Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rcrh6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-27T17:40:59.705Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Weaning weight of pigs and litter sampling with reference to litter size

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

A. D. Buchanan Smith  and
H. P. Donald
A. D. Buchanan Smith
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Genetics, University of Edinburgh
H. P. Donald
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Genetics, University of Edinburgh
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

1. Following an examination of weaning weight with respect to litter size, it is concluded that no general relation between the two exists. Although a significant regression of weight on litter size was found, it appears probable that in herds where the relation between fertility and milk yield is different, such a regression will not necessarily be found.

2. A sampling experiment was carried out to determine the extent to which a sample might be expected to represent the whole litter. A correlation of 0·96 was found between the mean growth rate of samples consisting of the four pigs nearest the average at weaning and the mean of the whole litter. This represents a loss of 8 per cent of the information. With three or two pigs chosen in the same way the loss was greater. Samples of four pigs chosen at random did not give results significantly different from those of the four pigs nearest the average. The choice of the heaviest four pigs resulted in a loss of 15 per cent of the information.

3. The slight difference between the results from the random sample and the sample of the four average pigs indicated that there must have been only a small correlation, between weaning weight and subsequent rate of growth. An analysis of post-weaning rate of growth showed that the intra-class correlation of pigs of the same weaning weight was 0·15. Individual weight at weaning would therefore appear to be of slight value in estimating subsequent performance.

4. Intra-litter correlations of growth rate for litter classes eight and nine were found to be 0·3 and 0·5. These values are higher than those found by others, probably as a result of the inclusion of the pre-weaning period in the calculation of the growth rates. There would appear to be grounds for believing that at least a fifth of the individual variance may be accounted for by additive gene effects.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 27 , Issue 4 , October 1937 , pp. 485 - 502
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1937

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

REFERENCES

Axelsson, J. Z.Zücht. B. (1933), 28, 157.Google Scholar
Beck, N. 21de Beretning om sammenlignende Forsøg med svin fra statsanerkendte Avlscentre. 150de Beretning fra Forsøgslaboratoriet, Køberihavn (1933).Google Scholar
Bengtsson, S. Verksamheten vid försöksstationerna för kontroll av avelssvinstammar under år 1933. Medd. Nr. 445 Cent. Anst. Försöksv. Jordbr. Husdjursavdelningen (1934), Nr. 86, Stockholm.Google Scholar
Bebge, S.Avkastningskontroll med svin. En analyse av resultatene over kontroll med fetesvin. Meld. Norg. Landbruks Høisk. (1936), 16, 641.Google Scholar
Bussett, A. H.Pig Breed. Gaz. (1932), 21, 23.Google Scholar
Bonsma, F. N. & Oosthuizen, P. M.S. Afr. J. Sci. (1935), 32, 360.Google Scholar
Contescu, D. & Roman, G.Ann. Inst. Zootech. Roumanie (1935), 4, 220.Google Scholar
Dsohapabidse, D.Z. Zücht. B (1936), 34, 349.Google Scholar
Fisher, R. A.Statistical Methods for Research Workers, 6th ed. (1936). Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh.Google Scholar
Hammond, J.Pig Breed. Ann. (1926), 6, 73.Google Scholar
Johansson, I.Pig. Breed. Ann. (1931), 11, 80.Google Scholar
Křížnecky, J.Sborn. čsl. Akad. Zeměd. (1935), 10, 140. (English summary.)Google Scholar
Kronacher, C. & Hundsdorfer, R.Z. Zücht. B (1936), 34, 277.Google Scholar
Lush, J. L.Proc. Amer. Soc. Anim. Prod. (1931), p. 51.Google Scholar
Lush, J. L.Res. Bull. la agric. Exp. Sta. (1936), No. 204.Google Scholar
Lush, J. L., Hetzer, H. O. & Culbebtson, C. C.Genetics (1934), 19, 329.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McMeekan, C. P.N.Z. J. Agric. (1936), 52, 278.Google Scholar
Murray, G. N. Onderstepoort J. vet. Sci. (1934), 2, 301.Google Scholar
New Zealand. 1930. Bull. N.Z. Dep. sci. industr. Res., No. 17.Google Scholar
WILD, H. Ergebnisse von Schweineleistungsprüfungen, insonderheit Stvdien über die Ferkelentwicklung (1927). Thesis, Landwirtschaftliche Hochschule, Berlin.Google Scholar