Animal最新文献

{"title":"The value of using multilevel performances (from recreational to international) to the genetic evaluation for show jumping performance in Warmblood horses","authors":"L. Chapard ,&nbsp;W. Gorssen ,&nbsp;R. Meyermans ,&nbsp;K. Hooyberghs ,&nbsp;N. Buys ,&nbsp;S. Janssens","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101455","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101455","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Show jumping is a popular equestrian sport that requires a unique combination of jumping capacity and rideability. It has been shown that genetics play an important role in show jumping performance that has significant implications for horse breeding programmes. This gives an important opportunity for studbooks to breed horses with the potential to perform at the highest level in show jumping competitions. However, show jumping competitions are performed at various levels (from recreational to international level) but only national competition results are used by Warmblood studbooks in most genetic evaluations due to limited access to performances at international level. Moreover, the differences between levels have not been quantified which complicates a fair comparison of horses performing at different levels. Furthermore, it is questioned whether performance data at international level is of added value for predicting genetic merit for show jumping performance. Thus, the aims of this study were twofold. First, to estimate the variance components for show jumping performance at various levels in Belgian Warmblood horses. Second, to investigate the possible effect of the inclusion of show jumping performances at international level on the genetic evaluation for show jumping performance in Belgian Warmblood horses. This research analysed 1 967 358 show jumping competition records, and 118 175 pedigree records were used in genetic analyses to estimate heritabilities and genetic correlations between show jumping performance at different levels in Belgian Warmblood horses. Genetic analyses were performed including recreational or national or international level, Belgian data (recreational and national), and data of all levels combined. Pedigree data were provided by the Belgian Warmblood horse and Zangersheide studbooks. Competition records were provided by three organisations: Landelijke Rijverenigingen (recreational level), the Royal Belgian Equestrian Federation (national level) and Hippomundo (international level). Our results indicate that show jumping performance is lowly heritable at all levels (0.09–0.19) and performances at different levels are highly genetically correlated (0.63–0.93). Our research also shows that focusing on performances at international level only might be biased and is less informative to breeders. More importantly, a genetic evaluation combining performances at all 3 levels (recreational, national, and international) resulted in more accurately estimated breeding values. In conclusion, the use of multilevel performances is advised for not only Belgian but all Warmblood studbooks to provide more helpful information for breeders.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 3","pages":"Article 101455"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143509899","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genomic prediction of bone strength in laying hens using different sources of information","authors":"M. Sallam ,&nbsp;H. Wall ,&nbsp;P.W. Wilson ,&nbsp;B. Andersson ,&nbsp;M. Schmutz ,&nbsp;C. Benavides ,&nbsp;M. Checa ,&nbsp;E. Sanchez‑Rodriguez ,&nbsp;A.B. Rodriguez‑Navarro ,&nbsp;A. Kindmark ,&nbsp;I.C. Dunn ,&nbsp;D‑J. de Koning ,&nbsp;M. Johnsson","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101452","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101452","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bone damage in laying hens remains a significant welfare concern in the egg industry. Breeding companies rely on selective cross-breeding of purebred birds to produce commercial hybrids, which farmers raise for table-egg production. Genomic prediction is a potential tool to improve bone quality in laying hens. Because commercial layers are crossbred and kept in different environments than pure lines, the question arises whether to use within-line purebred selection or whether to use crossbred data. While selection based on pure line data is common, achieving optimal bone strength in hybrids may require incorporating hybrid data to account for heterosis and housing-specific effects. This study aims to evaluate how combining pure line and hybrid data could affect the accuracy of breeding values for bone strength. Genotypes and phenotypes were available from two types of white hybrids (Bovans White and Lohmann Selected Leghorn Classic) housed in two housing systems (furnished cages and floor housing). This resulted in four hybrid-housing combinations (n ∼ 220 for each). Tibia strength and genotypes for pure breeding lines of White Leghorn (<strong>WL</strong>, n = 947) and Rhode Island Red (<strong>RIR</strong>, n = 924) were also