2019 Volume 90 Issue 3 Pages 207-212
Genetic parameters were estimated for number of functional teats (NFT) and number born alive (NBA) in purebred Landrace and Large White pigs to investigate the potential for improving NBA using information on NFT. Data on 20,405 animals for NFT and 64,810 litters for NBA in Landrace and 17,738 animals for NFT and 51,798 litters for NBA in Large White were analyzed. The genetic parameters were estimated using an animal model for NFT and a repeatability model for NBA. Heritability of NFT and the genetic correlation between NFT and NBA were estimated to be 0.24 and 0.01 in Landrace, and 0.30 and －0.24 in Large White, respectively. The results indicate that the possibility of using NFT for improving NBA is likely to be limited in dam breeds of pigs due to the weak genetic relationship between NFT and NBA.
