Evaluation of animal models for genetic analysis of growth performance in Landlly pigs

Selection of the most appropriate animal model for the estimation of genetic parameters for body weight was carried out using restricted maximum likelihood (REML) procedure at birth and thereafter at 3, 6, and 8 weeks of age in Landlly pigs. Six different models were fitted for each trait; by inclusion or exclusion of maternal additive genetic effect, maternal permanent environmental effect, and covariance between direct and maternal additive genetic effects. Records on 1968 piglets, born in 4 parities of 131 gilts/sows, sired by 68 boars during a period of 5 years from 2014 to 2018 were used. In order to determine the most appropriate model, Log likelihood values, log the likelihood ratio test and Akaike’s information criterion were used. A model including direct additive genetic and maternal permanent environmental effects fitted best to data for birth weight. The best model explaining W3, W6, and W8 included direct additive genetic, maternal genetic and maternal permanent environmental effect with direct and maternal genetic covariance. Total heritability estimates for the body weights were low to moderate across best models.

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