Genetic standards for Topigs Norsvin dam strains – Articles

Sánchez-Osorio explains that we can center of attention at the TN70, the sow that accounts for greater than 90% of Topigs Norsvin’s F1 hybrid gross sales, however mentions that additionally they have an alternate hybrid, the TN60 sow, aimed toward markets in search of higher robustness or higher beef high quality.

If he needed to describe TN70 in a single phrase, it will be “steadiness.” He considers that the sow provides just right manufacturing indexes, each within the copy segment and within the completing segment. On the similar time, the sow is straightforward to care for and has a degree of robustness that permits it to make the most of its genetics even in less-than-optimal environmental or control prerequisites.

Variety standards and goals

Determine 1 displays the choice goals and their respective weights. The choice purpose of the TN70 displays the balanced variety philosophy of Topigs Norsvin. Subsequently, along with the extra classical goals reminiscent of prolificacy or mothering skill, different goals reminiscent of longevity and robustness are added. The load of the other goals is identical.

Determine 2 visually illustrates the traits that make up each and every of the goals.

Under, Sánchez-Osorio explains in additional element how an important characteristics are measured.

Clutter measurement

Variety to extend muddle measurement has all the time been in line with the choice for overall born and stillbirths with the target being that any build up in overall born would no longer translate into an build up in stillbirths. Thus, the target is to extend muddle measurement whilst maintaining stillbirths strong and even reducing them, as proven through the genetic pattern got within the TN70 sow lately (Determine 3).

Sánchez-Osorio provides that, given how the genetic correlation between those characteristics works, variety at the foundation of accelerating born alive by myself can be accompanied through an build up in stillbirths as neatly.

Robustness

Variety for those characteristics goals to procure animals which might be ready to deal with various kinds of demanding situations in the case of surroundings, well being, and so on. with out compromising their efficiency. Protocols associated with robustness duvet quite a lot of characteristics.

• Survival protocol. This has been integrated into the choice index for greater than twenty years and comprises weighing piglets at beginning (reside and lifeless) and/or at 21 days of existence, in addition to the recording of all piglet fosttering and preweaning mortality on the person stage at the variety farms (greater than 750,000 piglets are recorded in line with yr).
• High quality of leg conformation Our exterior protocol comprises the analysis of greater than 20 characteristics that come with hoof measurement, form of gait, place and attitude of the joints, strolling motion, and so on., and genetic values are estimated for all of those.
• As well as, using large-scale automatic tomography has allowed us to guage lesions related to osteochondrosis and arthritis (some of the primary reasons of lameness) and to estimate genetic values which might be additionally integrated within the variety purpose.
• PRRSv resistance: Contemporary analysis in america known a genetic marker related to animals having a better tolerance in opposition to PRRS an infection. This marker is integrated within the variety goals of our strains to extend the share of animals that display this herbal resistance to the illness.
• Prolapse: Despite the fact that normally they don’t have a genetic background, contemporary research have allowed us to resolve the lifestyles of a hereditary element (22% of phenotypic variation is defined through genetics), which permits us to paintings on variety to scale back the prevalence.
• Congenital defects. Our screening program comprises recording the principle congenital defects (inguinal, umbilical, and scrotal hernias, anal atresia, cryptorchidism, hermaphroditism) with which genetic values are estimated to watch and stay congenital defects inside commonplace levels.

Sow longevity

This comprises the analysis of frame situation and shoulder lesions at weaning, wean-to-service period, fertility, and so on., as those are one of the vital parameters which might be associated with how lengthy a sow stays at the farm.

Mothering skill

Weighing piglets at beginning and at 21 days, recording the selection of teats and teat traits, and recording piglet survival play a key function in bettering the mothering skill of sows.

Completing characteristics

In completing and slaughter pigs, 50% of the genetic benefit is dependent upon the dam and due to this fact we don’t lose sight of the truth that completing characteristics also are crucial in dam strains.

• Expansion and feed conversion, person knowledge are integrated by means of feeding stations and feature the most important weight (20%) inside the line’s variety purpose.
• Carcass high quality. The yield of the carcass and of the principle cuts assessed by way of automatic tomography is measured.
• Red meat high quality. Intramuscular fats, drip loss, and boar taint are evaluated to stop settling on the extra environment friendly animals that would excessively compromise the standard of the overall product.

In spite of everything, Sánchez-Osorio feedback that those characteristics don’t seem to be handiest measured within the genetic nucleus however lots of them also are measured in industrial farms with standard manufacturing prerequisites that are attached with the genetic nuclei (CCPS Program) to guage the result of the genetic strains in manufacturing prerequisites nearer to actual ones and that this data may be used to estimate genetic values. In most of these farms, genomics may be used to attach the tips accumulated with the animals provide within the genetic nuclei.