Genetic relationship between purebred and crossbred sow longevity

Area of Science:

• Animal Breeding and Genetics
• Swine Production
• Quantitative Genetics

Background:

• Nucleus swine selection programs aim to enhance crossbred commercial performance.
• Genetic improvement relies on the assumed positive relationship between purebred and crossbred performance.
• Sow longevity, defined by herd retention and reproductive success, is a key trait.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the genetic and phenotypic relationships between purebred and crossbred sow longevity.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of nucleus-level selection for improving commercial crossbred sow performance.

Main Methods:

• Estimation of heritabilities, genetic correlations, and phenotypic correlations.
• Utilized THRGIBBS1F90 software for statistical analysis.
• Defined sow longevity as a binary trait based on parity and cumulative live-born pigs.

Main Results:

• Little to no genetic correlation was found between crossbred and purebred reproductive traits.
• Selection for longevity at the nucleus level may not translate to improved crossbred longevity.
• Early parity performance strongly correlated with lifetime performance, suggesting potential for predictive indicator traits.

Conclusions:

• Quantified the relationship between purebred and crossbred performance in swine.
• Provides crucial information for genetic companies developing selection programs for crossbred sow productivity.
• Recommends utilizing crossbred performance records for more effective selection strategies.