Associations of acute phase protein levels with growth performance and with selection for growth performance in Large White pigs

2005 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 213-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Clapperton ◽  
S. C. Bishop ◽  
N. D. Cameron ◽  
E. J. Glass
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Daily Weight Gain ◽  
Restricted Feeding ◽  
Large White ◽  
Daily Food Intake ◽  
Lean Growth ◽  
Daily Food ◽  
Performance Traits ◽  
Selection For

AbstractAbstract Acute phase proteins (APP) are released into the circulation in mammals upon infection and may be used to diagnose the health status of managed populations of animals such as pigs. The current study determines APP levels in a population of apparently healthy Large White pigs from a single farm, to address two questions: (1) whether phenotypic associations can be observed between productivity and APP, indicating the effects of possible subclinical infections and (2) whether previous selection for either food intake or ‘lean growth under restricted feeding’ influences APP levels. The APP investigated were alpha1- acid glycoprotein (AGP) and haptoglobin. The APP were measured at 18 and 24 weeks of age in pigs previously selected for high lean growth (no. = 31), low lean growth (no. = 38), high daily food intake (no. = 24) and low daily food intake (no. = 26), but performing under ad libitum feeding conditions. Performance traits and APP levels were constant over the experimental period, indicating that the farm health status did not vary over time. Performance traits and APP were recorded on 119 pigs, of which 80 had both APP and performance measurements. Multiple regression analyses were used to investigate phenotypic relationships between performance traits and APP levels. Plasma concentrations of AGP were higher in 18-week-old pigs compared with 24-week-old pigs (P< 0·01) whereas haptoglobin levels did not vary according to age. Significant sex differences in APP levels were observed. Females had higher circulating levels of AGP than males at both 18 weeks and 24 weeks. Females also had higher levels of haptoglobin at 18 weeks. Levels of AGP had significant negative correlations with daily weight gain (−0·59,P< 0·01 and −0·48,P< 0·05 at 18 and 24 weeks respectively) and with daily food intake (−0·53,P< 0·01 and −0·38,P< 0·05 at 18 and 24 weeks respectively). At age 24 weeks, haptoglobin was negatively correlated with both daily weight gain (−0·35,P< 0·05) and food efficiency (−0·34,P< 0·05). Pigs selected for high lean growth under restricted feeding had higher AGP levels than pigs selected for low lean growth under restricted feeding at 18 (593v. 332 μg/ml,P< 0·01) and 24 weeks of age (313 v. 219 μg/ml,P< 0·05). Selection for daily food intake did not consistently affect AGP levels, and neither selection criteria influenced plasma haptoglobin concentrations. To conclude, we have demonstrated that amongst contemporaneous pigs of the same genotype, higher systemic AGP levels and, to a lesser extent, higher haptoglobin levels are associated with decreased performance, and that genetic selection for ‘efficient lean growth under restricted feeding’ can increase serum AGP levels.

Selection for lean growth in pigs with a restricted feeding regime

1994 ◽  
Vol 1994 ◽  
pp. 12-12
Author(s):  
M.K. Curran ◽  
N.D. Cameron ◽  
J.C. Kerr
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Restricted Feeding ◽  
Correlated Responses ◽  
Large White ◽  
Daily Food Intake ◽  
Feeding Regime ◽  
Lean Growth ◽  
Daily Food ◽  
Ad Libitum

Divergent selection lines for lean growth on a restricted feeding regime, in Large White and Landrace pigs, were established to complement the lean growth selection lines on ad-libitum feeding. This study estimated the direct and correlated responses after four generations of selection and the corresponding genetic and phenotypic parameters.The selection objective for lean growth on restricted or scale (LGS) feeding was to obtain equal correlated responses in growth rate and carcass lean content, measured in phenotypic s.d. The selection criterion included measurements of growth rate and ultrasonic backfat depth.Large White (LW) and Landrace (LR) boars and gilts were purchased from eight British nucleus herds and boars from national artificial insemination centres in 1982. Homozygous or heterozygous halothane positive pigs were not included in the experiment. The base populations consisted of 31 LW and 19 LR sires and 57 LW and 67 LR dams. Within each population, there were high and low selection lines with a control line, each consisting of 10 boars and 20 gilts, with a generation interval of 13.5 and 12 months for LW and LR pigs. Animals were performance tested in individual pens from 30±3 kg for a period of 84 days and fed a high energy (13.8 MJ DE/kg DM) and high protein (210 g/kg DM crude protein) pelleted ration. Daily food intake was equal to 0.75 g/g of the daily food intake for ad-libitum fed pigs and the total food intake was 134 kg for LW pigs and 150 kg for LR pigs. On average, 3 boars and 3 gilts were tested per litter. The total number of pigs tested per line and average inbreeding coefficients at generation four, by population are given below.