included. Each of the hybrid-housing combinations and pure lines was fitted separately into (1) single-trait Genomic Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (<strong>GBLUP</strong>), then simultaneously via multitrait GBLUP, (2) within hybrids across housing, (3) across hybrids within housing, (4) across hybrids and housing, (5) the latter in combination with WL and/or RIR data. Including hybrid data slightly increased the accuracy of the genomic estimated breeding value (<strong>GEBV</strong>) of other hybrids, but not that of pure lines. Pure line data increased the GEBV accuracy of hybrids over and above that of combining hybrid information. Combining data from two pure lines improved the GEBV accuracy of both. In comparison to the combination of data across lines and/or houses, combining tibia strength and BW within-lines increased tibia strength GEBV accuracy. The maximum GEBV accuracy obtained for tibia strength ranged from 0.42 to 0.65 for hybrids and from 0.63 to 0.78 for pure lines. Further study is required to test whether modelling the interactions of genotype by environment could help to breed hybrids for specific housing systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 3","pages":"Article 101452"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143551267","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"How to assess litter uniformity in pigs: comparing metrics and investigating associations with sow and litter factors","authors":"K. Hooyberghs ,&nbsp;S. Goethals ,&nbsp;W. Gorssen ,&nbsp;L. Chapard ,&nbsp;R. Meyermans ,&nbsp;N. Aerts ,&nbsp;S. Millet ,&nbsp;S. Janssens ,&nbsp;N. Buys","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101454","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101454","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Variation in piglet BW may affect animal welfare and the environmental and economic aspects of pig production. Higher within-litter weight uniformity is often associated with improved preweaning survival. Conversely, lower within-litter uniformity is often linked to a higher prevalence of lightweight piglets that encounter various challenges during the neonatal phase. To date, there is no consensus on how to quantify within-litter uniformity in literature due to the use of various metrics. The objectives of this study were: (1) to examine metrics for assessing litter uniformity in pigs (i.e., CV, SD, range in weights, average z-score and the percentage of lightweight piglets (&lt; 0.8 kg and &lt; 1 kg)), (2) to investigate possible alternatives to weighing all piglets at birth in order to compute the CV, (3) to assess the repeatability of the above metrics per sow and (4) to explore the associations between the different uniformity metrics and factors related to sow and litter. This study used data from 732 litters of 190 hybrid sows mated with 42 Piétrain boars. In total, 11 574 piglets were weighed at birth to assess the within-litter uniformity. The CV, SD and range in weights (r = 0.81–0.91) could be used interchangeably to a certain extent. Additionally, assessing the percentage of lightweight piglets per litter might offer pig farmers a valid method to evaluate within-litter uniformity with reduced labour intensity (r = 0.33–0.70). Our results indicate that it is possible to compute the CV of birth weight of a litter without including the weight of the four lightest piglets (r = 0.80–0.95) and that 8–63% of the within-litter variation is linked to the features of each individual sow. This points to the importance of individual sow characteristics to enhance within-litter uniformity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 3","pages":"Article 101454"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143520261","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Editorial: Values shared by journals of learned societies, associations and scientific institutions in animal science","authors":"I. Ortigues-Marty ,&nbsp;I. Louveau ,&nbsp;G. Bee ,&nbsp;J.W. Oltjen ,&nbsp;P.J. Kononoff ,&nbsp;J.A.A. McArt ,&nbsp;C. Thomas ,&nbsp;B.D. Fairchild ,&nbsp;M. Kogut ,&nbsp;E. Huff-Lonergan","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2024.101388","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2024.101388","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 3","pages":"Article 101388"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143538070","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Former food and cocoa bean shells in early-lactating cows on a herbage-based diet: effects on ruminal fermentation and blood metabolites","authors":"A.