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Genetic Relationships between Measures of Sexual Development, Boar Taint, Health and Aggressiveness in Pigs

Wednesday, August 20, 2014: 11:00 AM
Bayshore Grand Ballroom D (The Westin Bayshore)
Severine Parois , INRA, Saint-Gilles, France
Armelle Prunier , INRA, Saint-Gilles, France
Marie-Jose Mercat , IFIP, Le Rheu, France
Nelly Muller , INRA, Le Rheu, France
Elodie Merlot , INRA, Saint-Gilles, France
Catherine Larzul , INRA, UMR1313 GABI, Jouy-en-Josas, France
Abstract Text:

The aim of the study was to estimate genetic relations between sexual development, boar taint, health and aggressiveness. About 1600 Pietrain type (purebred) or Pietrain x Large White type (crossbred) boars were raised in a testing station. Blood samples were collected at about 105 kg liveweight for measuring two sex hormones and two Acute-Phase Proteins (APPs). Animals were slaughtered one week later, measured for boar taint compounds and skin lesions on carcass (LSC), an indicator of aggressiveness.

Heritability was moderate for the C-reactive protein (h²=0.24 and h²=0.45, respectively for purebred and crossbred), whereas it was low for the major pig APP (h²=0.06 and h²=0.05). Heritability of LSC was moderate for both types (h²=0.31). High genetic correlations between androstenone and estradiol (around 0.85 for both types) and moderate genetic correlations between LSC and testosterone (around 0.45 for both types) were estimated.

Keywords:

Pubertal development

Acute-Phase Proteins

Skin lesions