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Genetic parameters for measures of the efficiency of gain of boars and the genetic relationships with its component traits in Duroc pigs¹

M. A. Hoque^*,2, H. Kadowaki, T. Shibata, T. Oikawa and K. Suzuki^*

^* Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai 981-8555, Japan; and Miyagi Prefecture Animal Industry Experiment Station, Tamatsukuri-gun, Miyagi 989-6445, Japan; and Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, 700-8530, Japan

² Corresponding author: azharhoque{at}yahoo.com

Genetic parameters for the efficiency of gain traits on 380 boars and the genetic relationships with component traits were estimated in 1,642 pigs (380 boars, 868 gilts, and 394 barrows) in 7 generations of a Duroc population. The efficiency of gain traits included the feed conversion ratio (FCR) and residual feed intake (RFI) and their component traits, ADG, metabolic BW (MWT), and daily feed intake (FI). The RFI was calculated as the difference between the actual and expected FI. The expected FI was predicted by the nutritional requirement and by the residual of phenotypic (RFI_phe) and genetic (RFI_gen) regressions from the multivariate analysis for FI on MWT and ADG. The means for RFI_phe and RFI_gen were close to zero, and the mean for nutritional RFI was negative (–0.11 kg/d). The traits studied were moderately heritable (ranging from 0.27 to 0.53). The genetic and phenotypic correlations between ADG and FI were moderate to high, whereas the genetic correlation between MWT and FI was moderate, and the phenotypic correlation between them was low. The corresponding correlations between RFI_phe and RFI_gen were > 0.95, implying that they can be regarded as the same trait. The genetic and phenotypic correlations of FCR with measures of RFI were high but lower than unity. The RFI_phe was phenotypically independent of its component traits, MWT (r_p = 0.01) and ADG (r_p = 0.03). The RFI_gen was genetically independent of MWT (r_g = –0.04), whereas there was a weak genetic relationship (r_g = 0.15) between RFI_gen and ADG. Residual FI was more heritable than FCR, and the genetic and phenotypic correlations of RFI_phe and RFI_gen with FI were positive and stronger than that of FCR with FI. These results provide evidence that RFI_phe or RFI_gen should be included in breeding programs for Duroc pigs to make genetic improvement in the efficiency of gain.

Key Words: Duroc pig • efficiency of gain • genetic parameter • growth

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