Influence of genotype, farm and test year on trait variability in performance test of gilts

Abstract

The production traits of gilts were examined in two pig herds for three consecutive years. The study included 3,610 gilts of 3 genotypes, originating from 84 boar sires. The test included only those boar sires who had 10 or more daughters. At the end of the test, the weight and thickness of the fat (FT1 and FT2) and depth were measured by anBMD ultrasound apparatus. The aim of this study was to determine the phenotypic and genotypic variability of the observed traits in the performance test of gilts: age at the end of the test (FA – final age), lifetime daily gain (LDG), fat thickness 1 and 2 (FT1 and FT2) and back muscle depth (BMD). In the first herd there were 1228 gilts and in the second 2382 gilts tested. Within the Landrace (L) breed there were 1962 gilts, Large white (LW) 1324 and Duroc (D) 319 gilts. In the first year, 885 gilts were tested, in the second 1145 and in the third 1580 gilts. Based on the results obtained, the genotype of gilts was found to have a statistically significant effect (P<0.001) on FT1, FT2 and BMD, while LDG was unaffected (P>0.05). Considering the farm as a source of variation in gilt traits, it was concluded that the farm had a highly significant statistical effect on the traits tested (P<0.001). The year of testing of gilts as a source of variation in their traits showed a high statistical influence (P <0.001) on all traits examined. Observed traits - fat thickness 1, 2 and BMD were highly statistically dependent (P <0.001) on the weight at the end of the test.