PSXV-8 The study of feeding behavior traits in connection to feed efficiency in duroc boars bred in Russia

Abstract

Abstract The study of feeding behavior is of particular interest because it is directly related to efficiency of feeding. The aim of our study was to determine the genetic parameters of the feeding behavioral traits in Duroc boars (n = 766) in relation to the feed efficiency based on the analysis of variation components. Genstar and Shauer feeders were used to collect the behavioral data, including daily feed intake (DFI), total daily time spent in feeder (TPD), number of daily visits to feeder (NVD), average duration of each visit (TPV), feed intake per visit (FPV), and feed intake rate (FR). Genetic and environmental variabilities were determined by the mixed model equation using the REMLF90 program. Multiple regression analyses were used to adjust feed conversion rate (FCR) for the duration of the testing period, initial and final body weight, and average daily gain. The average initial body weight was 35.7 kg and the duration of testing period was 78.1 days. Actual FCR values reached 2.20 kg/kg with a phenotypic variability of 26.3%. Moderate values of heritability coefficients (h2) were observed for TPV (h2=0.168), FCR (h2=0.214), and DFI (h2=0.221) traits. The heritability parameters for FPV and TPD traits were higher and accounted to 0.269 and 0.290, respectively. The highest value of h2 was observed for NVD (0.494). Analyses of genetic correlations revealed several interesting findings. The boars, which more often visited feeding stations, spent more time in feeder (r2=+0.536 for NVD/TPD), herewith duration of each visit and feed intake rate were decreased (r2=–0.593 and –0.760 for NVD/TPV and NVD/FR, respectively). Feed conversion rate was positively correlated with TPD (r2=+0.530) and negatively correlated with FR (r2=–0,772). Our research results will be useful for development of artificial selection programs to select Duroc pigs for increased feeding efficiency. The study was supported by RFBR No19-316–90008.