Abstract
Authors estimated the genetic parameters and genotype effects of average daily gain (ADG), age (AGE) and lean meat percentage (LMP) using the field test data of Pietrain (Pi), Duroc (Du), Hampshire (Ha) pigs and their crosses. Data was collected by the Agricultural Agency of Administration between 1998 and 2010 originating from 68 herds. Datasets of the different crossing combinations (Pi, Du, Pi × Du; Pi, Ha Pi × Ha) were evaluated separately using bivariate animal models. The estimated heritabilities were moderately low: 0.24–0.29, 0.22–0.26 and 0.18–0.19 for average daily gain (ADG), age (AGE) and lean meat percentage (LMP), respectively. The estimated genetic correlation coefficients were negligible: -0.07–0.01 (ADG-LMP), -0.01–0.04 (AGE-LMP). The Pi × Ha and Pi × Du crosses showed 6.76% and 4.96%; 6.74% and 4,17% and 0.08% and 0.44% heterosis for ADG, AGE and LMP, respectively. Among the environmental factors the herd effects were substantial: 41.17%, 53.67% and 14.16% for AGD, AGE and LMP, respectively. The smallest environmental influences were found for LMP.
Highlights
During the last two decades the BLUP breeding value estimation became a wide-spread procedure in every animal breeding sector
Since the genetic merit of the Hungarian pig populations are obtained by means of BLUP evaluations that are based on the various performance test data
The genetic parameters of the Hungarian purebred pig populations were reported by several studies (Csató et al, 2002; Csató et al, 2004; Farkas, 2008; Nagy et al, 2009) no relevant literature is available about the genetic parameters of crossbreds or about the estimated genotype effects describing the efficiency of the different crosses
Summary
During the last two decades the BLUP breeding value estimation became a wide-spread procedure in every animal breeding sector. The genetic parameters of the Hungarian purebred pig populations were reported by several studies (Csató et al, 2002; Csató et al, 2004; Farkas, 2008; Nagy et al, 2009) no relevant literature is available about the genetic parameters of crossbreds or about the estimated genotype effects describing the efficiency of the different crosses. These were the objectives of this study
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