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Genetic and Phenotypic Parameters for Pig Growth and Body Composition Estimated by Intraclass Correlation and Parent-Offspring Regression

U. S. Department of Agriculture³, Beltsville, MD 20705

Abstract

Purebred Duroc and Yorkshire boars and gilts, farrowed in spring litters from 1974 through 1982 and in fall litters from 1974 through 1978, were maintained as closed select and control lines descended from the same base population. Spring-farrowed pigs were selected mainly on an index of sow productivity traits, whereas selection among fall-farrowed pigs was mainly on an index of pig performance traits. Basic traits analyzed were age of pig at 91 kg, postweaning average daily gain in weight, average backfat thickness (ABF) and longissimus muscle area (LMA), with ABF and LMA measured from ultrasonic scans at 91 kg. Also analyzed were estimated weight of trimmed wholesale lean cuts at 91 kg live weight and lean cuts growth rate from birth to 91 kg. Standardized selection differentials indicated that no significant selection pressure was applied to the four basic traits in the population. A nested analysis of variance of intraclass correlations among paternal half-sib families was computed with 1,930 gilt records, providing estimates of heritabilities and genetic and phenotypic correlations among the six traits. Also, estimates were computed for the portion of total phenotypic variance due to maternal-related covariances among littermates and the portion due to random environmental variances among individuals. In addition, estimates of the population parameters were computed from regressions of boars and gilts on sires, dams and mid-parental values with 974 boar and 1,686 gilt deviation records. Composite parameter estimates were then computed from the separate values weighted by the inverse of their standard errors.

¹ USDA, ARS, Beltsville Agr. Res. Center, Anim. Sci. Inst., Nonruminant Anim. Nutr. Lab., Beltsville, MD 20705.

² The author acknowledges with appreciation the contributions of R. L. Figulski and D. L. Parsons, Animal Caretaker Leaders, for managing the swine herd and collecting and recording the data; the cooperation of W. H. Peters, Head, Animal Operations; the contributions of Bonnie Morgan, Statistical Assistant; and the suggestions by Drs. Rex Powell and George Wiggans, Beltsville Agr. Res. Center, Terry Stewart, Purdue Univ., and Fields Gunsett, North Carolina A&T State Univ.

³ Mention of a trade name does not constitute a guarantee or warranty by the USDA and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products that may be suitable.