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Genetic analysis of skin lesion traits in pigs and their relationship with growth traits
A total of 2,480 pigs were phenotyped for aggressive encounters by counting skin lesions. Lesions were counted at 24 hours post mixing (SL24h) and once again 5 weeks post mixing (SL5wk). Growth traits test daily gain (TDG) and lifetime daily gain (LDG) were available for each individual. The aim of the study was to estimate genetic parameters between the metrics of aggression and growth. Anterior and central skin lesion traits were strongly positively genetically correlated (0.99) and therefore could be considered as the same trait. SL5wk were positively genetically correlated with LDG (0.40 – 0.55), however this was not observed at the phenotypic level (0.08 – 0.10). It is likely that selection for increased LDG increases number of skin lesions under stable social conditions, however the environmental factors have a stronger influence on the observed phenotype.
Keywords:
Pigs
Aggression
Genetic correlations
