Genetic gain on body composition in pigs by Computed Tomography (CT).

Return on investment

Jørgen Kongsro

Accurate and non-invasive in vivo measurements

Increase of genetic gain is around 30%

Backward compatible

Value for industry

Without data, you are blind and deaf and in the middle of a freeway

- Geoffrey Moore

why work is needed

1. The selection differential

2. The multiple correlation between aggregate breeding

value and the selection index

3. Genetic variability

Hazel, L. N. (1943). The Genetic Basis for Constructing Selection Indexes.

genetic gain

�G =selection intensity ⇥ accuracy

generation interval

Selection intensity Accuracy

Generation interval

* Landrace: Correlation: 0.87

SEP: 0.17Phenotypic STD: 0.35

* Duroc: Correlation: 0.95

SEP: 0.23Phenotypic STD: 0.74

1980 2014

Chemical analysis h2 = 0.40

2005

NIR h2 > 0.60

Accuracy

IntroductionNIR

IntroductionCT

2005 2008

• Introducing new technologies; NIR and CT at different points in time. Consequences for IMF

Dissection of carcasses. Half-sibs or sibs.

Manual separation of fat, muscle and bone.

In vivo CT-scanning of live boars. Actual animal.

Automatic segmentation of fat. muscle and bone

2008

Landrace «The mother». Focus on maternal, litter size and robustness traits (79%)

Duroc «The father». Focus on production, carcass and meat quality (77%)

Landrace

30 %

20 % 29 %

3 %6 %

12 %

Production Carcass MeatLitter Maternal Robustness Duroc

22 %

20 %28 %

30 %

The genetic battle

Growth

Carcass Meat quality

+--

Norsvin Delta

2008 2014

LMP LMP

YIELD YIELD

OC OC

IMFIMF

Backward compatible

200901 201411

Days 40-120 kg LMP IMFStillborn 3W OCD

Genetic gain from 2009 ->

Balancing the breeding goal

Landrace

200901 201411

Days 40-120 kg LMP IMFLive born OCD

Genetic gain from 2009 ->

Balancing the breeding goal

Duroc

The scientific conclusions

3500 boars are tested and scanned annually from 2008 Focus on body composition An estimated increased genetic gain of 30% Meat quality are under development. Leg weakness scoring (osteochondrosis) has been implemented Backward compatibility

Automatic script for osteochondrosis Weight of cuts Meat quality Integration with ultrasound and vision systems Development of new protocols (kV, mA, dual-scan)

The next steps

Thank you for your attention

Jørgen Kongsro jorgen.kongsro@norsvin.no