Estimates of Genetic Correlations between Production and Semen Traits in Boar

S. H. Oh,M. T. See,T. E. Long,J. M. Galvin 아세아·태평양축산학회 2006 Animal Bioscience Vol.19 No.2

Currently, boars selected for commercial use as AI sires are evaluated on grow-finish performance and carcass characteristics. If AI sires were also evaluated and selected on semen production, it may be possible to reduce the number of boars required to service sows, thereby improving the productivity and profitability of the boar stud. The objective of this study was to estimate genetic correlations between production and semen traits in the boar: average daily gain (ADG), backfat thickness (BF) and muscle depth (MD) as production traits, and total sperm cells (TSC), total concentration (TC), volume collected (SV), number of extended doses (ND), and acceptance rate of ejaculates (AR) as semen traits. Semen collection records and performance data for 843 boars and two generations of pedigree data were provided by Smithfield Premium Genetics. Backfat thickness and MD were measured by real-time ultrasound. Genetic parameters were estimated from five four-trait and one five-trait animal models using MTDFREML. Average heritability estimates were 0.39 for ADG, 0.32 for BF, 0.15 for MD, and repeatability estimates were 0.38 for SV, 0.37 for TSC, 0.09 for TC, 0.39 for ND, and 0.16 for AR. Semen traits showed a strong negative genetic correlation with MD and positive genetic correlation with BF. Genetic correlations between semen traits and ADG were low. Therefore, current AI boar selection practices may be having a detrimental effect on semen production.

Comparison of Genetic Parameter Estimates of Total Sperm Cells of Boars between Random Regression and Multiple Trait Animal Models

Oh, S.-H.,See, M.T. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2008 Animal Bioscience Vol.21 No.7

The objective of this study was to compare random regression model and multiple trait animal model estimates of the (co) variance of total sperm cells over the active lifetime of AI boars. Data were provided by Smithfield Premium Genetics (Rose Hill, NC). Total number of records and animals for the random regression model were 19,629 and 1,736, respectively. Data for multiple trait animal model analyses were edited to include only records produced at 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, and 27 months of age. For the multiple trait method estimates of genetic and residual variance for total sperm cells were heterogeneous among age classifications. When comparing multiple trait method to random regression, heritability estimates were similar except for total sperm cells at 24 months of age. The multiple trait method also resulted in higher estimates of heritability of total sperm cells at every age when compared to random regression results. Random regression analysis provided more detail with regard to changes of variance components with age. Random regression methods are the most appropriate to analyze semen traits as they are longitudinal data measured over the lifetime of boars.

Stabilization of single-electron pumps by high magnetic fields

Fletcher, J. D.,Kataoka, M.,Giblin, S. P.,Park, Sunghun,Sim, H.-S.,See, P.,Ritchie, D. A.,Griffiths, J. P.,Jones, G. A. C.,Beere, H. E.,Janssen, T. J. B. M. American Physical Society 2012 Physical review. B, Condensed matter and materials Vol.86 No.15

Pork Preference for Consumers in China, Japan and South Korea

Oh, S.H.,See, M.T. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2012 Animal Bioscience Vol.25 No.1

Competition in global pork markets has increased as trade barriers have opened as a result of free trade agreements. Japanese prefer both loin and Boston butt, while Chinese prefer pork offal. Frozen pork has increased in terms of imports into China. Japanese consumers consider pork meat origin along with pork price when making purchase decisions. While the Chinese prefer a strong tasting pork product, South Korean consumers show very strong preferences to pork that is higher in fat. Therefore, South Korean consumers have a higher demand for pork belly and Boston butt. Consequently, the supply and demand of pork in Korea is hardly met, which means that importation of high fat parts is inevitable. In Korea there is lower preference toward low fat parts such as loin, picnic shoulder, and ham. During the economic depression in South Korea there have been observable changes in consumer preferences. There remains steep competition among the pork exporting countries in terms of gaining share in the international pork market. If specific consumer preferences would be considered carefully, there is the possibility to increase the amount of pork exported to these countries.

Comparison of Pork Quality and Sensory Characteristics for Antibiotic Free Yorkshire Crossbreds Raised in Hoop Houses

Whitley, N.,Hanson, D.,Morrow, W.,See, M.T.,Oh, S.H. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2012 Animal Bioscience Vol.25 No.11

The objective of this study was to compare pork characteristics and to determine consumer acceptability of pork chops from antibiotic free Yorkshire crossbreds sired by Berkshire (BY), Large Black (LBY), Tamworth (TY) or Yorkshire (YY) boars and reared in hoop houses. The experiments were conducted at the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCA&TSU) Farm in Greensboro, NC and the Cherry Research Station Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) Alternative Swine Unit in Goldsboro, NC (source of antibiotic free Yorkshire sows used at both places). Twenty-four sows were artificially inseminated at each location in each of three trials. Litters were weaned at 4 wks old, and reared within deep-bedded outdoor hoop houses. To compare pork characteristics, 104 randomly selected animals were harvested at a USDA-inspected abattoir at approximately 200 d of age. Variables measured included pH, color score, $L^*$, $a^*$, $b^*$, marbling score, drip loss, hot carcass weight, backfat thickness (BF), loin muscle area (LMA), and slice shear force. Sensory panel tests were also conducted at two time periods. The data was analyzed with GLM in SAS 9.01 including location, trial, and sire breed as fixed effects. Backfat thickness, LMA, color score and $a^*$ were different among breeding groups (p<0.05). The LBY pigs had thicker backfat and smaller LMA than the other breed types. The TY and YY had less backfat than all other breed groups. Color score was lower for YY than BY and LBY but intermediate for TY. The $a^*$ was lower for TY than other breeds except LBY which was intermediate. For one sensory panel test, YY pork was more preferred overall as well as for juiciness and texture compared to BY and LBY (p<0.05), but no impact of breed type was noted for the other test, with values similar for BY, LBY, TY and YY pork. This information may help small farmers make decisions about breed types to use for outdoor production.

