Genetic factors affecting feed efficiency, feeding behavior and related traits in pigs

Description

Feed resource efficiency contributes to sustainable production of pig meat, both economically and environmentally. This chapter describes different measures of feed efficiency and the underlying genetics of feeding in pigs, drawing on studies of genetic correlations of residual feed intake (RFI) with pig production traits and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) revealing the genetic architecture and biological mechanisms of feed efficiency. The chapter looks ahead to the future and recommends adoption of an integrative systems genomic approach to ensure accurate genomic prediction and a more comprehensive biological understanding of feed efficiency.

Table of contents

1 Introduction 2 Measures of feed efficiency 3 Residual feed intake 4 Genetics of residual feed intake (RFI) in pigs 5 Genome wide association studies (GWAS) of feed efficiency in pigs 6 Component traits of residual feed intake and genetic architecture 7 Selection for feed efficiency 8 Genetic architecture of feeding behaviour traits 9 Genomics of feeding behaviour 10 Towards integrative systems genomics of feed efficiency 11 Conclusion and future trends 12 Where to look for further information 13 Acknowledgements 14 References