Responses in carcass composition to divergent selection for components of efficient lean growth rate in pigs

1995 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 347-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. D. Cameron ◽  
M. K. Curran
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Fat Content ◽  
Restricted Feeding ◽  
Food Conversion ◽  
Daily Food Intake ◽  
Lean Growth ◽  
Daily Food ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Selection For

AbstractCarcass composition was measured after six generations of divergent selection for lean growth rate on ad-libitum and restricted feeding, lean food conversion and daily food intake in populations of Large White (LW) and Landrace (LR) pigs. There were 161 half-carcass dissections in LW pigs and for LR pigs, a double sampling procedure combined information from 53 half-carcass and 53 hand joint dissections. The performance test started at 30 kg and finished at 85 kg with ad-libitum feeding and after 84 days with restricted feeding, and pigs were slaughtered at the end of the test.In the LR population, selection for lean growth on restricted feeding increased carcass lean content (605 v. 557 (s.e.d. 19) g/kg), but there were no significant responses in carcass lean content with the selection strategies on adlibitum feeding. Selection for lean food conversion and high lean growth on restricted feeding reduced carcass fat content (201 v. 241 (s.e.d. 14) and 150 v. 218 (s.e.d. 18) g/kg), but selection for high lean growth rate with adlibitum increased carcass fat content (212 v. 185 (s.e.d. 11) g/kg). Responses in carcass composition were not significant with selection on daily food intake.In the LW population, selection for high lean food conversion or low daily food intake increased carcass lean content (539 v. 494 and 543 v. 477 (s.e.d. 11) g/kg) to a greater extent than selection on lean growth rate (509 v. 475 g/kg). Responses in carcass fat content were equal and opposite to those in carcass lean content. Selection on lean growth rate with ad-libitum feeding increased lean tissue growth rate (LTGR) (491 v. 422 (s.e.d. 23) g/day), but there was no change in fat tissue growth rate (FTGR) (206 v. 217 (s.e.d. 15) g/day). In contrast, FTGR was reduced with selection on lean food conversion (169 v. 225 g/day), but LTGR was not significantly increased (520 v. 482 g/day). Selection for lean growth rate with restricted feeding combined the desirable strategies of lean growth rate on adlibitum feeding and lean food conversion, as LTGR was increased (416 v. 359 (s.e.d. 12) g/day) and FTGR decreased (126 v. 156 (s.e.d. 7) g/day). The preferred selection strategy may be lean growth rate on restricted feeding, which simultaneously emphasizes rate and efficiency of lean growth.For ad-libitum fed LW pigs, coheritabilities for growth rate, daily food intake and backfat depth with carcass lean content were negative (-0·12, -0·22 and -0·50 (s.e. 0·05), but positive with carcass subcutaneous fat content (0·22, 0·24 and 0·50), when estimated from six generations of performance test data and carcass dissection data in generations 2, 4 and 6.

Multibreed comparisons of British cattle. Variation in body weight, growth rate and food intake

1984 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 323-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. B. Thiessen ◽  
Eva Hnizdo ◽  
D. A. G. Maxwell ◽  
D. Gibson ◽  
C. S. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Daily Weight Gain ◽  
Daily Food Intake ◽  
Daily Food ◽  
Breed Selection ◽  
Voluntary Food Intake

