Abstract

This study was designed to estimate genetic variation in aggressive behaviour of sows at mixing, and in maternal ability for the same sows. The study included 835 sows observed for number of mild or severe aggressions performed (F_A1, F_A2), or received (F_R1, F_R2) during 30 min after grouping. Maternal ability was recorded as sows' response to vocalisation from their piglets when these were handled. Maternal behaviour was studied in 1076 sows as a body reaction (MBR) to their piglets being handled after farrowing. Genetic covariances were estimated using a multi-trait animal model, assuming traits to be normally distributed. The heritabilities of performed aggression traits were intermediate (h(2) F_A1=0.17, h(2) F_A2=0.24), but lower for received aggression (h(2) F_R1=0.06, h(2) F_R2=0.04), and heritability of maternal behaviour was also low (h(2)=0.08). Although estimates of genetic correlations had large standard errors, they indicate that less aggressive sows were stronger responding mothers (r(g)=-0.3). We conclude that performed aggression in sows is a heritable trait, and selection against aggression is possible without offsetting maternal behaviour. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Published in

Livestock Production Science
2005, Volume: 93, number: 1, pages: 73-85
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

SLU Authors

• Rydhmer, Lotta

  • Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Veterinary Science
Animal and Dairy Science


Publication Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livprodsci.2004.11.008

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/8070