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Genetic Aspects of Feet and Legs Soundness in Swine¹

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705

Abstract

Records of 278 Duroc and 276 Yorkshire gilts confined to pens with concrete floors and fed a 16% protein diet ad libitum from 8 weeks of age until taken off test at 91 kg were analyzed for feet and legs (F-L) soundness as visually appraised. Front and rear F-L were scored separately from zero to 10 (best). Other traits were weight per day of age at start of test (W/A), average daily gain (ADG) on test, back-fat (BF) and loin eye area (LEA), the last two measured ultrasonically at 91 kilograms. Front and rear F-L scores (00B1; standard deviations) averaged 7.99 ± 1.32 and 7.88 ± 1.09, respectively. Components of variance and covariance were computed for sires within breed and year-season (104 df), dams within sires (89 df) and progeny within dams (353 df). Heritability estimates for front and rear F-L scores (00B1; standard errors) were 26.9 ± 20.5% and 15.2 ± 24.1%, respectively, with sire components and 27.9 ± 10.8% and 38.9 ± 11.2%, respectively, with sire + dam components. Genetic correlations between W/A, ADG, BF and LEA with front F-L scores were .035 ± .159, .334 ± .171, .350 ± .178 and –.327 ± .210, respectively; with rear F-L scores, they were .087 ± .139, .093 ± .158, .052 ± .166 and –1.86 ± .191, respectively. Results indicate slow to moderate rates of progress in F-L soundness by direct selection and no conflict with ADG but problems with BF and LEA.

¹ The author acknowledges with appreciation the technical assistance of Robert L. Figulski, Swine Herdsman, Animal Operations Unit, who supervised the performance testing, obtained the ultrasonic measurements and helped evaluate the pigs for feet and legs soundness.

² Nonruminant Animal Nutrition Laboratory, Animal Science Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Science and Education Administration, Beltsville, MD 20705.

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