J. Anim Sci.
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

J. Anim Sci. 1984. 59:967-973.
© 1984 American Society of Animal Science
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Toelle, V. D.
Right arrow Articles by Robison, O. W.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Toelle, V. D.
Right arrow Articles by Robison, O. W.

Genetic Parameters for Testes Traits in Swine1

V. D. Toelle, B. H. Johnson and O. W. Robison

North Carolina State University2, Raleigh 27695-7621

Abstract

Data were collected from 1,245 Duroc boars and 527 Yorkshire boars. This represents 128 Duroc and 57 Yorkshire sires. Body weights, testis length and combined testes width at 140 and 168 d were obtained. Of these boars, 432 were castrated at a later age to evaluate relationships between in situ measures and excised testis traits. Heritabilities for testis length, width and volume at 140 d ranged from .16 to .25 in both Duroc and Yorkshire data. Heritabilities for testis measurements at 168 d ranged from .16 to .36 in both data sets. Favorable negative genetic relationships were found between in situ testis measures and age to 104 kg and backfat adjusted to 104 kg. Correlations among in situ measurements were high an positive. All excised testicular traits were highly heritable except for right epididymis weight and excised testis width. Correlation estimates among excised testis traits were generally positive. Phenotypic and genetic correlation estimates between live (in situ testis and growth performance traits) measurements and excised testis traits were generally favorable. This study suggests that in situ testis measurements should be good predictors of sperm production. It also suggests that selection for testis size should not be antagonistic to selection for growth performance traits.

Footnotes

1 Paper No. 9083 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, Raleigh.

2 Dept. of Anim. Sci.






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1984 by the American Society of Animal Science.