.     

Mass selection for increased 200-day weight in a closed line of Duroc pigs

Mass selection for increased weight at 200 d of age was conducted for six generations in a line of Duroc pigs. A randomly selected contemporary control line was maintained. Our objectives were to observe the response in 200-d weight, to measure correlated responses in weights at earlier ages, daily gains and ultrasound backfat thickness and to compare three methods for estimating responses to selection. Inbreeding coefficients averaged .213 and .202 for the select- and control-line pigs and .200 and .173 for the select- and control-line dams in the sixth generation, respectively. A total of 1,866 pigs were farrowed; 200-d weights were collected on 798 of them. These pigs were sired by 89 boars and were out of 193 sows. Twelve traits were studied: weights at birth and at 21, 35, 70, 154 and 200 d of age, daily gains from birth to 35 d, 35 d to 70 d, 70 d to 154 d and 154 d to 200 d, ultrasound backfat thickness at 200 d and ultrasound backfat thickness adjusted for 200-d weight. Three methods for estimating responses to selection gave similar results; therefore, the estimates were averaged. Total weighted cumulative selection differential for 200-d weight was 81.7 kg with a response in 200-d weight of 2.5 +/- 1.2 kg/generation. This response corresponds to a realized heritability for 200-d weight of .18 +/- .08. Increased weight at 200 d was the result of more rapid growth in the 154- to 200-d period, with decreased growth in the period from birth to 35 d. Growth at other periods was not changed significantly. Ultrasound backfat thickness at 200 d increased in the select line compared to the control line, but not when adjusted for 200-d weight.     

Correlated responses in reproductive and carcass traits to selection for 70-day weight in Landrace swine.

Correlated responses in reproductive and carcass traits were studied in 181 litters and 218 pigs from a line of Landrace pigs selected six generations for increased weight at 70 d of age and a contemporaneous, randomly selected control line. The reproductive and maternal traits studied included litter sizes born, born alive, and alive at 21 d and litter weight at birth and at 21 d. Carcass traits studied were carcass length, longissimus muscle area, average backfat thickness, 10th-rib backfat thickness, specific gravity, weights of closely trimmed ham, loin, and shoulder, belly weight, subjective scoring of the longissimus muscle for color and marbling, estimated percentage of muscle, and lean gain per day. Total weighted cumulative selection differential for 70-d weight was 30.2 kg. The realized heritability for 70-d weight was .13 +/- .06, and the change in 70-d weight was .65 +/- .29 kg per generation. The regression coefficient of litter size at 21 d on generation was .24 +/- .10 (P less than .10) pigs per generation. None of the other regression coefficients for the reproductive traits differed from zero. Carcass length, specific gravity, and ham weight decreased (P less than .10) -.075 +/- .036 cm, -.00054 +/- .00027, and -.102 +/- .048 kg, respectively, per generation. Color score and lean gain per day increased .046 +/- .021 points and .0032 +/- .0013 kg/d, respectively, each generation in response to the selection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of mass selection for increased weight at two ages on growth rate and carcass composition of Duroc-Landrace pigs

Duroc boars from a line previously selected over five generations for 200-d weight and those from a randomly selected control line were mated to Landrace sows either from a line previously selected for increased 70-d weight or from a randomly selected pedigree control line. From these matings, 900 pigs were farrowed to examine the effects of crossing lines of pigs mass selected for weight at two ages on growth rate, survival, and carcass composition. A greater (P less than .01) percentage of pigs farrowed survived birth from control-line sows (.974) than from select-line sows (.914). Of those pigs born alive, a greater (P less than .05) percentage of pigs out of control-line sows survived to 21 d (.893) than out of select-line sows (.829). Pigs sired by select-line boars weighed 2.1 kg heavier (P less than .05) at 70 d than pigs sired by control-line boars. Pigs out of select-line sows weighed .11 kg less (P less than .10) at birth and .3 kg less (P less than .10) at 21 d of age but grew .026 kg/d faster (P less than .10) from 70 d to slaughter, weighed 3.9 kg more at 165 d of age (P less than .05), and reached 100 kg 7.0 d sooner (P less than .05) than pigs out of control-line sows. Carcasses from barrows sired by select-line boars had .29 cm more (P less than .10) fat at the 10th-rib than carcasses from barrows sired by control-line boars. Marbling scores were .31 unit greater (P less than .05) and muscle color scores were .25 unit greater (P less than .10) for carcasses from pigs out of select-line sows than for carcasses from pigs out of control-line sows. Selection for increased 70-d weight decreased age at 100 kg without increasing fat deposition. However, survival rates up to 100 kg were reduced. Mass selection for 200-d weight effectively increased 70-d weight, but fat thickness at 100 kg also increased.     

