Advancements in Cow Herd Efficiency and Selection Decisions

Selecting for Feed Efficiency in Pigs

Integration of functional genomics and quantitative genetics to improve feed efficiency in pigs

by Kelli Fulkerson for Angus Production Inc.

 

HOUSTON, Texas (April 19, 2012) — Iowa State University has received grant money from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to conduct research on the genetic improvement of feed efficiency in pigs. Jack Dekkers, a professor of animal science on staff at Iowa State is the principal investigator on the project. During the 2012 Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Research Symposium he presented some of the project's current findings.

 

The main goal of the research was to discover and characterize genetic pathways that control economically important traits related through profiling of relevant tissues during the growth period. Profiling studies were based on complementary animal interactions, including quantitative differences in and neuro-endocrine treatments that disrupt feed intake.

 

The research also sought to identify differential expression of genes. The specific gene objectives were: identifying gene pathways that are expressed by pigs that differ in residual feed intake and respond to a restriction of feed intake, identify genes that respond to injections of agonists and antagonists of Melanocortin 4 (MC4) in pigs with alternative genotypes, indentify pigs that differ in residual feed intake and MC4 genotype, and to integrate expression profiles from the results of the gene sequence tests.

 

The research was conducted on eight generations of pigs in one complete year. The summary of the research stated that the most effective tool to improve feed efficiency in pigs is to select a tool that a producer can use within his or her own production system.

 

“There are only so many replications of this data that we as researchers can present," Dekkers concluded. "We offer the producers the tools to look at our data, see the flaws and the successes, and complete a feed efficiency program that will work to fit their individual feeding needs. This is economically the best solution we have at this point in time.”

 

In the beef industry it would take one year to complete three selections, whereas pigs can complete eight generation selections in one year, he noted. Different species are fortunate to have this resource available and utilize this industry information. Economically producers can’t afford not to. 

 

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