Prediction of Genetic Improvement in Purebred Pig Populations – Large White and Landrace of English Origin

S. SLANEV and A. Apostolov

Agricultural Institute, BG-9700 Shumen, Bulgaria

Abstract

SLANEV, S. and A. APOSTOLOV, 2002. Prediction of genetic improvement in purebred pig populations – Large White and Landrace of English origin. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 8: 409–412

The genetic improvement of the basic selection criteria (fat thickness and growth rate to 90 kg live weight) was predicted based on performance testing of 7541 purebred pigs – 3994 Large White and 3547 Landrace.
The following recommendations were made:

• Selection intensity should be within 1.63–2.07 for boars and 1.33-2.67 for female pigs.
• Generation interval values should not exceed 1.2–1.4 years in boars and 1.3–1.6 in female pigs.
• The optimal annual genetic gain for fat thickness (the sum in CKL2 points) is within 0.5–0.8 mm, while age of reaching 90 kg live weight is expected to decrease by 5–6 days.

It is emphasized that optimization and prediction of genetic gain value is of major importance to selection process level and its adequate adjustment within the expected course.

Key words: genetic improvements, purebred populations, pig, English origin