Estimation of Genetic Parameters for Reproductive Traits between First and Later Parities in Pig

Oh, S.H.,Lee, D.H.,See, M.T. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2006 Animal Bioscience Vol.19 No.1

The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters between first and later parities as different traits in reproductive traits of pigs using multiple trait animal model procedures. Data related to reproductive traits from a total of 2,371 individuals maintained at a farm were taken from the pedigree file. Sires and dams were consisted of Duroc, Landrace, and Yorkshire breeds, respectively. The first and later parity records were considered as different traits. Traits included in analyses were total pigs born (TB1), number of pigs born alive (NBA1), number of pigs weaned (NW1), and litter weaning weight (LWT1) in the first parity, and total pigs born (TB2), number of pigs born alive (NBA2), number of pigs weaned (NW2), litter weaning weight (LWT2) and interval between farrowing events (FTF) in later parities. Heritability estimates of TB1, NBA1, NW1 and LWT1 in the first parity were 0.27, 0.25, 0.16 and 0.20, respectively. For TB2, NBA2, NW2, LWT2 and FTF in later parities, heritabilities were estimated as 0.15, 0.15, 0.08, 0.11 and 0.07, respectively. Genetic correlations between sow reproductive traits in the first parity and in the second and later parity were estimated to be 0.89, 0.77, 0.58 and 0.66, respectively, between TB1 and TB2, NBA1 and NBA2, NW1 and NW2, and LWT1 and LWT2. While phenotypic correlations between TB1 and TB2, NBA1 and NBA2, NW1 and NW2, and LWT1 and LWT2 were estimated as 0.18, 0.15, 0.06 and 0.10, respectively. Genetic correlations between reproductive traits of first and later parities were not high indicating that reproductive traits for sows should be analyzed while considering the parities as different traits.

Comparison of Growth Performance of Antibiotic-free Yorkshire Crossbreds Sired by Berkshire, Large Black, and Tamworth Breeds Raised in Hoop Structures

Whitley, N.,Morrow, W.E.M.,See, M.T.,Oh, S.H. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2012 Animal Bioscience Vol.25 No.10

The objective of this study was to compare body weight, ADG, and feed:gain ratio of antibiotic-free pigs from Yorkshire dams and sired by Yorkshire (YY), Berkshire (BY), Large Black (LBY) or Tamworth (TY) boars. All the crossbred pigs in each of three trials were raised as one group from weaning to finishing in the same deep-bedded hoop, providing a comfortable environment for the animals which allowed rooting and other natural behaviors. Birth, weaning and litter weights were measured and recorded. From approximately 50 kg to market weight (125 kg), feed intake and body weights were recorded manually (body weight) or using a FIRE (Feed Intake Recording Equipment, Osborne Industries Inc. Osborne, Kansas) system with eight individual feeding stations. Feed intake data for 106 finishing pigs between 140 and 210 d of age and the resulting weights and feed conversion ratios were analyzed by breed type. Least square means for body weights (birth, weaning and to 240 d) were estimated with Proc Mixed in SAS 9.2 for fixed effects such as crossbreed and days of age within the sire breed. The differences within fixed effects were compared using least significant differences with DIFF option. Individual birth weights and weaning weights were influenced by sire breed (p<0.05). For birth weight, BY pigs were the lightest, TY and YY pigs were the heaviest but similar to each other and LBY pigs were intermediate. For weaning weights, BY and LBY pigs were heavier than TY and YY pigs. However, litter birth and weaning weights were not influenced by sire breed, and average daily gain was also not significantly different among breed types. Tamworth sired pigs had lower overall body weight gain, and feed conversion was lower in TY and YY groups than BY and LBY groups (p<0.05), however, number of observations was somewhat limited for feed conversion and for Tamworth pigs. Overall, no convincing differences among breed types were noted for this study, but growth performance in the outdoor environment was satisfactory.

LO-Phonon Emission Rate of Hot Electrons from an On-Demand Single-Electron Source in a GaAs/AlGaAs Heterostructure

Johnson, N.,Emary, C.,Ryu, S.,Sim, H.-S.,See, P.,Fletcher, J. D.,Griffiths, J. P.,Jones, G. A. C.,Farrer, I.,Ritchie, D. A.,Pepper, M.,Janssen, T. J. B. M.,Kataoka, M. American Physical Society 2018 Physical Review Letters Vol.121 No.13