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Genetic Parameters and Genetic Trends For Growth Litter Traits in the Tai Zumu line

Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Posters (The Westin Bayshore)
Maxime Banville , INRA UMR1388, F-31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France
Laurianne Canario , INRA UMR1388, F-31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France
Michel Sourdioux , GENE+, Erin, France
Damien Bahon , GENE+, Erin, France
Juliette Riquet , INRA UMR1388, F-31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France
Loïc Flatres-Grall , GENE+, Erin, France
Abstract Text:

Litter weight characteristics are essential components for piglet survival in a context of animal welfare. This study explores consequences of a selection for prolificacy and production traits on litter weight characteristics in the Tai Zumu population from 2008 to 2013. Breeding values were estimated with the best linear unbiased predictor. A high selection pressure performed on litter size slowed down the genetic gain on piglets mean weight within litter (MW, -1g at birth from 2012 to 2013) that was previously sustain by selection against the age at 100kg (rg=-0.53 at birth and -0.56 at 3 weeks). Genetic trends for standard deviation of weight within the litter (SDW) slow down but are still increasing (+1.4g at birth from 2012 to 2013). A selection against SDW may be performed to improved homogeneity but must take into account MW due to unfavorable correlation.

Keywords:

Genetic trends

Breeding values

Homogeneity of weights