Genome-Wide Association Study For Growth And Feed Intake in Duroc boars Utilizing Random Regression Models

Abstract Text: Average daily body weight (DBW_Avg; n=676) and adjusted daily feed intake measurements (DFI_Adj; n=846) from FIRE (Feed Intake Recording Equipment, Osborne Industries, Inc., Osborne, KS, USA) stations were used to identify genomic regions that impact these traits and their relative change across the growth trajectory in Duroc boars. Single-step genomic BLUP with Legendre polynomials (order=2) were utilized to model the trajectory and estimate variance components. The EBVs for Legendre regression coefficients were used to estimate SNP variance for the intercept, slope and curvature. Estimated heritability across age ranged from 0.03 to 0.40 and 0.06 to 0.24 for DBW_AVG and DFI_ADJ. Multiple genomic regions were identified that impact the intercept and shape of the growth or feed intake trajectory. The use of age dependent genomic information allows for selection to be placed across the trajectory to alter growth and feed intake curves. 

Keywords:

swine

random regression

genome-wide association study