• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.337-340
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• 2012

The genetic connectedness between herds is an essential requirement to make robust across-herd estimation of the breeding values of the animals. In this study, genetic connectedness between herds was evaluated by a connectedness rating method. A total of 24,971 records of days to 90 kg (D90KG) of the pigs on performance testing programs collected from six herds (labeled from 'A' to 'F') of Duroc breed along with pedigree information comprising 456,697 families were used. Results showed that a total of eight boars were used for semen exchange programs among participant farms. Herds 'A' through 'E' were found strongly connected among them. But 'F' herd was genetically connected strongly only with 'A' herd. The highest average connectedness rating was 91.7% between 'A' herd and 'C' herd. The lowest average connectedness rating was 65.1% between 'D' and 'F'. The concept of a single genetic group comprising six Duroc herds studied is meaningful due to high connectedness rates among them. Therefore, with this high genetic ties between participant Duroc farms, the more accurate genetic evaluation would be possible.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.51-63
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• 1981

The results of a crossbreeding experiment with a total of 315 litters and 325 pigs of Berkshires, Hampshires, Durocs, Landraces, Large Whites, eight different two-breed crosses and twelve different three-breed crosses, produced at Livestock Experiment Station from 1975 through 1979, are summarized as follows. 1. Number born alive per litter was largest in the D♂${\times}$(Lw♂${\times}$L♀) $F_1$ ♀ mating, followed by the D♂${\times}$(H♂${\times}$L♀) $F_1$ mating, and smallest in the Hampshires. The pigs in the 3rd-6th parities had larger litter size at birth than those in other parities. 2. Birth weight of pig was heaviest in L♂${\times}$Lw♀ mating and lightest in the Large White. The total litter weight at birth was heaviest in the D♂${\times}$(Lw♂${\times}$L♀) $F_1$ ♀ mating, followed by D♂${\times}$(H♂${\times}$L♀) $F_1$ ♀ and Lw♂${\times}$L♀ matings, and was smaller in Hampshires and Birkshires. 3. Litter size at weaning was largest in the D♂${\times}$(Lw♂${\times}$L♀) $F_1$ ♀ mating, followed by D♂${\times}$(H♂${\times}$L♀) $F_1$ ♀ and Lw♂${\times}$L♀ matings, and was smaller in Durocs and Hampshires. The pigs in the 3rd-6th parities had larger litter size at weaning than those in other parities. 4. The total litter weight at weaning was heaviest in the D♂${\times}$(Lw♂${\times}$L♀) $F_1$ ♀ mating, followed by H♂${\times}$(Lw♂${\times}$L♀) $F_1$♀ and Lw♂${\times}$L♀ matings, and was lighter in Durocs and Hampshires. The weaning weight of pig was largest in D♂${\times}$(Lw♂${\times}$L♀) $F_1$ ♀ mating and lightest in L♂${\times}$H♀ mating. 5. Survival rate at weaning was highest in L♂${\times}$Lw♀ mating, followed by D♂${\times}$(L♂${\times}$H♀) $F_1$ ♀ and D♂${\times}$(H♂${\times}$L♀) $F_1$ ♀ mating, and was lowest in Durocs. 6. The three-breed cross from D♂${\times}$(H♂${\times}$L♀) $F_1$ ♀ mating had the highest average gain and lowest feed requirement per unit gain, followed by the D♂${\times}$(Lw♂${\times}$L♀) $F_1$ ♀ and H♂${\times}$(Lw♂${\times}$L♀) $F_1$ ♀ matings. The Birkshires and Landraces ranked lowest among the 25 mating groups compared for both of the traits. Males had higher average daily gain than females by about 0.06kg and had lower feed requirement by about 0.14. 7. The three-breed crosses from D♂${\times}$(H♂${\times}$L♀) $F_1$ ♀, D♂${\times}$(Lw♂${\times}$L♀) $F_1$ ♀ and H♂${\times}$(Lw♂${\times}$L♀) $F_1$ ♀ matings reached 90kg body weight at younger age than the other groups. The D♂${\times}$(H♂${\times}$L♀) $F_1$ ♀ group reached 90kg at younger age than the Landrace by 39 days. 8. The dressing percentage and lean meat percentage tended to be higher in H♂${\times}$(Lw♂${\times}$L♀) $F_1$ ♀, H♂${\times}$L♀ and L♂${\times}$B♀ matings compared to the other mating groups. The loin-eye area was largest in the Lw♂${\times}$L♀ mating and smallest in the B♂${\times}$L♀ mating. Males had higher dressing percentage, higher lean meat percentage and lion-eye area than females. The backfat was thinnest in purebred Hampshire and was thickest in B♂${\times}$L♀ mating. 9. The results obtained in this study suggest that the two-breed cross from Lw♂${\times}$L♀ mating, and the three-breed crosses from D♂${\times}$(Lw♂${\times}$L-♀) $F_1$ ♀ and D♂${\times}$(H♂${\times}$L♀) $F_1$♀ matings are superior crossbreds for reproductive and pork prodnction performance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.1086-1092
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• 2017

