The Effect of Using Organic or Conventional Sires on Genetic Gain in Organic Pigs: A Simulation Study

TY - JOUR

T1 - The Effect of Using Organic or Conventional Sires on Genetic Gain in Organic Pigs

T2 - A Simulation Study

AU - Zaalberg, Roos Marina

AU - Nielsen, Hanne Marie

AU - Sorensen, Anders Christian

AU - Chu, Thinh T.

AU - Jensen, Just

AU - Villumsen, Trine Michelle

PY - 2022/2

Y1 - 2022/2

N2 - Current organic pig-breeding programs use pigs from conventional breeding populations. However, there are considerable differences between conventional and organic production systems. This simulation study aims to evaluate how the organic pig sector could benefit from having an independent breeding program. Two organic pig-breeding programs were simulated: one used sires from a conventional breeding population (conventional sires), and the other used sires from an organic breeding population (organic sires). For maintaining the breeding population, the conventional population used a conventional breeding goal, whereas the organic population used an organic breeding goal. Four breeding goals were simulated: one conventional breeding goal, and three organic breeding goals. When conventional sires were used, genetic gain in the organic population followed the conventional breeding goal, even when an organic breeding goal was used to select conventional sires. When organic sires were used, genetic gain followed the organic breeding goal. From an economic point of view, using conventional sires for breeding organic pigs is best, but only if there are no genotype-by-environment interactions. However, these results show that from a biological standpoint, using conventional sires biologically adapts organic pigs for a conventional production system.

AB - Current organic pig-breeding programs use pigs from conventional breeding populations. However, there are considerable differences between conventional and organic production systems. This simulation study aims to evaluate how the organic pig sector could benefit from having an independent breeding program. Two organic pig-breeding programs were simulated: one used sires from a conventional breeding population (conventional sires), and the other used sires from an organic breeding population (organic sires). For maintaining the breeding population, the conventional population used a conventional breeding goal, whereas the organic population used an organic breeding goal. Four breeding goals were simulated: one conventional breeding goal, and three organic breeding goals. When conventional sires were used, genetic gain in the organic population followed the conventional breeding goal, even when an organic breeding goal was used to select conventional sires. When organic sires were used, genetic gain followed the organic breeding goal. From an economic point of view, using conventional sires for breeding organic pigs is best, but only if there are no genotype-by-environment interactions. However, these results show that from a biological standpoint, using conventional sires biologically adapts organic pigs for a conventional production system.

KW - breeding plan

KW - organic pig production

KW - GxE

KW - genetic improvement

KW - economic value

KW - BREEDING PROGRAMS

KW - ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS

KW - GENOMIC SELECTION

KW - BIRTH-WEIGHT

KW - PREWEANING SURVIVAL

KW - LITTER SIZE

KW - GENOTYPE

KW - TRAITS

KW - EFFICIENCY

KW - GROWTH

KW - Economic value

KW - Breeding plan

KW - Organic pig production

KW - Genetic improvement

U2 - 10.3390/ani12040455

DO - 10.3390/ani12040455

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 35203162

SN - 2076-2615

VL - 12

JO - Animals

JF - Animals

IS - 4

M1 - 455

ER -