Correlated response of peripheral blood cytokines with selection for reduced mycoplasma pneumonia of swine lesions in Landrace pigs

Mycoplasma pneumonia of swine (MPS) is responsible for significant economic losses in the swine industry. We selected Landrace pigs for reduced MPS pulmonary lesions over five generations, and measured concentrations of the following cytokines: interleukin (IL)‐10, IL‐13, IL‐17, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α and interferon (IFN)‐γ to estimate their correlation with MPS lesions. Sheep red blood cells (SRBC) were injected twice intramuscularly at 70 and 95 kg body weight. Blood serum samples were collected after 1 week of secondary SRBC inoculation and cytokine concentrations were analyzed by ELISA. Genetic parameters and breeding values were estimated. The heritability estimates of IL‐10, IL‐13, IL‐17, TNF‐α and IFN‐γ were 0.20 ± 0.06, 0.12 ± 0.06, 0.27 ± 0.07, 0.20 ± 0.10 and 0.05 ± 0.03, respectively. Genetic correlations of IL‐17 and TNF‐α with pulmonary MPS lesions were high (‐0.86 ± 0.13 and 0.69 ± 0.29, respectively) and those of IFN‐γ and IL‐13 with MPS lesions were moderately negative (‐0.45). Through selection, the breeding values of IL‐17 and IFN‐γ increased substantially and those of TNF‐α decreased. These results suggest that innate and cellular immunity are more important for the suppression of pulmonary lesions in MPS than humoral‐mediated immunity, such as antibody response.     

日粮能量水平对长白猪体质量、脂蛋白酯酶活性及其基因表达的影响

为探讨日粮能量水平对长白猪脂蛋白酯酶基因(lipoprteinlipase,LPL)mRNA相对表达量的影响,选用同日出生的90日龄(d)长白猪24头(去势公猪12头和母猪12头),按日粮能量水平分成2组,每组3个重复,每个重复4头,饲喂至180d,统一屠宰取样,采用qRT-PCR方法检测2组长白猪肾周脂肪、肝脏、皮下脂肪和背最长肌中LPL基因mRNA的相对表达量,并测定背最长肌中LPL酶活性。结果表明,LPL基因在2组试验猪组织间的表达模式基本相似,在肾周脂肪中的表达量最高,背最长肌中的表达量最低;组间的比较结果显示,H组(高能量组)肾周脂肪组织中LPL基因mRNA表达量极显著高于L组(低能量组)(P0.01),但皮下脂肪和背最长肌中差异不显著(P0.05);H组在150,180d的体质量均显著高于L组(P0.05);同样H组LPL酶活性和背膘厚显著高于L组(P0.05)。结果提示,日粮能量水平可以影响猪LPL基因mRNA的表达水平及LPL活性,进而影响皮下脂肪和肌内脂肪沉积。     

Effects of increased vertebral number on carcass weight in PIC pigs

Variation of the vertebral number is associated with carcass traits in pigs. However, results from different populations do not match well with others, especially for carcass weight. Therefore, effects of increased vertebral number on carcass weight were investigated by analyzing the relationship between two loci multi‐vertebra causal loci (NR6A1 g.748 C > T and VRTN g.20311_20312ins291) and carcass weight in PIC pigs. Results from the association study between vertebral number and carcass weight showed that increased thoracic number had negative effects on carcass weight, but the results were not statistically significant. Further, VRTN Ins/Ins genotype increased more than one thoracic than that of Wt/Wt genotype on average in this PIC population. Meanwhile, there was a significant negative effect of VRTN Ins on carcass weight (P < 0.05). Thus, our results suggested negative effect of increased thoracic number on carcass weight in PIC pigs.     

Characterization of a line of pigs previously selected for increased litter size for RBP4 and follistatin

The objective of this study was to determine if selection response for increased litter size in pigs could be partially attributed to three type 1 marker loci coding for genes known to affect litter size: oestrogen receptor (ESR), retinol‐binding protein 4 (RBP4) and follistatin (FS). In the high litter size line (LS), pigs from the largest litters, based on number of pigs born alive (NBA), were retained to parent the next generation. A randomly selected control line (LC) was maintained. Gilts were reared in litters of 10 pigs or less to minimize maternal effects. Pigs were measured at generations 10–12. Additional traits scored were number of fully formed pigs (NFF) and number of mummified fetuses (MUM). Breeding values for NFF and NBA were greater (p < 0.05) in LS than LC in generations 11 and 12, but no significant line differences were found for MUM. The A allele of the ESR locus was fixed in both lines. After adjustment for effects of genetic drift, frequency of the two alleles segregating for the FS and RBP4 loci did not differ significantly between lines. No significant additive or dominance effects of the FS markers were detected for NFF, NBA and MUM in either LS or LC. Response to selection for increased litter size could not be attributed to effects at the ESR, RBP4 or FS loci.     

Correlated responses in reproductive and carcass traits to selection for 200-day weight in Duroc swine.

Correlated responses in reproductive and carcass traits from a line of Duroc pigs selected for increased 200-d weight along with a randomly selected control line were studied in 189 litters (116 select, 73 control) and 191 pigs (106 select, 85 control), respectively. Reproductive and maternal traits studied included litter sizes born, born alive, and alive at 21 d and litter weight at birth and at 21 d. Carcass traits studied were carcass length, longissimus muscle area, average backfat thickness, 10th rib backfat thickness, specific gravity, weights of closely trimmed ham, loin, and shoulder, belly weight, subjective scoring of the longissimus muscle for color and marbling, estimated percentage of muscle and lean gain per day. Total weighted cumulative selection differential for 200-d weight was 81.7 kg. The realized heritability for 200-d weight was .18 +/- .08, and the change in 200-d weight was 2.5 +/- 1.2 kg per generation. The regression coefficient of litter size born on generation was -.29 +/- .12 (P less than .10) pigs per generation. None of the other regression coefficients for the reproductive traits differed from zero. Average backfat thickness, 10th rib backfat thickness, and belly weight increased by .093 +/- .016 cm, .122 +/- .029 cm, and .089 +/- .040 kg, respectively, per generation. Specific gravity, ham weight, shoulder weight, color score, and percentage of muscle decreased -.00086 +/- .00024, -.165 +/- .013 kg, -.104 +/- .011 kg, -.035 +/- .015 points, and -.47 +/- .12%, respectively, per generation in response to the selection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Efficiency of selection methods for increased ratio of pupal-larval to adult-larval weight gains in Tribolium