Objective: O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) transferase (OGT) catalyzes the addition of O-GlcNAc and GlcNAcylation has extensive crosstalk with phosphorylation to regulate signaling and transcription. Pig OGT is located near the region of chromosome X that affects follicle stimulating hormone level and testes size. The objective of this study was to find the variations of OGT between European and Chinese pigs. Methods: Pigs were tested initially for polymorphism in OGT among European and Chinese pigs by polymerase chain reaction and sequencing at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC). The polymorphism was also determined in an independent population of pigs including European and Chinese Meishan (ME) breeds at the National Institute of Animal Science (NIAS, RDA, Korea). Results: The intron 20 of OGT from European and Chinese pigs was 514 and 233 bp, respectively, in the pigs tested initially. They included 1 White composite (WC) boar and 7 sows ($2Minzu{\times}WC$, $2Duroc\;[DU]{\times}WC$, $2ME{\times}WC$, $1Fengzing{\times}WC$) at USMARC. The 281-bp difference was due to an inserted 276-bp element and GACTT in European pigs. When additional WC and ME boars, the grandparents that were used to generate the $1/2ME{\times}1/2WC$ parents, and the 84 boars of 16 litters from mating of $1/2ME{\times}1/2WC$ parents were analyzed, the breeds of origin of X chromosome quantitative trait locus (QTL) were confirmed. The polymorphism was determined in an independent population of pigs including DU, Landrace, Yorkshire, and ME breeds at NIAS. OGT was placed at position 67 cM on the chromosome X of the USMARC swine linkage map. Conclusion: There was complete concordance with the insertion in European pigs at USMARC and NIAS. This polymorphism could be a useful marker to identify the breed of origin of X chromosome QTL in pigs produced by crossbreeding Chinese and European pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.1326-1335
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• 2005

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of dietary lysine deficiency on protein turnover of porcine muscles. There were 18 LYD three-breed-crossing postweanling barrows from six litters cannulated with gastric tubes through the esophagus at approximate 10 kg of body weight and allocated into three treatment groups. When their body weights reached over 12 kg, one group was sacrificed for determining the initial protein masses of m. masseter, m. longissimus dorsi, m. adductor and m. biceps femoris from the right body side. The others received a diet containing 100% or 61.4% (calculated values) of the lysine requirement (NRC, 1998) multiplied by 1.103 for a period of 17 days. Daily feed provision was computed for each pig according to body weight at the same day. All pigs were infused a flooding dose of $^2$H$_5$-phenylalanine to determine the fractional protein synthesis rates (FSR) of the aforementioned muscles in the end. Their four muscles from the right body side were also dissected for measuring the fractional rates of protein accretion (FAR). As for protein degradation, fractional rates (FDR) were calculated by differences between synthesis and accretion. Results showed that the lysine deficiency resulted in, significantly (p<0.05), lighter body weights, smaller muscles and a slower growth rate. The protein mass, accreted by the muscles, of the deficient group was only 54% averaged of the pigs fed adequately (p<0.05). The FAR of these muscles in the deficient group was significantly lower (p<0.05) and only achieved 61.1% averaged of the control; there was no significant difference (p>0.05), nevertheless, in the amino-acid composition of muscles between two groups. The lysine deficiency reduced significantly (p<0.05) the FSR of m. longissimus dorsi but did not influence its FDR. The m. biceps femoris also presented an inhibited FSR while its FDR reduced only exhibited a very high tendency (p = 0.055) compared to the adequately-fed pigs. As for the m. masseter and m. adductor, both of the FSR and FDR were depressed significantly (p<0.05) by the lysine deficiency, and changes in the FSR were severer than those in the FDR, so that their FAR were significantly slower (p<0.05) in comparison with the control group. The lysine deficiency also inhibited the RNA translation activity of the muscles while the effects on RNA capacity were not significant (p>0.05). In conclusion, the FAR of muscle protein was changed by the current lysine deficiency through the alterations in the FSR and/or FDR.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.150-156
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• 2007

