Breeding Physiology

Selection for Lean Growth Rate in a Synthetic Line of YorkshireMeishan Pigs 1. Selection Pressure Applied and Direct Response

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Abstract

Selection for lean growth rate (LGR) was conducted for four generations in a synthetic line of YorkshireMeishan pigs. In the select line, seven boars and 20 gilts with the highest LGR were selected from each generation to produce the subsequent generation. A contemporaneous control line was maintained by randomly selecting five boars and 15 gilts to produce the next generation. Inbreeding coefficients averaged .198 and .207 for the select and control line pigs and .173 and .162 for the select and control line dams, respectively, in the fourth generation. LGR was estimated from ultrasound measures of 10 th -rib backfat thickness and longissimus muscle area from 1,057 pigs. These pigs were sired by 58 boars and out of 133 sows. The generation interval was 13 months and the average selection differential per generation was 1.1 phenotypic standard deviation units for LGR. Heritability and response were estimated from the deviation of select line from the control line and multiple trait derivative free restricted maximum likelihood (MTDFREML) on the same material. Realized heritability was .29 ± .12 for LGR in the control line. Corresponding estimates from MTDFREML were .32 and .37. The estimate of direct genetic change per generation using the deviation from the control line was 9.4 g/day for LGR. Corresponding estimates from MTDFREML were similar but were more precisely estimated.

Keywords: ASL R1670

How to Cite:

Chen, P., Baas, T. J. & Dekkers, J. C., (2000) “Selection for Lean Growth Rate in a Synthetic Line of YorkshireMeishan Pigs 1. Selection Pressure Applied and Direct Response”, Iowa State University Animal Industry Report 1(1).