ABSTRACTA multibreed cattle experiment involving 25 British breeds was set up to study genetic variation between breeds and genetic inter-breed relationships for a wide spectrum of traits in order to examine the problems of between-breed testing and selection. The experimental design is described and results on between-breed variation are presented for four traits.All animals were housed indoors and from 12 weeks of age were given a single complete pelleted diet ad libitum through a system of Calan-Broadbent electronic gates. Females were mated to produce one purebred and three crossbred calves, which were reared to slaughter in order to measure the efficiency of the cow-calf unit of production.Results based on a total of 292 animals, with an average of 12 per breed, are presented for body weight, cumulated voluntary food intake, daily weight gain and daily food intake over the age range from 12 to 72 weeks. The 25 breed-mean curves for body weight and cumulated food intake displayed a remarkably uniform pattern of rankings at all ages and the rankings were very similar for both traits.The multibreed design used was effective in estimating between-breed variation as a proportion of total variation for the four traits examined. After approximately 1 year of age, the proportion of variation between breeds was approximately 0·70 for body weight and 0·60 for cumulated voluntary food intake. Changes in these traits could therefore be brought about more effectively by selection between breeds rather than within breeds. For average daily weight gain measured over 12-week intervals, between-breed selection was estimated to be most effective in the period of maximum growth rate between 6 and 9 months of age, when between-breed variation was 0·52 of the total. For average daily food intake, measured over 12-week intervals, between-breed selection was likely to be effective beyond 6 months of age, when the proportion of between-breed variation plateaued at 0·48.At all ages, the coefficient of genetic variation between breeds was approximately 0·14 for body weight and daily gain, and remarkably constant at approximately 0·12 for both daily and cumulated food intake. It is suggested that, for growth and intake traits, the genetic variances within and between breeds remain proportional to each other at all ages.

Selection for components of efficient lean growth rate in pigs 4. Genetic and phenotypic parameter estimates and correlated responses in performance test traits with ad-libitum feeding

1994 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 281-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. D. Cameron ◽  
M. K. Curran
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Performance Test ◽  
Food Conversion ◽  
Daily Food Intake ◽  
Lean Growth ◽  
Daily Food ◽  
Genetic And Phenotypic Correlations ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Ad Libitum Feeding

AbstractGenetic and phenotypic parameters and correlated responses in performance test traits were estimated for populations of Large White (LW) and British Landrace (LR) pigs tested in Edinburgh and Wye respectively, to four generations of divergent selection for lean growth rate (LGA), lean food conversion (LFC) and daily food intake (DFI) with ad-libitum feeding.There were differences between the two populations in genetic parameters, as LW heritabilities for growth rate, daily food intake and backfat depths were higher and the correlation between growth rate and backfat was positive for LW, but negative for LR. However, heritabilities, genetic and phenotypic correlations were generally comparable between selection groups, within each population. Genetic and phenotypic correlations indicated that animals with high daily food intakes were faster growing, had positive residual food intakes (RFI), were fatter with higher food conversion ratios. RFI was highly correlated with daily food intake and food conversion ratio, but phenotypically independent of growth rate and backfat, as expected.Selection for LGA, in LW and LR populations, increased growth rate (54 and 101 g/day), but reduced backfat (−3·9 and −2·0 mm), food conversion ratio (−0·23 and −0·25) and total food intake (−11·8 and −12·6 kg). There was no change in daily food intake in LW pigs (−19 g/day), but daily food intake increased in the LR pigs (69 g/day). With selection for LFC in LW and LR populations, there was no response in groivth rate (9 and 9 g/day), but backfat (−4·1 and −2·1 mm), total (−6·6 and −11·8 kg) and daily food intake (−90 and −172 g) were reduced, as animals had lower food conversion ratios (−0·13 and −0·22). LW and LR pigs selected for DFI ate more food in total (6·8 and 5·9 kg) and on a daily basis (314 and 230 g), grew faster (94 and 51 g/day) and had higher food conversion ratios (0·12 and 0·13). Backfat was increased in LW pigs (3·7 mm), but not in the LR population.In general, efficiency of lean growth was improved by increasing groivth rate, with little change in daily food intake from selection for LGA, but was primarily due to reduced daily food intake with selection on LFC.

Selection for lean growth and food intake leads to correlated changes in innate immune traits in Large White pigs

2006 ◽  
Vol 82 (6) ◽  
pp. 867-876 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Clapperton ◽  
S.C. Bishop ◽  
E.J. Glass
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Γδ T Cells ◽  
Restricted Feeding ◽  
Large White ◽  
Lean Growth ◽  
High Line ◽  
Immune Traits ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Selection For

