Exploring the Genetics of Feed Efficiency and Feeding Behaviour Traits in a Pig Line Highly Selected for Performance Characteristics

Overview

Journal Mol Genet Genomics

Specialty Genetics

Date 2017 May 14

PMID 28500374

Citations 25

Authors

Henry Reyer

Mahmoud Shirali

Siriluck Ponsuksili

Eduard Murani

Patrick F Varley

Just Jensen

Klaus Wimmers

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The consideration of feed efficiency traits is highly relevant in animal breeding due to economic and ecologic impacts of the efficient usage and utilization of feed resources. In pigs, corresponding observations are recorded using automatic feeding stations and serve as one of the main criteria in most pig selection programmes. Simultaneously, feeding stations also generate feeding behaviour data which represent a nearly unused resource and provide a valuable proxy measure of health status, animal welfare, and management practices. In the current study, an integrated approach was applied to a feed efficiency tested and genome-wide genotyped terminal sire line population. Therefore, genetic analyses were performed combining a single-marker based approach and a Bayesian multi-marker algorithm. Major quantitative trait loci (QTL) for feeding behaviour traits comprising daily occupation time, daily feeder visit, and daily feeding rate were identified on chromosomes 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 14. Feed efficiency was represented by feed conversion ratio and daily feed intake revealing prominent genomic regions on chromosomes 1, 6, 9, and 11. The positional and functional candidate genes identified are involved in transport processes like AQP4, SLC22A23, and SLC6A14 as well as energy sensing, generation, and utilization as exemplified by PPP3CA, IQGAP3, ECI2, and DnaJC15. These molecular features provide the first step towards the dissection of the genetic connection between distinct feeding behaviour patterns, feed efficiency and performance, health, and welfare traits driving the implementation of these traits in breeding programmes and pig husbandry.

Citing Articles

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Silva M, Veroneze R, Marques D, Silva D, Machado I, Brito L J Anim Sci. 2025; 103.

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Identification of Breed-Specific SNPs of Danish Large White Pig in Comparison with Four Chinese Local Pig Breed Genomes.

Wu X, Xiang D, Zhang W, Ma Y, Zhao G, Yin Z Genes (Basel). 2024; 15(5).

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Circadian rhythms and diurnal patterns in the feed intake behaviour of growing-finishing pigs.

Bus J, Boumans I, Engel J, Te Beest D, Webb L, Bokkers E Sci Rep. 2023; 13(1):16021.

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Genetic analysis of protein efficiency and its association with performance and meat quality traits under a protein-restricted diet.

Ewaoluwagbemiga E, Bee G, Kasper C Genet Sel Evol. 2023; 55(1):35.

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Genome-Wide Association Analysis and Genetic Parameters for Feed Efficiency and Related Traits in Yorkshire and Duroc Pigs.

Li W, Wang Z, Luo S, Wu J, Zhou L, Liu J Animals (Basel). 2022; 12(15).

PMID: 35892552 PMC: 9329986. DOI: 10.3390/ani12151902.

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