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Genetic associations between maternal traits and aggressive behaviour in Large White sows
A K Appel1, B Voß2, B Tönepöhl1
11Department of Animal Science,University of Göttingen,37075 Göttingen,Germany.
Animal : an International Journal of Animal Bioscience
|February 13, 2016
Summary
Selection for reduced aggression and improved maternal traits in Large White pigs is possible, though heritability varies. Some aggressive behaviors show negative genetic correlations with maternal separation responses, impacting breeding strategies.
Area of Science:
- Animal Breeding and Genetics
- Swine Production
- Animal Behaviour
Background:
- Improving swine production efficiency and animal welfare necessitates understanding the genetic basis of behavioral and maternal traits.
- Aggression and maternal behavior are critical for pig welfare and productivity, but their heritability and genetic correlations require detailed investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the heritability of traits related to aggression and maternal behavior in Large White pigs.
- To investigate the genetic correlations between aggressive behaviors and maternal responses, such as sow separation from litter.
- To evaluate the potential for genetic selection to improve these traits in swine populations.
Main Methods:
- Recorded data from 798 Large White gilts and 848 Large White sows.
- Observed aggressive behavior during mixing with unfamiliar pigs.
- Assessed sow reaction to litter separation at 1 and 10 days postpartum.
- Scored maternal performance traits including farrowing behavior, rearing performance, usability, and udder quality.
Main Results:
- Heritability estimates for agonistic behavior ranged from 0.11 to 0.28.
- Low heritabilities were found for sow separation response (0.02-0.03).
- Heritability for maternal performance traits ranged from 0.03 to 0.19.
- Negative genetic correlations were observed between litter separation response and aggressive behaviors.
Conclusions:
- Genetic selection for reduced aggression and improved udder quality in sows is feasible.
- Low heritability of separation response suggests limited direct selection potential for this trait.
- Antagonistic genetic associations between aggression and maternal separation warrant further economic and welfare analysis for breeding decisions.
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