Selection for prolificacy in pigs

Author(s):  
E. Avalos ◽  
C. Smith ◽  
M. Bichard

Pigs can be bred at 6 months of age. By this time it is possible for their dams to have two litter records (at 12 months and 18 months of age) on which selection for litter size can be based. Hence, a generation interval of one year for both males and females can be achieved. Ollivier (1974), has shown that this system maximizes the rates of response. The accuracy with which replacements are chosen can be increased further by including information from other relatives (dam and sire family) in a selection index.

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Sisay Asmare ◽  
Sisay Asmare ◽  
Kefyalew Alemayehu ◽  
Solomon Abegaz K. ◽  
Aynalem Haile ◽  
...  

In Ethiopia,there are 32.85 millions of sheep,more than 99 % of which are indigenous.However,the productivity of local sheep under traditional production system is low with high mortality of sheep.There are two ways of improving performance of sheep and goats,namely improving the enviroment of animals and/or improving there genetic potential.The aim of this study was to predict genetic gains of breedingobjective traits and select the best sheep selection scheme for Gumuz andWashera sheep. Body size(six month weight and yearling weight) and litter size were breeding objective traits identified by own flock animal ranking experiment and personal interview. Deterministic approach of ZPLAN computor program is used for modeling input parametres of Gumuz and Washera sheep and simulating breeding plans using gene flow method and selection index procedures. One-tier cooperative sheep breeding scheme were proposed whereby ram exchange between and within villages is the main means of genetic dissimination. Genetic gains predicted for six month weight of Gumuz and Washera sheep were 0.43 and 0.55 kg,respectively. Genetic gains predicted for yearling weight of Gumuz and Washera sheep were 0.55 and 0.60 kg,respectively. Genetic gains predicted for litter  size of Gumuz and Washera sheep were 0.08 and 0.09 lambs,respectively. The lower rate of inbreeding, the higher monetary genetic gain for aggregate genotype,higher return to investmnet and higher profit/ewe/year were quality measures of breeding program considered to prefer scheme 4 for both Gumuz and Washera sheep.Hence,for both Gumuz and Washera sheep populations a sheep selection scheme designed with 15 % selection proportion and one year ram use for breeding was recommended. Special emphasis need to be given to yearling weight with higher predicted genetic response and higher percentage return to investment.


Genome ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 791-795
Author(s):  
D. C. Winkelman ◽  
I. McMillan ◽  
G. W. Friars ◽  
L. R. McKay

Five methods of selection each in five replicates were examined for single-generation response in high and low 21-day pupal weight of Tribolium castaneum. The methods of selection tested were individual (ID), dam family or full (DF), sire family or half-sib (SF), progeny test (PT), and index (IX). A selection intensity, involving as parents the top 25% of the individuals on any specific phenotypic scale, was applied throughout the experiment. Each replicate included a contemporaneous, randomly mated control line. Responses attained with each method were compared with predicted gains and with results observed for other methods. Differences in responses of males and females were also assessed. Response to selection was markedly asymmetrical with greater gains observed in the downward direction. In the lines selected for low pupal weight, males and females were found to respond similarly and actual responses did not differ from those predicted. Ranking of methods by responses obtained for downward selection yielded the order IX > ID > PT > DF > SF. Selection for high pupal weight yielded differences in responses of males and females and the observed responses were significantly less than those predicted in all cases except that of PT-selected females. Observed responses for males were ordered as IX > ID > PT > DF > SF, while those for females were PT > IX > DF > SF > ID. When the data from both sexes were combined, the order of responses was PT > IX > DF > ID > SF.Key words: asymmetrical response, selection, Tribolium, pupal weight.


2002 ◽  
Vol 80 (10) ◽  
pp. 2566 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Estany ◽  
D. Villalba ◽  
M. Tor ◽  
D. Cubiló ◽  
J. L. Noguera

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-37
Author(s):  
Tabinda Sattar

Background: Selenium is a micronutrient, although required in low amounts, its importance in male and female reproduction is well known. Objectives: The core purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of selenium in human reproduction, during pregnancy/ lactation in women and newborns. The review explains side by side the sources of selenium, required amounts of selenium in humans and during pregnancy or lactation. Methods: Selenium deficiency is a major cause of male infertility. Similarly, selenium deficiency, both in pregnant and postpartum women, would greatly affect the health of the newborn baby in all respects. The effect of maternal selenium upon the fetus and the neonates even one year after birth has been explained with some recent examples. Results: The study elaborates the fact that the selenium deficiency in pregnancy and lactation is common due to fetal/infant development, so selenium supplements must be provided in order to overcome these deficiency symptoms. Conclusions: The better reproductive health in humans is possible due to the sufficient amounts of selenium present both in males and females as well.


