Identification of Genomic Regions Associated with Lactation Performance in Yorkshire Sows

Abstract Text: Lactation is an economically important phase in the lifecycle of sows. Short generation intervals in nucleus herds, combined with challenges associated with collecting accurate lactation performance phenotypes, emphasize the importance of using genomic tools to examine the underlying genetics of these traits. A genome wide association study was conducted on traits associated with lactation in Yorkshire sows using the 60kSNP chip. A 1Mb region on SSC2, explained 43% of the genetic variation for litter weight gain for parity 2 sows. Least squares means calculated by fitting the most significant SNP from this region as a fixed effect in mixed model analysis, showed that the effect of this region was also significant for back fat loss, loin depth loss, body weight loss and residual feed intake for sows in parity 2 and later. Candidate genes in this region are associated with monosaccharide metabolism.

Keywords:

Sow lactation performance

Feed efficiency

GWAS