-M. Reiche ,&nbsp;M. Tretola ,&nbsp;L. Eggerschwiler ,&nbsp;L. Pinotti ,&nbsp;F. Dohme-Meier","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101477","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101477","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rising food security concerns are driving the livestock sector to explore alternatives to cereal grains, like by−products from the food industry, but their effect on animals needs to be studied. The study assessed the impact of replacing 55% cereal grains with former food products (<strong>FFP</strong>) on ruminal fermentation, ruminal methane production, and blood metabolites, with or without cocoa bean shell (<strong>CBS</strong>) supplementation. We conducted a first (spring, <strong>E1</strong>) and a second (fall, <strong>E2</strong>) experiment, each with 17 early-lactating Holstein and Red Holstein cows. Each experiment lasted 6 weeks, including a 3-week adaptation and a 3-week experimental period. In each experiment, the animals were fed freshly cut grass as a basal diet and were balanced for milk yield, parity, and days in milk and assigned to three concentrate types (<strong>CCT</strong>): (i) a control concentrate (<strong>CON</strong>), (ii) a concentrate consisting of 55% FFP (<strong>FFP-</strong>), and (iii) an FFP concentrate that included an additional 5% CBS (<strong>FFP+</strong> ). Feed intake and milk production were recorded daily during the 3-week sampling period; blood serum and ruminal fluid samples were collected twice, at the end of the adaptation and experimental periods. Statistical analyses were conducted on data from both experiments. DM, herbage, and most nutrient intakes were greater in E2 than in E1, probably because of seasonal changes in herbage quality. In E1, CON cows had lower DM intake (<strong>DMI</strong>) than FFP- cows, whereas in E2, CON cows had greater DMI than FFP+ cows. Across experiments, FFP- and FFP+ cows had greater water-soluble carbohydrates and fat and lower starch intakes than CON cows. The energy-corrected milk yield was greater in E1 than in E2 and unaffected by CCT. Irrespective of the experiment, the CON cows had the greatest, FFP- intermediate and FFP+ lowest milk lactose percentages and FFP+ cows had greater milk fat percentages than CON cows. The mean and maximum reticular pH were lower for CON than for FFP- cows in E1 and were unaffected by CCT in E2. Irrespective of the experiment, acetate proportions in ruminal fluid of CON cows were lower than those of FFP- and FFP+ cows. Methane yield was greater in E2 than in E1 and unaffected by CCT. Serum albumin, non-esterified fatty acids and glucose levels varied by CCT in E2, but not in E1. Combining FFP and CBS with herbage could help increase the sustainability of early-lactating dairy cow nutrition without compromising health, but results need future corroboration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 4","pages":"Article 101477"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143697314","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Review: European Union legislation and regulatory framework for edible insect production - Safety issues.","authors":"N Meijer, R A Safitri, W Tao, E F Hoek-Van den Hil","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101468","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.animal.2025.101468","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Farmed insects are increasingly used as a more sustainable and circular alternative protein source for food and feed. As a new type of livestock animal in the European Union (EU), farmed insects are subject to general legislation applicable to all food and feed production, as well as certain provisions that are more specific. Presented here is a comprehensive overview on legislation for farmed insects in the EU, as related to food and feed safety aspects. The currently applicable legislation is described, and placed in the context of historical developments and academic literature, and suitability and limitations of these laws from different perspectives are reflected upon. Specific topics that are discussed relate to: insects as feed (live, as processed animal proteins, and fat and derived products); insects as a 'novel food'; feed materials provided to insects (substrate); applications for insect excrement (frass), and; compliance and legal limits. The latter section includes a discussion of ethical and welfare requirements for farmed insects. Finally, a conclusion and future outlook are provided. Legal changes to lift barriers for the insect farming chain should be assessed in light of both safety and circularity demands. It is further recommended that policymakers consider defining insect-specific limits for a variety of hazards, both for substrate and insect biomass for food/feed. This should take into account scientific evidence on unavoidable carry-over from substrates as well as potential adverse effects on insect welfare.