Genetic selection is well established as a means of improving productivity in pigs, but the effects of continued selection for increased performance on immunity are not well understood, nor are genetic relationships between performance and immunity. This study compared differences in the levels of a range of immune traits between lines of Large White pigs divergently selected for a number of productivity traits. Selection lines compared were highv. low lean growth under restricted feeding (31 high linev. 10 controlv. 38 low line pigs), high v. low lean growth underad libitumfeeding (18 high line v. 10 controlv. 19 low line pigs), and highv. low food intake (24 high linev. 26 low line pigs). Immune traits measured were total white blood cell numbers (WBC), and the numbers of leukocyte subsets: neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils, lymphocytes, CD4+cells, CD8α+cells, B cells, γδ T cells and CD11R1+Natural killer (NK) cells. CD4+, γδ T cells and CD11R1+cells were subdivided into subpopulations that were positive or negative for the CD8α marker, and conventional CD8αhigh+cytotoxic T cells were also determined. Pigs were tested underad libitumfeeding conditions from 14 to 24 weeks, and immune traits were assessed at ages 18 and 24 weeks. Line differences were estimated using residual maximum likelihood techniques. Consistent differences in immune trait levels were evident between pigs previously selected for high and low lean growth under restricted feeding: at age 24 weeks, high line pigs had higher basal levels of WBC (39·6v. 27·8×106cells per ml, s.e.d. 2·09, for highv. low line pigs) mainly explained by higher levels of lymphocytes (25·5v. 17·3×106cells per ml, s.e.d. 1·54, for highv. low line pigs) with increased numbers of CD8α+cells (8·19v. 5·15×106cells per ml, s.e.d. 0·14) and CD11R1+cells (5·23v. 2·46×106cells per ml, s.e.d. 0·43), predominantly the CD11R1+CD8α?subpopulation ((3·20v. 1·64×106cells per ml, s.e.d. 0·11). High line pigs also had increased numbers of monocytes (2·64v. 1·83×106cells per ml, s.e.d. 0·35). Similar results were obtained at age 18 weeks. There were no consistent differences between divergent lines in pigs selected for lean growth underad libitumfeeding or food intake. This is the first report to demonstrate that selection for some aspects of performance can influence WBC and leukocyte subset numbers in pigs.

Rate and site of fat deposition in pigs selected for components of efficient lean growth rate

1995 ◽  
Vol 1995 ◽  
pp. 12-12
Author(s):  
N.D. Cameron
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Divergent Selection ◽  
Fat Deposition ◽  
Food Conversion ◽  
Large White ◽  
Daily Food Intake ◽  
Lean Growth ◽  
Daily Food ◽  
Ad Libitum

Rates and sites of fat deposition were measured in a population of Large White pigs, after six generations of divergent selection on lean growth rate with ad-libitum (LGA) and restricted (LGS) feeding, lean food conversion (LFC) and daily food intake (DFI).

Selection for components of efficient lean growth rate in pigs 3. Responses to selection with a restricted feeding regime

1994 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 271-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. D. Cameron ◽  
M. K. Curran ◽  
J. C. Kerr
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Environmental Effects ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Parameter Estimates ◽  
Selection Line ◽  
Restricted Feeding ◽  
Daily Food Intake ◽  
Lean Growth ◽  
Daily Food

AbstractResponses to four generations of divergent selection in pigs for lean growth rate (LGS) with restricted feeding were studied. The selection criterion was designed to obtain equal correlated responses in growth rate and carcass lean content, measured in phenotypic s.d. Animals were to be performance tested in individual pens with a mean starting weight of 30 kg for a period of 84 days. Daily food intake was equal to 0·75 gig of the daily food intake for pigs offered food ad-libitum. In the high, low and control lines, there ivere 1250 Large White-Edinburgh (LW) pigs and 875 British Landrace-Wye (LR) pigs. Each selection line consisted of 10 sires and 20 dams, with a generation interval ofl year.After four generations of selection, cumulative selection differentials were 5·9 and 4·8 phenotypic s.d. for LW and LR populations, with similar responses, 1·8 (s.e. 0·17) phenotypic s.d. Mean weight at the end of test, growth rate and backfat depths at the shoulder, mid back and loin were 89 kg, 712 g/day, 26,13 and 13 mm for LW and for LR pigs were 87 kg, 683 g/day, 28,10 and 10 mm. High line pigs were heavier at the end of test (4·3 (s.e.d. 1·4) kg and 4·0 (s.e.d. 1·6) kg) for LW and LR populations, with corresponding responses in growth rate (54 (s.e.d. 16) g/day and 47 (s.e.d. 18) g/day). Responses in the three backfat depths were −4·1 (s.e.d. 1·2) mm, −2·6 (s.e.d. 0·7) mm and −2·9 (s.e.d. 0·7) mm for LW and −2·2 (s.e.d. 0·05) mm, −2·2 (s.e.d. 0·4) mm and −2·4 (s.e.d. 0·5) mm for LR populations. Responses in weight off test and backfat depths were symmetric about the control lines.Heritabilities for LGS were 0·34 and 0·28 (s.e.d. 0·5) for the LW and LR populations, when estimated by residual maximum likelihood. Common environmental effects for LGS were 0·11 (s.e. 0·03) for LW and 0·17 (s.e. 0·04) for LR. Heritabilities for growth rate and average backfat depth were similar for LW and LR populations (0·17 and 0·29, s.e. 0·05), as were common environmental effects (0·10 s.e. 0·04). Average phenotypic and genetic correlations between growth rate and backfat, for LW and LR populations, were small (0·15 (s.e. 0·03) and −0·06 (s.e. 0·16), respectively).Responses to selection and genetic parameter estimates demonstrate that there is substantial genetic variation in growth and fat deposition when pigs are performance tested on restricted feeding.

