Abstract

With the objective of estimate the genetic parameters for survival (ST) and litter size (LS) at birth, 4530 records of Landrace piglets were used. A two-trait animal model was used using REML. Model included random animal direct and maternal additive genetic for both traits and fixed effects of a herd-year-month of birth-sex contemporary group as well as of dam age. Estimates of direct and maternal heritability were for LS: 0.13, 0.03; for ST: 0.02, 0.02. Corresponding estimates of direct-maternal genetic correlations were 0.68 and 0.63. Estimates of direct additive genetic annual trends were for LS: 0.03 piglets and for ST: 0.03%. Response on selection for LS will be low due to the low estimate of heritability.

R. Galindez, G. Martinez, O. Verde

Proceedings of the World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, Volume , , 06.27, 2006