Analysis of Social Genetic Effects on Pigs Fed With Automatic Feeders Using a Visit-Based Approach.

Social behaviour traits and their impact on feed efficiency are of particular interest in pig farming. The integration of automatic feeders enables the collection of multiple phenotypes for breeding purposes. The additive genetic and social genetic effect can be estimated considering all the visits to the feeder by modelling each visit independently in a 'visit-based approach'.

Applicability of machine learning methods for classifying lightweight pigs in commercial conditions.

The varying growth rates within a group of pigs present a significant challenge for the current all-in-all-out systems in the pig industry. This study evaluated the applicability of statistical methods for classifying pigs at risk of growth retardation at different production stages using a robust dataset collected under commercial conditions. Data from 26,749 crossbred pigs (Yorkshire × Landrace) with Duroc at weaning (17 to 27 d), 15,409 pigs at the end of the nursery period (60 to 78 d), and 4996 pigs at slaughter (151 to 161 d) were analyzed under three different cut points (lowest 10%, 20%, and 30% weights) to characterize light animals.

Classification of light Yorkshire pigs at different production stages using ordinary least squares and machine learning methods.

Pig homogeneity and growth are major concerns for the pig industry today. Variability in pigs' size has a strong impact on profitability as uniformity plays a key role in the overall economic value of pigs produced. This research focused on statistical methods to identify pigs at risk of growth retardation at different stages of production.

Genomic Scanning of Inbreeding Depression for Litter Size in Two Varieties of Iberian Pigs.

Inbreeding depression is expected to be more pronounced in fitness-related traits, such as pig litter size. Recent studies have suggested that the genetic determinism of inbreeding depression may be heterogeneous across the genome. Therefore, the objective of this study was to conduct a genomic scan of the whole pig autosomal genome to detect the genomic regions that control inbreeding depression for litter size in two varieties of Iberian pigs (Entrepelado and Retinto).

A multivariate gametic model for the analysis of purebred and crossbred data. An example between two populations of Iberian pigs.

Crossbreeding plays a pivotal role within pig breeding programmes, aiming to maximize heterosis and improve reproductive traits in crossbred maternal lines. Nevertheless, there is evidence indicating that the performance of reciprocal crosses between two genetic lines might exhibit variability. These variations in performance can be attributed to differences in the correlations between gametic effects, acting as either sire or dam, within purebred and crossbred populations.