Genetic association between leg conformation in young pigs and longevity of Yorkshire sows

• Direct selection for improved longevity might be ineffective due to late in life information on this trait. This study aims at studying genetic correlations between leg conformation traits scored in young Yorkshire pigs in nucleus herds and longevity traits of purebred Yorkshire sows in multiplier herds. Two datasets were available: 1) on 97,533 animals (both sexes) with information on movement and overall leg score recorded at performance testing and, 2) on 12,444 sows with information on longevity. The longevity traits were: stayability to survive up to second or third parity (STAY12/STAY13); length of productive life (LPL); number of litters (NoL); lifetime born alive (LBA) and lifetime total born (LTB). The estimated heritabilities ranged from 0.05 to 0.16. Almost all estimated genetic correlations between conformation and longevity traits were significantly favorable (better scores - better longevity). Movement showed higher correlations with longevity (0.36-0.53) compared with overall leg score (0.24- 0.33).

Subject headings

LANTBRUKSVETENSKAPER  -- Bioteknologi med applikationer på växter och djur -- Genetik och förädling inom lantbruksvetenskap (hsv//swe)

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES  -- Agricultural Biotechnology -- Genetics and Breeding in Agricultural Sciences (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

kon (subject category)