Predicted responses to selection from indices incorporating feeding pattern traits of pigs using electronic feeders

1999 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 407-412 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. D. Hall ◽  
W.G. Hill ◽  
P. R. Bampton ◽  
A. J. Webb
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Selection Criteria ◽  
Feeding Pattern ◽  
Parameter Estimates ◽  
Feeding Patterns ◽  
Daily Food Intake ◽  
Lean Growth ◽  
Daily Food ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Daily Gain

AbstractThe main aims of this study were to predict the increase in the accuracy of selection and the response to selection achieved by including feeding pattern traits, such as number and size of meals, as selection criteria in indices to improve growth rate, lean content of the carcass and food conversion ratio. Genetic and phenotypic parameters obtained for pigs given foodad libitumusing single space electronic feeders were used to construct the indices. The predicted genetic gain in the index increased for indices with more feeding pattern traits. The inclusion of part test records for feeding patterns resulted in similar predicted correlated responses and predicted accuracy of selection to those using whole test records of daily food intake. The inclusion of feeding patterns as selection criteria resulted in indices that were less robust to inaccurate parameter estimates. It was concluded that feeding pattern traits could be used to improve the predicted accuracy of selection for the efficiency of lean growth but the most effective and robust index would include only daily gain, backfat depth, daily food intake and mean number of visits to the feeders per day. These traits may also be useful in reducing the length of the test period necessary for accurate measures of food intake, so increasing the potential intensity of selection using a given number of feeders.

Selection for improved lean growth in Large White pigs can affect levels of total white blood cell counts, CD11R1+ leukocytes and alpha-1 acid glycoprotein

2005 ◽  
Vol 2005 ◽  
pp. 17-17
Author(s):  
M. Clapperton ◽  
S. C. Bishop ◽  
N. D. Cameron ◽  
E. J. Glass
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Restricted Feeding ◽  
Large White ◽  
Acid Glycoprotein ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
Lean Growth ◽  
Immune Traits ◽  
Selection For ◽  
White Blood Cell Counts ◽  
The Impact

Productivity in pigs can be improved by continued selection, however the impact of such selection on immune responses and resistance towards infectious challenges is not known. A risk is that this method may lead to a correlated reduction in the immune response and disease resistance. To estimate the effect of selection for performance traits upon immune responses, we compared levels of immune traits between divergent lines of Large White pigs selected for either lean growth under restricted feeding or feed intake.

Serum leptin concentration in pigs selected for high or low daily food intake

2000 ◽  
Vol 2000 ◽  
pp. 22-22
Author(s):  
N.D. Cameron ◽  
J.C. Penman ◽  
E. McCullough
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Recessive Gene ◽  
Blood Stream ◽  
Correlated Response ◽  
Reduce Food Intake ◽  
Large White ◽  
Daily Food Intake ◽  
Gene Coding ◽  
Daily Food ◽  
Seven Generations

Leptin is synthesised and secreted from adipocytes into the blood stream and transported to the brain, where it acts to cause a release of factors which can reduce food intake (Houseknecht et al., 1998). There are two murine mutations of the recessive gene coding for leptin which are associated with obesity. The Lepob allele determines synthesis and secretion of leptin, while the Lepdb allele determines responsiveness to leptin. In the Edinburgh lean growth experiment in pigs, selection for high and low daily food intake (DFI) has been practiced for seven generations in a Large White herd, which provides the experimental resource to determine if the correlated response in fat deposition is consistent with insufficient leptin production or with insensitivity to leptin.

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