Genetic relationships of reproduction with growth and with carcass traits in British pigs

Abstract

SUMMARYData werfe analysed of litters from Large White and Landrace herds which were tested at central stations in Great Britain for growth and carcass traits. Information on reproductive performance of young females was combined with data on their relatives at central stations in order to calculate genetic relationships of reproduction with growth and with carcass traits. Progeny testing of boars for both sets of traits was the most efficient of the methods considered for this analysis.In general, the estimated genetic correlations of reproductive performance with growth and with carcass traits were alike in sign for the two breeds, and the signs of the matrix of values were internally consistent. For example, combining data for litter sizes in the Large White breed, genetic correlations were −0·15 (food conversion ratio), 0·06 (daily gain), −0·18 (average backfat depth), −0·63 (killing-out percentage) and −0·41 (hind quarter percentage). When the growth and carcass traits were combined as total points score in a selection index, the genetic correlation between this score and reproductive performance was very small, with a range from −0·04 to 0·02. Calculations showed that inclusion of reproductive performance in the index would increase the rate of genetic improvement by only 0·55%.