Genetic parameters for litter size, piglet growth and sow's early growth and body composition in the Chinese-European line Tai Zumu

Genetics of piglet growth in association with sow's early growth and body composition were estimated in the Tai Zumu line. Piglet and sow's litter growth traits were calculated from individual weights collected at birth and at 3weeks of age. Sow's litter traits included the number of piglets born alive (NBA), the mean piglet weight (MW) and the standard deviation of weights within the litter (SDW). Sow's early growth was measured by the age at 100kg (A(100)), and body composition included backfat thickness (BF100). A main objective of this study was to estimate separately the direct genetic effect (d) and the maternal genetic effect (m) on piglet weight and daily weight gain during lactation. Variance components were estimated using the restricted maximum likelihood methodology based on animal models. The heritability estimates were 0.19 for NBA, 0.15 and 0.26 for SDW and MW at 3weeks and 0.42 and 0.70 for A(100) and BF100. The NBA was almost independent from SDW. Conversely, the A(100) and BF100 were correlated unfavourably with SDW (r(g)<-0.24, SE<0.12). A stronger selection for litter size should have little effect on litter homogeneity in weights. Selection for lean growth rate tends to favour heterogeneity in weights. The direct effect on piglet weight at birth and daily weight gain accounted for 12% (h(2) (d)=0.02) and 50% (h(2) (d)=0.11) of the genetic variance, respectively. The association between d and m for piglet weight was not different from zero at birth (r(g)=0.19, SE=0.27), but a strong antagonism between d and m for daily weight gain from birth to 3weeks was found (r(g)=-0.41, SE=0.17). Substantial direct and maternal genetic effects influenced piglet growth until weaning in opposite way.