Genotype
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Defining the benefits of new genotypes
Summary
The UK pig industry has traditionally used a Large White terminal sire over a Large White x Landrace dam but over the last couple of years there has been a move to three-way crosses with Hampshire or Pietrain boars as the terminal sire. Three-breed crosses should have greater hybrid vigour and are associated with increased piglet vigour, improved response to weaning, faster growth rates and lower mortality in all phases. Such attributes would help to improve FCR and daily liveweight gain of the finisher herd.
This project offers an ideal opportunity to measure genotype response to diets with varying nutrient composition and hence to define optimum nutrient requirements. In addition, different genotypes mature at different rates. With increasing pressure to produce heavier carcases, we need to assess how diet composition, feed efficiency and carcase quality are affected by growing pigs of different genotypes to a finish weight of 100 kg.