RESPONSES TO INDEX SELECTION FOR REDUCED BACKFAT THICKNESS AND INCREASED GROWTH RATE IN SWINE

Abstract

Selection resulted in a decrease in probed backfat thickness and a negligible change in postweaning average daily gain. Realized heritabilities in the Yorkshire and Hampshire select lines were 0.41 ± 0.04 and 0.34 ± 0.18, respectively, for probed backfat thickness and 0.38 ± 0.43 and 0.65 ± 0.19, respectively, for postweaning average daily gain. Key words: Swine, selection differential, selection response, backfat, growth rate