Current studies

Growth physiology and genetic merit : Completed

Plasma urea and lysine coupled with performance test information on protein intake will provide an in vivo measure of protein requirements during different phases of growth. Plasma leptin and neuropeptide Y, combined with performance test information on food/energy intake, will provide information on genetic variation in physiological traits contributing to the genetic control of food/energy intake during different phases of growth. Physiological traits relating to protein and lipid metabolism measured under normal feeding conditions and following fasting for 24 and 48 hours will be used to quantify genetic variation in sensitivity or responsiveness to homeostatic factors in the control of metabolism. IGF-1 and urea measured post-weaning and at the start of test will determine if physiological traits can be used as predictors of genetic merit for performance test traits.

See Results to date : Physiological predictors, NPY, Urea, Leptin and IGF-1

Meat and eating quality : Completed

Half-carcasses were analysed for meat and eating quality to determine if a genotype with nutrition interaction exists, particularly for components of meat conditioning, such as myofibrillar fragmentation and for components of meat taint, such as skatole and androstenone. The existence of a genotype with nutrition interaction will have important consequences on the choice of selection strategy and the nutritional regime of growing pigs, such that particular genotypes may require specific nutritional regimes.

See Results to date : Meat and eating quality , GxN for meat quality , Boar taint , GxN for intramuscular fat and Dietary manipulation of plasma fatty acids

Genotype with nutrition interaction : Completed

The genotype with nutrition interaction study will determine the relationships between nutritional requirements and selection strategies for components of efficient lean growth. For example, at a given energy content of the diet, non-linear relationships between protein content of the diet and carcass composition may differ between genotypes, such that the optimal protein content for one genotype may not be the same as for another genotype.

See Results to date : Phase feeding , Performance test traits , Protein and lipid deposition , Age at first oestrus and Lactational performance

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