</p>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":" ","pages":"101468"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143711991","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Variation of gut microbiota composition in a honey bee breeding population: exploring potential links with docility and honey production","authors":"M.G. De Iorio ,&nbsp;G. Minozzi ,&nbsp;F. Tiezzi","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101474","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101474","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The current global decline of bee populations is of great concern due to their crucial role as pollinators and for the conservation of biodiversity. Today the survival of bees is increasingly dependent on beekeeping practices. In this context, the present study explores the composition of honey bee gut microbiota, its changes in time and its potential relationship with two key traits of interest to beekeepers: docility and honey yield. In this study, 77 colonies, belonging to a breeding population selected for these phenotypes, were sampled three times over a 5-month period, leading to a total of 190 samples. Results showed that <em>Apis mellifera</em>, differently from other insects, hosts a specialised gut microbial community composed of five ever-present bacterial taxa. However, the proportional abundance of these bacterial taxa undergoes significant seasonal shifts, reflecting seasonal changes in diet. Moreover, the association between the composition of the honey bee microbiota and honey production was identified. In conclusion, this study offers insights into the composition and the seasonal dynamics of honey bee gut microbiota.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 4","pages":"Article 101474"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143680802","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative evaluation of phenotypic, pedigree, and family-based selection in insect breeding using stochastic simulation","authors":"L.S. Hansen ,&nbsp;A.C. Bouwman ,&nbsp;G. Sahana ,&nbsp;M. Slagboom ,&nbsp;H.M. Nielsen ,&nbsp;E.D. Ellen","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101475","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101475","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Selective breeding in insects has predominantly relied on phenotypic selection without considering relatedness. Selection on estimated breeding values could potentially increase genetic gain, but the challenge of pedigree tracking complicates this. Family selection can be used as an alternative to individual selection, either using combined between- and within-family selection, or strict between-family selection with full-sib group records as a proxy for individual data. The effectiveness of family selection can however be compromised by the presence of unmitigated common environmental effects. In this study, we employ stochastic simulations to explore expected genetic gain and rate of inbreeding in insect populations under four single-trait selection schemes: phenotypic selection, individual pedigree selection, combined selection using both family and individual breeding values for selection, and between-family selection using full-sib average phenotypes for breeding value estimation. These schemes are compared on genetic gain and rate of inbreeding across five trait heritabilities (0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6), two variations in number of families in the population (60 or 200), and two offspring group structures for the family breeding schemes (1 or 3 sib groups per female) with a fixed common environment effect. Selection based on individual breeding values results in significantly higher genetic gain than phenotypic selection at low heritability (≤ 0.1), and similar gain at heritability &gt; 0.1. Phenotypic selection results in a lower rate of inbreeding (0.003–0.011) compared to other schemes (0.005–0.055) at low heritability (≤ 0.1), but this difference is reduced as heritability increases. Combined selection results in genetic gain between that of the phenotypic and individual pedigree schemes, depending on sib group structure and heritability. Using between-family selection reduces genetic gain (0.23–1.97) compared to other schemes (0.40–4.34). Establishing multiple sib-groups mitigates the confounding of genetic and common environment effects, and thus the reduction in genetic gain from family selection schemes. Increasing the number of families from 60 to 200 in the breeding population reduces inbreeding in all scenarios (ΔF at 60 families is 0.009–0.055, at 200 families is 0.003–0.031). We conclude that selection on individual breeding values yields greater genetic gain compared to family breeding values and selection on phenotypes. The between-family approach is an alternative when individual pedigrees are not feasible to maintain. Phenotypic selection results in both high genetic gain and generally low rates of inbreeding, but as heritability increases, so does the rate of inbreeding. Therefore, phenotypic selection should not be implemented without any inbreeding control in long−term selection.