SUMMARY: Four lines of Tribolium castaneum were selected in each of three replicates for increased ratio of (pupal-larval) to (adult-larval) weight gains, using selection for increased (pupal-larval) weight gain (PL), selection for decreased (adult-larval) weight gain (AL), direct selection for the ratio (R) and linear selection index of larval, pupal and adult weights (I), respectively, for four generations. Linear index was calculated with economic weights of m(2) -m(3) , m(3) -m(1) and m(1) -m(2) , respectively, with m(1) , m(2) and m(3) being the means for larval, pupal and adult weights. Selection to increase the ratio is considered to be a method to maximize the mean response in (adult-larval) weight while controlling the response in (pupal-adult) weight, and as a form of antagonistic selection to increase the weight gain during a given age period relative to the gain at another age period. Larval, pupal and adult weights were measured at 14, 21 and 28 days after adult emergence, respectively. The selected proportion was 20 % in all lines. The response observed for the ratio differed significantly among lines (p < 0.01), with the I and AL lines having the greatest responses. Line R was less effective in improving the objective of selection, while line PL appeared to be inappropriate. The observed responses for the numerator and denominator weight gains were positive in line PL, and negative in the AL, R and I lines. All lines apart from line PL decreased the (adult-larval) weight, holding (pupal-adult) weight constant. Larval weight showed the greatest influence on the response for the objective of selection. The results for this greater than 1 ratio are compared with results of others for smaller than 1 ratios, in which indirect selection for increased numerator is the more efficient alternative to the selection index. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Effizienz Selektionsverfahren zur Verbesserung des Quotienten der Gewichtsentwicklung zwischen Puppe/Larve und K?fer/Larve bei Tribolium. In den jeweils drei Versuchsserien zur Erh?hung des Quotienten (Gewicht von Puppe-Larve/Gewicht von K?fer-Larve) wurden vier Versuchsreihen von Tribolium castaneum untersucht: die Versuchsreihe PL wurde gew?hlt um die Differenz (Puppengewicht-Larvengewicht) zu erh?hen, die Versuchsreihe AL wurde gew?hlt um die Differenz (K?fergewicht-Larvengewicht) zu reduzieren, die Versuchsreihe R wurde direkt für den Koeffizienten gew?hlt und die Auswahl der Versuchsreihe I erfolgte über einen linearen Index, errechnet aus dem Gewicht von Larven, Puppen und K?fern über vier Generationen. Der lineare Index wurde berechnet aus den Gewichten von (m(2) -m(3) ), (m(3) -m(1) ) bzw. (m(1) -m(2) ), wobei m(1) , m(2) und m(3) die Mittelwerte für das Gewicht von Larven, Puppen bzw. K?fern sind. Die Auswahl zur Erh?hung des Quotienten ist eine Methode zur Maximierung des Durchschnittsgewichtsverh?ltnisses K?fer/Larve, sowie eine antagonische Auswahlform zur Erh?hung der Gewichtszunahme w?hrend einer bestimmten Wachstumsperiode im Vergleich zur Gewichtszunahme w?hrend einer anderen Wachstumsperiode. Das Selektionsverh?ltnis belief sich auf 20%. Die beim Quotienten beobachtete Antwort wies bedeutende Unterschiede zwischen Versuchsreihen auf (p < 0.01), wobei die h?chsten Antworten bei den Versuchsreihen I und AL beobachtet wurden. Versuchsreihe R war am wenigsten effektiv, w?hrend Versuchsreihe PL nicht geeignet schien, das Auswahlziel zu verbessern. Die bei Nenner und Z?hler beobachteten Antworten waren positiv bei der Versuchsreihe PL und negativ bei den anderen drei Versuchsreihen. Die Ergebnisse für diesen Quotient gr??er als 1 wurden mit denen anderer Versuche für Quotienten kleiner als 1 verglichen, bei denen die Auswahl zur Erh?hung des Z?hlers die effizienteste Alternative zum Auswahlindex ist. RESUMEN: Eficiencia de métodos de selección para incrementar el cociente entre la ganancia en peso de pupa-peso de larva y la ganancia en peso de adulto-peso de larva en Tribolium Cuatro líneas de Tribolium castaneum fueron seleccionadas en cada una de tres repeticiones para incrementar el cociente (peso de pupa-peso de larva)/(peso de adulto-peso de larva); la línea PL fue seleccionada para aumentar la diferencia (peso de pupa-pesp de larva), la línea AL fue seleccionada para disminuir la diferencia (peso de adulto-peso de larva), fa línea R fue seleccionada directamente para el cociente, y la línea I fue seleccionada por medio de un índice lineal basado en los pesos de larva, pupa y adulto, durante cuatro generaciones. El índice lineal se calculó con pesos económicos de (m(2) -m(3) ), (m(3) -m(1) ), y (m(1) -m(2) ) respectivamentee, siendo m(1) , m(2) , y m(3) los valores medios para el peso de larva, pupa y adulto. La selección para aumentar el cociente indicado es un método para maximizar la respuesta en (peso de adulto-peso de larva) controlando al tiempo la respuesta en (peso de pupa-peso de adulto), y es una forma de selección antagónica para aumentar la ganancia de peso durante un periodo de edad en relación con la ganancia en peso durante otro periodo. La proporción de selección due el 20 %. La respuesta observada en el cociente difería significativamente entre lineas (p < 0.01), teniendo las líneas I y AL las mayores respuestas. La línea R fue menos efectiva, mientras que la línea PL parecía inapropiada para mejorar el objetiyo de selección. Las respuestas observadas en el denominador y en el numerador fueron positivas en la línea PL, y negativas en las otras tres líneas. Los resultados para este cociente mayor que 1 se comparan con los de otros experimentos para cocientes menores que 1, en los que la selección para incrementar el numerador es la alternativa más eficiente al índice de selección.     

