Methods for calculating economic weights of traits in pigs

Zuzana Krupova,Emil Krupa,Eliška Žáková

doi:10.15414/afz.2016.19.si.03-05

Abstract

Selection of animals is performed on the basis of a complex of traits, which are characterised by breeding values and economic weights. Various methodologies are used to choose the most important traits in pig breeding programs. Using the subjective approach, economic importance of pig traits were based on the required genetic gain and on subjective decision of the breeders. These methods could be ambiguous, however the insufficient information about the trait importance can be complemented in some cases (e.g. for organic pig farms). In objective methods, the performance of a pig production system (measured as profit or costs) in relation to improving the genetic level of a pig trait is considered. Compared to other livestock species, pigs breeding structure play some role when defining the trait economic weights. The general, flexible and fee available computer program would be useful tool for calculating economic weights of pig traits.

Highlights

Selection of animals is performed on the basis of a complex of traits, which are characterised by their breeding values and economic weights
Economic weights of many production and functional traits were calculated for pigs in the last years and various approaches were used when defining the economic importance of the traits for the selection purposes
Using the subjective methodological approach, economic importance of the pig trait can be based on the required genetic gain for the given trait, i.e. on the desired gain (Sørensen, 2015)

Summary

Introduction

Selection of animals is performed on the basis of a complex of traits, which are characterised by their breeding values and economic weights. Economic weights of many production and functional traits were calculated for pigs in the last years and various approaches were used when defining the economic importance of the traits for the selection purposes. This approaches ranged from subjective decisions of the breeders (Sørensen, 2015; Wallenbeck et al, 2015) to the most objective and comprehensive methodologies (de Vries, 1989; Houška et al, 2010; Amer et al, 2014). The objective of this short review is to describe methods used for the calculation of economic values of important traits for pigs

Methods for calculating the economic weights

Conclusions