Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-vdxz6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T18:38:03.824Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Predicted responses to selection from indices incorporating feeding pattern traits of pigs using electronic feeders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 August 2016

A. D. Hall ,
W.G. Hill ,
P. R. Bampton  and
A. J. Webb
A. D. Hall
Affiliation:
Institute of Cell Animal and Population Biology, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JT Cotswold Pig Development Company, Rothwell, Lincolnshire LN7 6BJ
W.G. Hill
Affiliation:
Institute of Cell Animal and Population Biology, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JT
P. R. Bampton*
Affiliation:
Cotswold Pig Development Company, Rothwell, Lincolnshire LN7 6BJ
A. J. Webb
Affiliation:
Cotswold Pig Development Company, Rothwell, Lincolnshire LN7 6BJ
*
†Correspondence address
Get access

Abstract

The main aims of this study were to predict the increase in the accuracy of selection and the response to selection achieved by including feeding pattern traits, such as number and size of meals, as selection criteria in indices to improve growth rate, lean content of the carcass and food conversion ratio. Genetic and phenotypic parameters obtained for pigs given food ad libitum using single space electronic feeders were used to construct the indices. The predicted genetic gain in the index increased for indices with more feeding pattern traits. The inclusion of part test records for feeding patterns resulted in similar predicted correlated responses and predicted accuracy of selection to those using whole test records of daily food intake. The inclusion of feeding patterns as selection criteria resulted in indices that were less robust to inaccurate parameter estimates. It was concluded that feeding pattern traits could be used to improve the predicted accuracy of selection for the efficiency of lean growth but the most effective and robust index would include only daily gain, backfat depth, daily food intake and mean number of visits to the feeders per day. These traits may also be useful in reducing the length of the test period necessary for accurate measures of food intake, so increasing the potential intensity of selection using a given number of feeders.

Keywords

feeding behaviourfood intakegeneticspigsselection
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Science , Volume 68 , Issue 3 , April 1999 , pp. 407 - 412
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1999

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Cameron, N. D. 1997. Selection indices and prediction of genetic merit in animal breeding. CAB International, UK.Google Scholar
Cameron, N. D. and Curran, M. K. 1994. Selection for components of efficient lean growth rate in pigs. 4. Genetic and phenotypic parameter estimates and correlated responses in performance test traits with ad-libitum feeding. Animal Production 59: 281–291.Google Scholar
Felde, A. von, Roehe, R., Looft, H. and Kalm, E. 1996a. Multivariate genetic analysis of traits of feed intake behaviour and of performance in group-housed young boars using Gibbs-sampling. 47th annual meeting of the European Association for Animal Production, 25–29 August, Lillehammer, Norway, p. 254 (abstr.).Google Scholar
Felde, A. von, Roehe, R., Looft, H. and Kalm, E. 1996b. Genetic association between feed intake and feed intake behaviour at different stages of growth of group-housed boars. Livestock Production Science 47: 11–22.Google Scholar
Haer, L. C. M. de and Vries, A. G. de. 1993. Genetic aspects of the feed intake pattern of group housed growing pigs. Livestock Production Science 36: 223–232.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hall, A. D., Hill, W. G., Bampton, P. R. and Webb, A. J. 1998. The use of feeding pattern traits in pigs as selection criteria to improve the accuracy of selection for feed conversion ratio and growth traits. Proceedings of the 6th world congress on genetics applied to livestock production Armidale, vol. 23, pp. 547–550.Google Scholar
Hall, A. D., Hill, W. G., Bampton, P. R. and Webb, A. J. 1999. Genetic and phenotypic parameter estimates for feeding pattern and performance test traits in pigs. Animal Science 68: 43–48.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hazel, L. N. 1943. The genetic basis of constructing selection indices. Genetics 28: 476–490.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Labroue, F., Sellier, P., Guéblez, R. and Meunier-Salaün, M.-C. 1996. Estimation des paramètres génétiques pour les critères de comportement alimentaire dans les races Large White et Landrace Français. Journées de la Recherche Porcine en France 28: 23–30.Google Scholar
Merks, J. W. M. 1989. Genetic relations between performances in central test, on farm test and commercial fattening. Livestock Production Science 22: 325–339.Google Scholar
Nielsen, B. L., Lawrence, A.B. and Whittemore, C.T. 1996. Feeding behaviour of growing pigs using single or multi-space feeders. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 47: 235–246.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sales, J. and Hill, W. G. 1976. Effect of sampling errors on efficiency of selection indices. 2. Use of information on associated traits for improvement of a single important trait. Animal Production 23: 1–14.Google Scholar