scholarly journals Genetic parameters of feeding behaviour and performance traits in group-housed Large White and French Landrace growing pigs

1997 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 451 ◽  
Author(s):  
F Labroue ◽  
R Guéblez ◽  
P Sellier
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
Genetic Parameters ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Large White ◽  
Performance Traits ◽  
And Performance

scholarly journals Bayesian inference of genetic parameters for reproductive and performance traits in White Leghorn hens

2018 ◽  
Vol 63 (No. 6) ◽  
pp. 230-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.O. Rosa ◽  
G.C. Venturini ◽  
T.C.S. Chud ◽  
B.C. Pires ◽  
M.E. Buzanskas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bayesian Inference ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Genetic Parameters ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Reproductive Traits ◽  
A Posteriori ◽  
White Leghorn ◽  
Performance Traits ◽  
And Performance

This study estimated the genetic parameters for reproductive and performance traits and determined which ones can be used as selection criteria for egg production in laying hens using the Bayesian inference. The data of 1894 animals from three generations of White Leghorn laying hens were analyzed for fertility (FERT), hatchability (HATC), and birth rate measurements at 60 weeks of age (BIRTH), body weight at 16 and 60 weeks of age (BW16 and BW60), age at sexual maturity (ASM), egg height/width ratio, weight, and density at 28, 36, and 40 weeks of age (RHW28, RHW36, RHW40, WEGG28, WEGG36, WEGG40, DENS28, DENS36, and DENS40, respectively) traits. The genetic parameters were estimated by the Bayesian inference method of multi-trait animal model. The model included the additive and residual genetic random effects and the fixed effects of generation. The a posteriori mean distributions of the heritability estimates for reproductive traits ranged from 0.14 ± 0.003 (HATC) to 0.22 ± 0.005 (FERT) and performance from 0.07 ± 0.001 (RHW28) to 0.42 ± 0.001 (WEGG40). The a posteriori mean distributions of the genetic correlation between reproductive traits ranged from 0.18 ± 0.026 (FERT and HACT) to 0.79 ± 0.007 (FERT and BIRTH) and those related to performance ranged from –0.49 ± 0.001 (WEGG36 and DENS36) to 0.75 ± 0.003 (DENS28 and DENS36). Reproductive and performance traits showed enough additive genetic variability to respond to selection, except for RHW28. This trait alone would have little impact on the genetic gain because environmental factors would have a higher impact compared to those from the additive genetic factors. Based on the results of this study, the selection applied on the BIRTH trait can be indicated to improve FERT and HATC of eggs. Furthermore, the use of the WEGG40 could improve egg quality in this population.

Feeding behaviour of pigs in groups monitored by a computerised feeding system

1991 ◽  
Vol 1991 ◽  
pp. 54-54
Author(s):  
R.J. Young ◽  
A.B. Lawrence
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Recording Equipment ◽  
Large White ◽  
Selection Environment ◽  
Feeding Station ◽  
Commercial Farms ◽  
Selection Testing ◽  
Grower Diet ◽  
Food Consumed

Recently computerised pig feeding has attracted interest from pig breeding companies, to improve selection. Testing has in the past been carried out on Individually housed pigs, whereas on commercial farms pigs are group housed and correlations between these two environments can be poor. Practically this problem can be solved by group housing pigs with an electronic feeding station. This system allows one pig to feed at a time and records each pigs Identity and the amount of food consumed, making the selection environment similar to conditions found on commercial farms. This paper presents results showing the strong effect of social factors on the feeding behaviour of Individual growing pigs In such a system.The subjects were 30 male and 30 female Large White X Landrace pigs (Cotswold Pig Development Co. Ltd, Lincoln UK), divided Into six groups of ten, balanced for sex and initially body weight (mean starting and finishing weight 32.1 vs 68.5kg) within a pen but not between pens. Measurements of feeding behaviour (see below) were continuously monitored for an average of 38 days, by one electronic feeding station (Feed Intake Recording Equipment, developed by Hunday Electronics Ltd.) In each pen. The pigs were fed on a standard pelleted grower diet.

