Voluntary feed intake and pig breeding

P.W. Knap

Voluntary feed intake and pig breeding

In: Voluntary feed intake in pigs

Author:

P.W. Knap

P.W. Knap PIC International Group, Ratsteich 31, 24837 Schleswig, Germany; pieter.knap@pic.com

Search for other papers by P.W. Knap in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed

Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 13–35

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.3920/9789086866892_003

Purchase instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):

€42.00€35.00 excl. VAT

Add to Cart

Redeem Access Token

Pig voluntary feed intake (VFI) decreased by 30 g/d annually during the early 1980s. This was mainly due to reduced energy requirements through reduced body fatness and improved efficiency, but caused concern that feed intake capacity (FIC) was being reduced which might (1) compromise improvement of lean tissue growth rate (LTGR) and (2) constrain lactation feed intake (LFI) and reproductive performance. However, timetrends show that VFI levels stabilised around 1990, whereas LTGR continued to increase by 4 g/d annually. Attempts to experimentally quantify FIC and relate it to the level required for maximum LTGR show no indication of LTGR being limited by FIC. Breeding goals in modern pig breeding aim for diverse combinations of genetic trend in production traits; with proper selection methods this can be achieved without substantial genetic changes in VFI, either up or down – genetic antagonisms can then be neutralised. The use of electronic VFI recording equipment led to attempts to exploit intake patterns over time, and intake behaviour traits, for strengthening breeding value estimation for growth and efficiency – largely unsuccessfully. But options for quantifying environmental sensitivity based on the within-animal variation of VFI over time are underexploited, and deserve more attention. The same holds for social interaction effects among penmates on each other’s feed intake. Increased LFI is related to (1) higher reproductive output in terms of litter weight gain, and (2) reduced maternal tissue catabolism. The latter is beneficial because it reduces reproductive problems (weaning-mating interval, litter size, longevity) in subsequent parities. Possible genetic antagonisms within this system can be neutralised by properly designed selection methods, as above. LFI, maternal tissue loss, and/or litter weight gain will then become formal breeding goal traits in dam line breeding. Sow nutrition and management strategies will have to be adapted as well.

Citation Info

Save
Cite
Email this content

Share link with colleague or librarian

You can email a link to this page to a colleague or librarian:
Email this content
or copy the link directly:

https://brill.edhh.ma/abstract/book/9789086866892/BP000003.xml
The link was not copied. Your current browser may not support copying via this button.

Link copied successfully

Collapse
Expand

Voluntary feed intake in pigs

E-Book ISBN:: 9789086866892

Publisher:: Wageningen Academic

Print Publication Date:: 24 Oct 2009

Subjects
- Life Sciences
  - General
  - Animal & Veterinary

Metrics

	All Time	Past 365 days	Past 30 Days
Abstract Views	243	59	5
Full Text Views	16	3	1
PDF Views & Downloads	19	4	2

African Studies	Education	Media Studies
American Studies	History	Middle East and Islamic Studies
Ancient Near East and Egypt	Human Rights and Humanitarian Law	Musicology
Art History	International Law	Philosophy
Asian Studies	International Relations	Religious Studies
Biblical Studies	Jewish Studies	Slavic and Eurasian Studies
Biology	Languages and Linguistics	Social Sciences
Book History and Cartography	Life Sciences	Theology and World Christianity
Classical Studies	Literature and Cultural Studies

Subjects

Authors

Open Access

Product Information

Company

Contact

Voluntary feed intake and pig breeding

Citation Info

Share link with colleague or librarian

Voluntary feed intake in pigs

Table of Contents

Metrics

Metrics