Pig Genetics - an overview

Abstract

Over the past 20 years genetic gains of the order of 1% of the mean annually have compounded in growth and body composition traits of pigs. These have been accompanied by mildly unfavourable trends in meat quality traits. Only in the last 10 years has there been a significant improvement in litter size. This has been due to developments in computing power (e.g. BLUP). The use of molecular markers gives hope of accelerated gains but many uncertainties remain as to its real value in future pig improvement programs. These programs will continue to rely heavily on the management of genetic variability (eg. crossbreeding) and the efficient use of breeding values (eg. BLUP).

Project funded by ACIAR