Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7czq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T23:54:29.975Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Progeny testing of bacon pigs at Wye college

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 October 1961

J. E. Duckworth ,
M. McG. Cooper ,
A. G. Dunkin ,
J. M. Taylor  and
W Holmes
J. E. Duckworth
Affiliation:
Wye College (University of London), near Ashford, Kent
M. McG. Cooper
Affiliation:
Wye College (University of London), near Ashford, Kent
A. G. Dunkin
Affiliation:
Wye College (University of London), near Ashford, Kent
J. M. Taylor
Affiliation:
Wye College (University of London), near Ashford, Kent
W Holmes
Affiliation:
Wye College (University of London), near Ashford, Kent
Get access

Extract

A report is given on a progeny testing scheme for bacon pigs which operated at Wye College from 1953 to 1957. Boars were brought to the unit, mated to a random selection of sows and 20 progeny (4 pigs from each of 5 litters) were individually fattened under standard conditions. Growth, feed efficiency and carcass measurements were recorded. The data were examined by analysis of variance. Significant differences in most characters were shown between sows, between boars and between tests. There was a progressive improvement in growth performance but not in carcass measurements from the earlier to the later tests. This was attributed in the main to improved management.

Differences within litters were small for carcass length but large for backfat measurements. Significant differences between boars could be detected but this was limited by small numbers of boars within tests and the high variability of some characters. The growth performance and carcass characteristics of female pigs were significantly better than for castrated males. Estimates of heritability were fairly high for most characters.

Disease incidence declined in the later tests. In earlier tests congestion of lungs associated with virus pneumonia was associated with a slight reduction in speed of growth and feed efficiency.

The results are discussed with particular reference to their contribution to the evaluation and utilisation of progeny testing on a national basis.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 3 , Issue 3 , October 1961 , pp. 239 - 250
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1961

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Bennett, J. A., & Coles, J. H., 1946. A comparative study of certain performance and carcass characteristics of Yorkshire barrows and gilts. Sci. Agr., 26: 265.Google Scholar
Betts, A. O., Whittlestone, P., Beveridge, W. I. B., Taylor, J. H., & Campbell, R. C, 1955. Virus Pneumonia in Pigs—Further investigations on the effect of the disease upon the growth-rate and efficiency of food utilisation. Vet. Rec, 67: 661.Google Scholar
Buchanan-Smith, A. D., & Calder, A., 1930. Pig Testing Station, University of Edinburgh, Animal Research Department. First Report (June 1928-March 1930).Google Scholar
Calder, A., 1931. Experiences of pig testing in Scotland. Pig Breeders Annual, 10: 74.Google Scholar
Comstock, R. E., Winters, L. M., & Cummings, J. N., 1944. The effect of sex on the development of the pig. Differences in growth rate between gilts and barrows by lines of breeding. J. Anim. Sci., 3:120.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Davidson, H. R., & Buchanan-Smith, A. D., 1928. Pig Testing and recording for the purpose of advanced registry. Pig Breeders Annual, 7: 46.Google Scholar
Fredeen, H. T., 1953. Genetic Aspects of Canadian bacon production. Canad. Dept. of Agric. Publ. 889.Google Scholar
Fredeen, H. T., & Jonsson, P., 1957. Genie variance and covariance in Danish Landrace Swine as evaluated under a system of individual feeding of progeny test groups. Z. Tierz. Zuchtbiol., 70: 348. Anim. Breed. Abst., 1958, 26: abst. 2042.Google Scholar
Johansson, I., & Korkman, N., 1950. A study of the variation in production traits of bacon pigs. Acta Agric. Scand., 1: 62.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
King, J. W. B., 1957. The heritability of carcass traits in British Bacon Pigs. Proc. Brit. Soc. Anim. Prod., 49.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lerner, I. M., 1958. The genetic basis of selection. J. Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York.Google Scholar
Lucas, I. A. M., Calder, A. F. C, & Smith, H., 1959. The early weaning of pigs. VI. The effects of early weaning and of various growth curves before 50 lb. live-weight upon subsequent performance and carcase quality. J. agric. Sci., 53: 136.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
National Pig Breeders Association, 1957. 3rd Progeny Testing Report, Progeny Testing Research Co., Ltd.Google Scholar
National Pig Records, 1954–1955. First annual report; 1955-56. Second annual report; 1956–57. Third annual report. Min. of Agric, Fish, and Food, London.Google Scholar
Osborne, R., & Patterson, W. S. B., 1952. On the sampling variance of heritability estimates derived from variance analyses. Proc. Roy. Soc. Edin., B, 64: 456.Google Scholar
Russell, E. Z., 1930. Hog feeding tests show barrows gain more than gilts. U.S.D.A. Year Book 1930: 320.Google Scholar