This study was conducted to analyze the genetic characteristics of Korean Native Pigs(KNP), and to establish an individual identification system comprising many microsatellite markers located on different pig autosomes. Genotype data from 13 microsatellites typed in 446 animals was used to determine the validation of a method of individual identification in 4 KNP. A total of 112 alleles of the 13 microsatellites were detected and average heterozygosities(polymorphic information content) ranged from 0.286(0.423) to 0.686(0.796) in this study. Comparing the pattern of allele frequency among the KNP, Yorkshire, Landrace and Duroc breeds, there was specific differentiation between populations at multi-allelic loci. The cumulative power of discrimination(CPD) was 99.999% by including 10 microsatellite loci for the individual identification system. The probability that two different individuals incidentally have same genotype was estimated to be $0.36{\times}10^{-9}$. The system employing these 10 markers therefore proved to be applicable to the individual identification of KNP.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.563-567
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• 2009

This study compared the instrument performance and tissue healing of a steel scalpel with a $CO_2$ laser in an animal uterine surgery model. Five Landrace and Yorkshire mixed breed pigs were used. Two symmetrical incisions were made in the uterine of each pig. One incision was made on the left side of the uterine horn using a steel scalpel, while the other incision was performed on the right side using a $CO_2$ laser with an 8W output power. Each instrument was evaluated clinically for speed, ease of incision, and extent of bleeding. An ovariohysterectomy was performed at 21 days after the surgical procedure for a histological examination. The scalpel was an easier instrument to use in the confines of the uterine tissue, compared with the laser. However, there is no significant difference between the two groups. The amount of bleeding was less in the laser group but the time of the incisions was shorter with the scalpel. Postoperative uterus adhesion in the $CO_2$ laser incisions was lower than the scalpel incisions. Scalpel incisions showed complete restoration of the epithelium and endometrial gland. On the other hand, the laser incisions showed incomplete restoration of the epithelium and endometrial gland. Although the scalpel produced less damage to the uterine tissue and was easier to handle than the $CO_2$ laser, it did not provide hemostasis that was helpful for use on highly vascular tissue. The $CO_2$ laser provided good hemostasis but delayed wound healing.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.457-464
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• 2008

Heritability and genetic correlation for reproductive traits in Yorkshire pig breed were estimated using Bayesian method via Gibbs sampling. The data set consisted of 9,609 reproductive records at pig breeding farm in Korea. For estimating those parameters using Gibbs sampling, 5,000 cycles of ‘burn-in’ period were discarded among a total of 55,000 samples. Out of the remaining 50,000 samples, 5,000 estimates by each parameter were retained and used for analyses to avoid any correlation among adjacent samples. The reproductive trait considered in this study were total number of born piglets(TNB) and estimated by two different models. The estimated heritability and permanent environmental effect using Gibbs sampler were 0.12±0.020 and 10.9±1.63, respectively. Estimated genetic correlations considered parities as different traits were distributed from 0.99 to －0.13. Such results indicated that reproductive traits for sows should be considered as different traits.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.1224-1232
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• 2020

