Abstract
Estimates were made of genetic parameters for average daily gain (ADG) and average backfat thickness (ABF), and of the effect of sex on estimates of variance-covariance components for average daily gain of boars (DGM) and gilts (DGF) and average backfat thickness of boars (BFM) and gilts (BFF) by residual maximum likelihood (REML) under a bivariate animal model. Data included a total of 2233 records (757 for boars and 1476 for gilts) of the Large White breed born between 1981 and 1986 in Miyazaki and Iwate prefectures in Japan. Heritability estimates for ADG and ABF were 0.43 and 0.69, respectively, with a genetic correlation of -0.08. Heritability estimates for DGM and DGF were 0.54 and 0.46, respectively, with a genetic correlation of 0.79, including that the two traits are influenced by similar but not identical genes. Respective estimates for BFM and BFF were 0.71 and 0.72 with a genetic correlatioin of 0.95, indicating that identical genes influence backfat thickness in boars and gilts.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 677-681 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1999 Aug |
Keywords
- Genetic Correlation
- Genotype
- Heritability
- Pigs
- Sex