Genetic parameters for growth rate in Danish organic pigs

Translated title of the contribution: Genetic parameters for growth rate in Danish organic pigs

Research output: Contribution to book/anthology/report/proceedingConference abstract in proceedingsResearchpeer-review

Abstract

The organic pig sector in Denmark is highly dependent on genetics from conventional pig breeding programs. However, housing, management, and feeding characteristics are very different for organic pigs compared to pigs kept in conventional systems. Before weaning around week 10, piglets are reared in an outdoor production system, whereas after weaning organic pigs have access to both indoor and outdoor facilities. They are fed an organic diet without amino acid supplementation, and they have free access to roughages. Little is known about genetic parameters for growth rate in organically reared pigs. Yet, the differences between the conventional and the organic production system indicate that they might differ. Therefore, this study aimed at estimating genetic parameters for growth rate in Danish organic pigs. The analysed dataset included body weight records of 6,089 pigs from 1,147 litters of 653 sows. Body weight was recorded every time the pig entered the feeding area. Records were collected after weaning from about 10 weeks of age to slaughter. Not all pigs had records for the entire period. A total of ~1.3 million records was available, with on average 57 days of body weight recordings per pig, and 3.8 records per day. A random regression model with 3rd order Legendre polynomials for both genetic and permanent environmental effects was applied. Preliminary analyses resulted in heritability estimates ranging from 0.60 to 0.85 for body weight and 0.49 to 0.83 for growth rate. The corresponding repeatabilities were 0.95 to 0.98 for body weight and 0.70 to 0.91 for growth rate. In conclusion, the preliminary analyses indicate high heritabilities and a large genetic variation for body weight and growth rate, which shows that selection for a higher growth rate is possible in Danish organic pigs.
Translated title of the contributionGenetic parameters for growth rate in Danish organic pigs
Original languageDanish
Title of host publicationBook of Abstracts of the 72nd Annual Meeting of the European Federation of Animal Science
Volume27
PublisherWageningen Academic Publicers
Publication dateAug 2021
ISBN (Print)978-90-8686-366-2
ISBN (Electronic)978-90-8686-918-3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2021
Event72nd Annual Meeting of the European Federation of Animal Science - Congress Centre Davos, Davos, Switzerland
Duration: 29 Aug 20213 Sept 2021

Conference

Conference72nd Annual Meeting of the European Federation of Animal Science
LocationCongress Centre Davos
Country/TerritorySwitzerland
CityDavos
Period29/08/202103/09/2021
SeriesEAAP Book of Abstracts
ISSN1382-6077

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