Author(s):  
N Fetherstone ◽  
N McHugh ◽  
T M Boland ◽  
F M McGovern

Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of the ewe’s maternal genetic merit and country of origin (New Zealand or Ireland) on ewe reproductive, lambing and productivity traits. The study was performed over a four year period (2016 to 2019) and consisted of three genetic groups: high maternal genetic merit New Zealand (NZ), high maternal genetic merit Irish (High Irish) and low maternal genetic merit Irish (Low Irish) ewes. Each group contained 30 Suffolk and 30 Texel ewes, selected based on the respective national maternal genetic indexes; i.e. either the New Zealand Maternal Worth (New Zealand group) or the €uro-star Replacement index (Irish groups). The impact of maternal genetic merit on reproductive traits such as litter size; lambing traits such as gestation length, birth weight, lambing difficulty, mothering ability, and productivity traits such as the number of lambs born and weaned were analyzed using linear mixed models. For binary traits, the impact of maternal genetic merit on reproductive traits such as conception to first AI service; lambing traits such as dystocia, perinatal lamb mortality and productivity traits such as ewe survival were analyzed using logistic regression. New Zealand ewes outperformed Low Irish ewes for conception to first AI (P<0.05) and litter size (P=0.05). Irish ewes were more likely to suffer from dystocia (6.84 (High Irish) and 8.25 (Low Irish) times) compared to NZ ewes (P<0.001); birth weight and perinatal mortality did not differ between groups (P>0.05). Lambs born from NZ ewes were 4.67 (95% CI: 1.89 to 11.55; P<0.001) and 6.54 (95% CI: 2.56 to 16.71; P<0.001) times more likely to stand up and suckle unassisted relative to lambs born from High or Low Irish ewes, respectively. New Zealand and High Irish ewes had a greater number of lambs born and weaned throughout the duration of the study compared to their Low Irish counterparts (P<0.001). New Zealand ewes tended to be more likely to survive from one year to the next compared to Low Irish ewes (P=0.07). Irish ewes of high maternal genetic merit outperformed their Low counterparts in total number of lambs born and weaned per ewe, but performance did not differ across other traits investigated. This highlights the importance of continuous development of the Irish maternal sheep index to ensure favourable improvements in reproductive, lambing and productivity traits at farm level. Overall, results demonstrate the suitability of NZ genetics in an Irish production system.


2017 ◽  
Vol 65 (6) ◽  
pp. 357 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. A. Woolley

Woolley’s Pseudantechinus, P. woolleyae, has remained virtually unstudied in the 30 years since its recognition in 1988 as a species distinct from P. macdonnellensis. It has a wide distribution in arid regions of Western Australia. What little is known of its biology comes largely from studies carried out over the years 1988–91 on one wild-caught female and her offspring, and a few specimens held in the collection of the Western Australian Museum. P. woolleyae is a seasonal breeder and young are born from late July to early October. They mature when ~7 months old. Both males and females are potentially capable of breeding in more than one year. Males have accessory erectile tissue that does not form an appendage on the penis.


1990 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 593-599 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Anderson ◽  
M. K. Curran

ABSTRACTAn evaluation of the response to selection for prolificacy within a nucleus sheep flock of a commercial group-breeding scheme is presented. In 1979, the Romney Group Breeders formed a nucleus flock of 120 prolific ewes chosen from 12 contributing flocks. A control flock was established in 1982 from the same source. The analysis was conducted on the trait of litter size. Selection differentials are presented for each year of birth progeny group in both flocks. Expected selection response was calculated from selection differentials and was found to have an average value of 1·5% of parent mean litter size per year. Using least squares procedures the litter size performance of control and nucleus ewes of 2, 3 and 4 years of age was corrected for environmental effects. Realized response was estimated from the differences between corrected litter size means of control and nucleus flocks. Response in litter size was found to be significant within years and within ewe age groups (P < 0·05).


2014 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 1097-1103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janne Thirstrup ◽  
Cino Pertoldi ◽  
Peter Larsen ◽  
Vivi Nielsen

Litter sizes in a cross between Brown and Black mink color types were observed through six generations. Litter size was significantly affected by yearly environmental variations. After adjusting for year effects, we found significant increases in litter size in the second and third generations (F2 and F3) after crossing. Thereafter, in the following generations, litter size dropped to a level comparable to the mean litter size of the midparent. Increased litter size in F2 compared to F1 indicated that maternal effects influenced litter size more than non-maternal effects. The heterosis was mainly caused by an increase in litter size compared to the Black parental line. This indicates that the Black line was affected by inbreeding depression prior to crossing. We also found that two-year old F1 females had significantly more offspring compared to one-year old F1 females.


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