Genetic parameters for reproduction and production traits of Landrace sows in Thailand1

Abstract

Data from Thai Landrace sows were used to estimate genetic parameters for reproduction and production traits in first and later parities. The reproduction traits investigated were total number of piglets born per litter (TB), number of stillborn piglets (SB), and number of piglets born alive but dead within 24 h (BAD). The reproduction data pertained to 12,603 litters born between 1993 and 2005. The production measures were ADG and backfat thickness (BF); these were recorded in 4,163 boars and 15,171 gilts. Analyses were carried out with a multivariate animal model using average information REML procedures. Heritability estimates of reproduction traits for first parity were 0.03 +/- 0.02 for TB, 0.04 +/- 0.02 for SB, and 0.06 +/- 0.02 for BAD. For later parities, they were 0.07 +/- 0.01 for TB, 0.03 +/- 0.04 for SB, and 0.02 +/- 0.01 for BAD. Heritability estimates for production traits were 0.38 +/- 0.02 for ADG and 0.61 +/- 0.02 for BF. Genetic correlations between ADG and TB tended to be favorable, and genetic correlations between BF and TB tended to be unfavorable in all parities. However, BF was genetically correlated unfavorably with SB in later parities, and the genetic correlations between TB and BAD tended to be unfavorable in all parities. The genetic correlations of TB, SB, and BAD between first and later parities were 0.85 +/- 0.13, 0.79 +/- 0.16, and 0.71 +/- 0.24, respectively. Selection for high growth rate will probably increase TB, and selection for low BF will decrease TB and increase SB. The results obtained also indicated that BAD will increase if there is selection pressure for high TB.

Environmental and genetic factors affecting the weaning-estrus interval in sows

“…However, contrary to these study results, the estimates found by both authors declined over the intervals. Imboonta et al (2007) have reported greater heritability estimates than in the present study, using multitrait analysis. Its values were 0.16, 0.16 and 0.18 for the first, second and third WEI, respectively.…”

“…Higher heritabilities were, however, reported ranging from 0.11 to 0.44 (Ten Napel et al, 1995;Adamec and Johnson, 1997;Hanenberg et al, 2001;Imboonta et al, 2007;Cavalcante-Neto et al, 2008b).…”

“…These restrictions led to a drop of 41.8% of the observations, with 8104 WEI data remaining from the first to the sixth parities. In order to obtain a better normality of the error distribution in the WEI trait, this was transformed by the logarithmic formula developed by Ten Napel et al (1995), which has been used by several authors (Hanenberg et al, 2001;Holm et al, 2005;Imboonta et al, 2007).…”

Haplotype Analysis of Ferritin Heavy Chain Affects Stillborn Piglets on Large White X Landrace Crossbred Sows

“…Compared with 12,599 Thai Landrace sows recorded between's 1993-2005, TNB and SB was 10.03+2.64 and 0.21+0.59 (Imboonta et al, 2007). While, Moeller et al, (2004) stated between's 1997-1999 that TNB was 11.05+1.49, with range 1-25 pigs, and NBA was 9.96+1.38, with range 0-21 pigs.…”

“…The piglet number and its related traits were decline on subsequent parity (Imboonta et al, 2007). Here, TCTC haplotype was significantly focused on SB that were due to effects of uterine environment in late gestation, length of the farrowing period, and management at parturition, that may result in SB pigs (Moeller et al, 2004).…”