Effects of heterozygosity on performance of purebred and crossbred pigs

Abstract Background In pigs, crossbreeding aims at exploiting heterosis, but heterosis is difficult to quantify. Heterozygosity at genetic markers is easier to measure and could potentially be used as an indicator of heterosis. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of heterozygos...

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Main Authors: Maja Winther Iversen, Øyvind Nordbø, Eli Gjerlaug-Enger, Eli Grindflek, Marcos Soares Lopes, Theo Meuwissen
Format: Article
Language:deu
Published: BMC 2019-02-01
Series:Genetics Selection Evolution
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12711-019-0450-1
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spelling doaj-012c3d298f414a04a1a8de4d26781ffb2020-11-25T02:13:33ZdeuBMCGenetics Selection Evolution1297-96862019-02-0151111310.1186/s12711-019-0450-1Effects of heterozygosity on performance of purebred and crossbred pigsMaja Winther Iversen0Øyvind Nordbø1Eli Gjerlaug-Enger2Eli Grindflek3Marcos Soares Lopes4Theo Meuwissen5Norsvin R&DNorsvin R&DNorsvin R&DNorsvin R&DTopigs Norsvin Research CenterNorwegian University of Life SciencesAbstract Background In pigs, crossbreeding aims at exploiting heterosis, but heterosis is difficult to quantify. Heterozygosity at genetic markers is easier to measure and could potentially be used as an indicator of heterosis. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of heterozygosity on various maternal and production traits in purebred and crossbred pigs. The proportion of heterozygosity at genetic markers across the genome for each individual was included in the prediction model as a fixed regression across or within breeds. Results Estimates of regression coefficients of heterozygosity showed large effects for some traits. For maternal traits, regression coefficient estimates were always in a favourable direction, while for production, meat and slaughter quality traits, they were both favourable and unfavourable. Traits with the largest estimated effects of heterozygosity were total number born, litter weight at 3 weeks, weight at 150 days, and age at 40 kg. Estimates of regression coefficients on heterozygosity differed between breeds. Traits with the largest effect of heterozygosity also showed a significant (P < 0.05) increase in prediction accuracy when heterozygosity was included in the model compared to the model without heterozygosity. Conclusions For traits with the largest estimates of regression coefficients on heterozygosity, the inclusion of heterozygosity in the model improved prediction accuracy. Using models that include heterozygosity would result in selecting different animals for breeding, which has the potential to improve genetic gain for these traits. This is most beneficial when crossbreds or several breeds are included in the estimation of breeding values and is relevant to all species, not only pigs. Thus, our results show that including heterozygosity in the model is beneficial for some traits, likely due to dominant gene action.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12711-019-0450-1
collection DOAJ
language deu
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Maja Winther Iversen
Øyvind Nordbø
Eli Gjerlaug-Enger
Eli Grindflek
Marcos Soares Lopes
Theo Meuwissen
spellingShingle Maja Winther Iversen
Øyvind Nordbø
Eli Gjerlaug-Enger
Eli Grindflek
Marcos Soares Lopes
Theo Meuwissen
Effects of heterozygosity on performance of purebred and crossbred pigs
Genetics Selection Evolution
author_facet Maja Winther Iversen
Øyvind Nordbø
Eli Gjerlaug-Enger
Eli Grindflek
Marcos Soares Lopes
Theo Meuwissen
author_sort Maja Winther Iversen
title Effects of heterozygosity on performance of purebred and crossbred pigs
title_short Effects of heterozygosity on performance of purebred and crossbred pigs
title_full Effects of heterozygosity on performance of purebred and crossbred pigs
title_fullStr Effects of heterozygosity on performance of purebred and crossbred pigs
title_full_unstemmed Effects of heterozygosity on performance of purebred and crossbred pigs
title_sort effects of heterozygosity on performance of purebred and crossbred pigs
publisher BMC
series Genetics Selection Evolution
issn 1297-9686
publishDate 2019-02-01
description Abstract Background In pigs, crossbreeding aims at exploiting heterosis, but heterosis is difficult to quantify. Heterozygosity at genetic markers is easier to measure and could potentially be used as an indicator of heterosis. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of heterozygosity on various maternal and production traits in purebred and crossbred pigs. The proportion of heterozygosity at genetic markers across the genome for each individual was included in the prediction model as a fixed regression across or within breeds. Results Estimates of regression coefficients of heterozygosity showed large effects for some traits. For maternal traits, regression coefficient estimates were always in a favourable direction, while for production, meat and slaughter quality traits, they were both favourable and unfavourable. Traits with the largest estimated effects of heterozygosity were total number born, litter weight at 3 weeks, weight at 150 days, and age at 40 kg. Estimates of regression coefficients on heterozygosity differed between breeds. Traits with the largest effect of heterozygosity also showed a significant (P < 0.05) increase in prediction accuracy when heterozygosity was included in the model compared to the model without heterozygosity. Conclusions For traits with the largest estimates of regression coefficients on heterozygosity, the inclusion of heterozygosity in the model improved prediction accuracy. Using models that include heterozygosity would result in selecting different animals for breeding, which has the potential to improve genetic gain for these traits. This is most beneficial when crossbreds or several breeds are included in the estimation of breeding values and is relevant to all species, not only pigs. Thus, our results show that including heterozygosity in the model is beneficial for some traits, likely due to dominant gene action.
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12711-019-0450-1
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