Genetic analysis of a selection experiment on increased body weight and breast muscle weight as well as on limited abdominal fat weight

1. Genetic parameters of body weight (BW), breast meat weight or yield (BRW, BRY) and abdominal fat weight or yield (FTW, FTY) were estimated in males and females originated from an experimental line selected for improving broiler carcase quality and its control line. 2. Mean heritabilities over both sexes of BW, FTW and FTY were 0.43, 0.56 and 0.63 respectively. Those of BRW and BRY were 0.53 and 0.65 respectively. 3. BW was unfavourably correlated with FTW (rg of 0.40) and to a lesser extent with FTY (rg of 0.12). BW was, as expected, highly correlated with BRW (rg 0.77), but a poor correlation was obtained with BRY (rg of 0.15). Selection for more breast yield should not reduce the leanness of the birds, with a genetic correlation between BRY and FTY of -0.15. 4. The variance explained by the maternal effects accounted for a rather small part of the total phenotypic variance (from 3% to 8% according to the trait), but ignoring these effects led to a significant overestimation of the heritabilities (by 11% to 19%). 5. Except for BRY, the heritability estimates differed between sexes, only moderately for BW but more for BRW, FTW and FTY. However, estimated genetic correlations between sexes were high (between 0.94 and 0.99) and in turn heritabilities of sexual dimorphism of the various traits very low (between 0.02 and 0.07). 6. A significant improvement of the genetic level for growth and carcase composition had been obtained in the selected line, with a mean genetic gain per generation of 0.12 sigma g, 0.13 sigma g and -0.30 sigma g for BW, BRY and FTY respectively.     

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.     

Comparison of selection based on phenotype,selection index and best linear unbiased prediction using data from a closed broiler line

1. Selection based on three methods of estimating breeding values, Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP), selection index (SI), and phenotype (SP) were compared for three traits, juvenile body weight (JW), percentage breast meat yield (BM) and hen‐day rate of egg production (EP) using records provided by a commercial broiler breeding company.

2. Product moment correlations were calculated between breeding values estimated by each method and averaged across sexes. A mean correlation of 0.69 was obtained between selection on SP and BLUP for JW. Mean correlations of 0.88 and 0.68 and 0.87 were obtained between SI and BLUP for the traits JW, EP and BM, respectively.

3. A mean estimated genetic response of 77.7% was obtained with SP for JW relative to BLUP in the absence of restrictions on the selection of close relatives. Estimated genetic responses of 90.7%, 66.9% and 88.4% were obtained by SI relative to BLUP for JW, EP and BM, respectively.

4. Applying restrictions on the selection of close relatives resulted in slight decreases in estimated responses but not in the respective ranking of the selection methods.

5. The results indicate that BLUP could provide commercial breeders with increased selection responses compared to index selection, in particular for traits of low heritability and where relatively few animals possess performance records.     

Selection for increased weaning or yearling weight in Hereford cattle. I. Measurement of selection applied

Selection was applied from 1964 to 1978 for increased weaning weight (WWL) or yearling weight (YWL) in two Hereford lines with an Angus line maintained as an unselected control line (CL). Each line was maintained with 50 cows and four sires (two sires selected each year and each used for 2 yr). Traits analyzed were birth weight (BW), preweaning daily gain (WDG), weaning weight (WW), weaning conformation grade (WG), weaning condition score (WC), weaning to yearling daily gain (YDG), yearling weight (YW), yearling conformation grade (YG) and yearling condition score (YC). After 15 yr of selection, a total of 3.22 generations of selection had occurred in both WWL and YWL. Average selection differentials in standard measure per generation for WWL, YWL and CL, respectively, were: BW, .44, .51, .0; WDG, .95, .81, .09; WW, .97, .85, .09; WG, .66, .57, .09; WC, .60, .38, -.02; YDG, .30, .79, .38; YW, .80, 1.05, .25; YG, .63, .62, .34 and YC, .45, .64, .24. The proportionate contribution of sire selection (delta S) to the average midparent selection differential per generation (delta M) was 70% in WWL and 76% in YWL. Selection indexes in retrospect were also calculated.     