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 4","pages":"Article 101475"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143674642","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Defatted black soldier fly larvae meal as a substitute of soybean meal in dairy cow diets","authors":"D.J.M. Braamhaar ,&nbsp;W.F. Pellikaan ,&nbsp;D. List ,&nbsp;D. Korir ,&nbsp;C.M. Tanga ,&nbsp;S.J. Oosting","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101476","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101476","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The replacement of soybean meal (<strong>SBM</strong>) with insect meal, e.g. black soldier fly larvae meal (<strong>BSFLM</strong>), as an alternative protein source in livestock feed is gaining traction globally. To date, no <em>in vivo</em> studies have been conducted to test the impact of BSFLM on the milk production of dairy cows. This study quantified the effects of replacing SBM with defatted black soldier fly larvae meal (<strong>DBSFLM</strong>) in diets of lactating dairy cows on feed intake, milk production and composition, apparent total-tract digestibility, feed- and nitrogen use efficiency. Twelve lactating Holstein-Friesian cows were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design (18 d per period) with 3 protein treatments: a diet containing SBM as the main protein source (control, SBM); a diet with a 50: 50 mixture of SBM and DBSFLM (SBM: DBSFLM, 50: 50); and a diet with DBSFLM (DBSFLM). Animals were blocked per Latin square based on milk yield (<strong>MY</strong>), and the amount of concentrate in the diets was adjusted for MY. Diets were provided as a total mixed ration and offered <em>ad libitum</em>. Our results showed no treatment effects (<em>P</em> &gt; 0.05) on milk yield and composition. DM and organic matter (<strong>OM</strong>) intake were significantly higher (<em>P</em> ≤ 0.003) for cows fed SBM (17.6 and 16.2 kg/d, respectively) compared with DBSFLM (16.6 and 15.1 kg/d, respectively), while DM and OM intake of SBM: DBSFLM (17.5 and 16.0 kg/d, respectively) did not differ from SBM but were higher compared with DBSFLM. CP intake was significantly higher (<em>P</em> = 0.003) for cows fed SBM (2.68 kg/d) compared with both DBSFLM (2.50 kg/d) and SBM: DBSFLM (2.54 kg/d), while CP intake for SBM: DBSFLM did not differ from DBSFLM. Apparent total-tract digestibility of NDF and ADF were significantly lower (<em>P</em> ≤ 0.024) for cows fed SBM (46.7 and 45.6%, respectively) compared with DBSFLM (54.0 and 52.0%, respectively), with SBM: DBSFLM (51.0 and 49.7%, respectively) not differing from either diet. No treatment effects were observed for DM, OM, CP and ether extract digestibility, and feed and nitrogen use efficiency. Incorporating DBSFLM into dairy cow diets did not significantly compromise the milk yield and composition, suggesting its potential to reduce the reliance on SBM and contribute to circular food systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 4","pages":"Article 101476"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143674598","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genetic parameters of vulva traits and impact of vulva scores on gilts culling in Large White pigs","authors":"J. Zhou ,&nbsp;L. Xu ,&nbsp;Q. Liu ,&nbsp;J. Ma ,&nbsp;J. He ,&nbsp;D.S. Casey ,&nbsp;L. Zhong ,&nbsp;G. Su ,&nbsp;R. Huang ,&nbsp;P. Li ,&nbsp;Q. Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101472","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101472","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Vulva morphologies represent significant traits in pig production. Recent studies suggest that vulva size can be predictive of the reproductive performance of gilts. This study aimed to analyse the genetic parameters of vulva traits, including vulva length, vulva width, and vulva angle score (<strong>VAS</strong>), as well as litter traits, including total number born, number born alive, number stillborn, and piglet survival rate, across three Large White pig strains (PIC, Topigs, and Canadian). We estimated the correlations between vulva traits and litter performance, as well as the reasons for culling gilts. In this study, single-trait and multitrait models were employed to estimate the heritability and genetic correlations between vulva and litter traits. The heritabilities of vulva traits ranged from 0.167 to 0.426, whereas the heritability of litter traits ranged from 0.013 to 0.147. The VAS in Topigs Large White pigs exhibited the highest heritability. The genetic correlation coefficients between vulva length and width in PIC and Topigs Large White pigs were significantly positively correlated, ranged from 0.585 to 0.767. No significant correlation was found between vulva and litter traits. Subsequently, we scored the vulva traits according to previously reported studies, linear relationship analysis between vulva score and reasons for culling gilts revealed that gilts with larger vulva widths had a lower risk of culling. The average vulva width score of the gilts that were culled due to prolonged oestrus was significantly lower (2.75) compared to that of gilts with normal oestrus (2.90). In the population of gilts aged 220–230 days, the gilts with higher vulva angle scores had a lower risk of culling due to vulva inflammation with purulent discharge. The results suggest that selecting vulva traits in replacement gilts is an effective strategy to reduce gilt culling rates.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 4","pages":"Article 101472"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143680733","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}