Estimation of direct and maternal genetic parameters for individual birth weight, weaning weight, and probe weight in Yorkshire and Landrace pigs.

ABSTRACT: As a result of selecting for increased litter size, newborn piglets are being born lighter and have a lower chance of survival. Raising fewer pigs to market weight would have a negative impact on the industry and farmer profitability; thus, understanding the genetics of individual growth performance traits will determine whether these traits will play an important role in pig breeding schemes. This study aimed to estimate genetic parameters for individual birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), and probe weight (PW) in Canadian-purebred Yorkshire and Landrace pigs. PW is a live weight taken at the time of the ultrasound measurements, when pigs weigh about 100 kg. Data were collected from 2 large and related breeding herds from 2003 to 2015. Four linear animal models were used, which includ

SUBMITTER: Alves K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6095450 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature