Selective breeding of pigs for resistance to clinical and subclinical disease during the piglet stage of commercial production
The general objective of this study is to test that selective breeding is a viable method to control clinical and sub-clinical disease (i.e., diarrhoea, respiratory problems, lameness, skin disorders) in pigs during the piglet stage of commercial production.
- In Subproject A, additive genetic variation is to be estimated for resistance during the piglet stage. The specific objective is to test that additive genetic variation for resistance of pigs to clinical and sub-clinical disease exists during the piglet stage of production.
- In Subproject B, genetic correlations between immunological parameters (i.e., MBL, CD14 and/or TLR, MHC I and II, IL-6, and haptoglobin) and resistance of piglets to clinical and sub-clinical disease will be estimated. The specific objective is to test that there is a genetic correlation between immunological parameters and resistance to clinical and sub-clinical diseases in piglets.
- In Subproject C, an epidemiological-genetic model, which includes a pig’s infection pressure, will be developed for the analysis of disease data. The specific objective of this study is two-fold. First, it will test that epidemiological-genetic models, which include both resistance to disease and infection pressure, provide a better fit of disease data than classic quantitative genetic models. Second, it will test that epidemiological-genetic models provide accurate and precise estimates of additive genetic variation and breeding values for infection pressure.
Responsible: Senior scientist Helle Juul-Madsen
Project period: 01.01.2003 - 31.12.2006
Partners: Danish Institute for Food and Veterinary Research, Danske Slagterier, Dept. of Genetics and Biotechnology (DIAS)(GBI)
Project manager: Peer Berg (GBI)
Last updated: Thursday 21 June 2007 - [email protected]
Tel: +45 8999 1900