Immunogenic properties of Landrace pigs selected for resistance to mycoplasma pneumonia of swine

Mycoplasma pneumonia of swine (MPS) lung lesions and immunogenic properties were compared between a Landrace line that was genetically selected for reduced incidence of pulmonary MPS lesions, and a non‐selected Landrace line. The MPS‐selected Landrace line showed significantly lower degrees of pulmonary MPS lesions compared with the non‐selected Landrace line. When changes in immunity before and after vaccination were compared, the percentage of B cells in the peripheral blood of the MPS‐selected Landrace line was significantly lower than that of the non‐selected line. Furthermore, the concentration of growth hormone and the mitogen activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the MPS‐selected Landrace line showed significantly (P < 0.05) lower increases after vaccination than the non‐selected line. Conversely, the concentration of peripheral blood interferon (IFN)‐γ and salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) after Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae vaccination was significantly higher in the MPS‐selected Landrace line than in the non‐selected line. Gene expression of toll‐like receptor (TLR)2 and TLR4 was significantly higher in the MPS‐selected Landrace line in immune tissues, with the exception of the hilar lymph nodes. The present results suggest that peripheral blood IFN‐γ, salivary IgA TLR2, and TLR4 are important immunological factors influencing the development of MPS lesions.     

Genomic selection for maternal traits in pigs

The aim of this study was to compare alternative designs for implementation of genomic selection to improve maternal traits in pigs, with a conventional breeding scheme and a progeny testing scheme. The comparison was done through stochastic simulation of a pig population. It was assumed that selection was performed based on a trait that could be measured on females after the first litter, with a heritability of 0.1. Genomic selection increased genetic gain and reduced the rate of inbreeding, compared with conventional selection without progeny testing. Progeny testing could also increase genetic gain and decrease the rate of inbreeding, but because of the increased generation interval, the increase in annual genetic gain was only 7%. When genomic selection was applied, genetic gain was increased by 23 to 91%, depending on which and how many animals were genotyped. Genotyping dams in addition to the male selection candidates gave increased accuracy of the genomic breeding values, increased genetic gain, and decreased rate of inbreeding. To genotype 2 or 3 males from each litter, in order to perform within-litter selection, increased genetic gain 8 to 12%, compared with schemes with the same number of genotyped females but only 1 male candidate per litter. Comparing schemes with the same total number of genotyped animals revealed that genotyping more females caused a greater increase in genetic gain than genotyping more males because greater accuracy of selection was more advantageous than increasing the number of male selection candidates. When more than 1 male per litter was genotyped, and thereby included as selection candidates, rate of inbreeding increased because of coselection of full sibs. The conclusion is that genomic selection can increase genetic gain for traits that are measured on females, which includes several traits with economic importance in maternal pig breeds. Genotyping females is essential to obtain a high accuracy of selection.     

Effect of stress susceptibility on some reproductive traits in Belgian Landrace pigs

The investigation included 1413 Belgian Landrace litters (305 first, 278 second and 832 later farrowings) issued from matings between 190 halothane-positive (HP) and 304 halothane-negative (HN) sows and 139 HP and 49 HN boars on seven commercial farms of West Flanders. Four groups of matings were investigated: HP × HP; HP × HN; HN × HP and HN × HN. All HN sows and boars were heterozygotes for halothane sensitivity.The results were statistically analysed by a linear model according to Harvey (1977), including the following factors: mean, farm, year, sensitivity group, interaction year × sensitivity group. This model explained between 10 and 24% of the total variance; within this an important portion is caused by the sensitivity × farm interaction factor. Abstracting this interaction there are indications that HN sows are more prolific, but only from the second farrowings, the number of piglets born alive in the second litter being on average 9.2 in HP vs 9.6 in HN sows and in the following litters on average 9.3 vs 10.3. In all litters of HN sows an additional gain of 0.2 piglets at weaning was found. No significant conclusions could be drawn for the effect of halothane sensitivity on the age at first farrowing and on the farrowing interval.     

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.