A note on the behaviour and performance of growing pigs provided with straw in a novel housing system

1993 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 269-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. S. Arey ◽  
J. M. Bruce
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Conversion Ratio ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Housing System ◽  
Food Conversion ◽  
Large White ◽  
Daily Number ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Number Of Visits ◽  
And Performance

AbstractStraw-Flow is a novel housing system for growing pigs which simplifies the handling of bedding and manure by allowing pigs to take unchopped straw from dispensers. Three groups of 50, 50 and 60 Large-White × Landrace pigs were housed in Straw-Flow pens from 5 to 90 kg. They were supplied daily with 50 to 100 g unchopped straw per pig and given food ad libitum. From 30 to 90 kg, mean growth rate was 863 g/day and food conversion ratio was 2·56 kg food per kg growth. The pigs' behaviour was divided approximately into: 0·820 lying, 0·100 active, 0·075 feeding and 0·005 drinking (on a proportional basis). There were no differences (P > 0·05) between groups or different weights for any of the behaviour categories. The pigs were less active before noon than after noon (P < 0·05). The daily number of visits to the drinker between weights 5 and 25 kg fell from 23·7 to 11·0 (P < 0·05). A single drinker, of new design, appeared to be adequate for a group of 50 to 60 pigs.

Evaluation of performance traits in European Meishan pig crosses with varying Oestrogen Receptor (ESR) genotypes

1997 ◽  
Vol 1997 ◽  
pp. 28-28
Author(s):  
O.I. Southwood ◽  
H.A.M. van der Steen
Keyword(s):  
Litter Size ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Oestrogen Receptor ◽  
Large White ◽  
Positive Allele ◽  
Evaluation Of Performance ◽  
Performance Traits ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Meishan Pig ◽  
Esr Gene

A significant relationship between the ESR gene and litter size has been reported for a range of Meishan synthetic and Large White lines (Rothschild et al., 1995). The effect of one copy of the positive (B) allele in a European 50% Chinese Meishan synthetic (L93) was estimated as +0.79 pigs born alive per litter in the first parity (Southwood et al, 1995). It is therefore of interest to incorporate the positive allele into a comercial parent gilt, the growing performance and soundness of these animals also being of importance. The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effect of the ESR gene on growth and performance traits in a commercial type background.

Effects of single-space feeder design on feeding behaviour and performance of growing pigs

1995 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 575-579 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. L. Nielsen ◽  
A. B. Lawrence ◽  
C. T. Whittemore
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Length Standard ◽  
Daily Food ◽  
Low Head ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Entire Male

AbstractComputerized food intake recording systems of various designs are used by research, centres and breeding companies to monitor the individual food intake of pigs kept in groups. In the present experiment, three feeder designs are compared in order to estimate the effect on performance and feeding behaviour. Ninety entire male pigs (34 (s.e. 0·6) kg) were allocated in three replicates to pens of 10 pigs; each pen containing one of three different feeder entrance designs: low (head-guard), medium (full-length standard race), and high (enclosed pneumatic race) protection against disturbance of the feeding pig. No significant differences were found between treatments in daily food intake, daily live-weight gain, food conversion ratio, number of visits per day and daily feeder occupation. Pigs with access to an enclosed race had longer visits than pigs on the two other treatments, and they also ate more per visit (4·8, 4·8 and 6·2 (s.e.d. = 0·37) min per visit; 172, 157, and 202 (s.e.d. = 11·1) g per visit; means of low, medium and high protection, respectively). The enclosed race was not only the most protective, it was also the most difficult to enter, and this decreased accessibility of the food may have given rise to the changed feeding pattern displayed by pigs using this type of race. Access to a feeder with low protection resulted in a faster rate of eating (36·9, 33·2, and 32·8 (s.e.d. = 0·82) g/min; means of low, medium and high protection, respectively) indicative of a more forced feeding behaviour.

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