Objective: The QingYu pig is well known for its excellent meat quality attributes in Sichuan province, China. In order to improve its production efficiency, the determination of genetic factors contributing to quantifiable economic traits of livestock is important. Moreover, the cross-breeding of QingYu pigs with western breeds possessing strong growth attributes is an efficient way to improve the performance of this breed. Methods: Here, the genetic parameters of several important reproductive traits of QingYu pigs were estimated, include total number born (TNB), number born alive, litter birth weight, individual birth weight, number of piglets weaned, litter weaning weight, and individual weaning weight. The data was analyzed using the ASReml 3.0 software (NSW Inc., Sydney, Australia). Furthermore, the effects of crossing Berkshire with QingYu (BQ) pigs on carcass and meat quality traits, as well as the effects of slaughter weight on carcass and meat quality of BQ were characterized. Results: QingYu pigs exhibited superior reproductive traits. The TNB available to QingYu pigs was more than 8 per parity. The observed repeatability of the reproductive traits of the QingYu pigs was between 0.10 and 0.23. The significantly correlated genetic and phenotypic of reproduction traits were consistent. Interestingly, the BQ pigs exhibited improved carcass quality, with a significant increase in loin muscle area, lean percentage and reduction in sebum percentage. As a result, BQ had higher L_45min, lower cooking scores, and lower drip loss. In addition, the loin muscle area, body length, and sebum percentage were significantly higher in 90 and 100 kg animals. Cooking loss showed a significant increase at 80 kg, and marbling increased significantly from 90 kg. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that QingYu pigs exhibit excellent reproductive properties and heritability of these traits. Crossing with Berkshire is an efficient strategy to improve the carcass and meat quality of QingYu pigs for commercial operations. Furthermore, it appears as though the optimal slaughter weight of BQ pigs is at approximately 90 kg.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.685-694
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• 2009

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the variation in ultimate pH of commercial populations of pure-breed (Landrace, Duroc and Yorkshire) pig's longissimus muscles and their effect on objective meat quality traits and sensory characteristics. Fifty boars were sampled from 184 pigs, which were reared at three breeding farms and slaughtered at a commercial abattoir. The selection was determined based on ultimate pH, and animals were segregated into three groups: low pH (pH $\leq$ 5.5, n=13), medium pH (pH 5.5 to 5.6, n=18) and high pH (pH $\geq$ 5.6, n=16). The breeds had no significant effects; however, pigs with a higher ultimate pH had significantly (p<0.05) higher intramuscular fat content, lower level of polyunsaturated fatty acids, lower level of lipid oxidation and higher eating quality compared to those with lower ultimate pH. As the ultimate pH increased, the relative proportion of C14:0, C16:0 and C18:1 increased while C18:2n6 and C20:4n6 decreased. The present study demonstrates that the economic value of pigs can be characterized by the ultimate pH and/or intramuscular fat content. However, these results do not necessarily indicate that a high ultimate pH directly corresponds to high intramuscular fat content and vice versa.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.79-88
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• 2011

A total of one hundred twenty pigs were used to investigate effects of silage feeding on pork quality among three breeds (Gagoshima Berkshire, American Berkshire, $LY{\times}\;D$). Pigs weighing about 70 kg of body weight were randomly alloted into three breeds [B (Gagoshima Berkshire), D $(LY{\times}\;D)$, A (American Berkshire) by two dietary treatment [C (commercial diet feed) and T (commercial diet with 80% silage)]. All pigs were fed 67 days of period and then slaughtered to examine meat characteristics. A chemical compositions and physico-chemical characteristics were measured in pork loin. The crude protein content was higher in pig fed diets containing silage than that of the control group. $L^*$ of meat color, appearance, meat color, marbling score and overall acceptability in sensory score of fresh meat were higher in the pigs fed silage (T) than those fed commercial diet (C). In fatty acid compositions of loin, stearic acid and oleic acid were lower in T than C, whereas arachidonic acid, EFA (essential fatty acid) and EFA/UFA (unsaturated fatty acid) were higher in T.