Insulin-like Growth Factor-I Measured (IGF-I) in Juvenile Pigs is Genetically Correlated with Economically Important Performance Traits

Author(s)
Bunter, K L
Hermesch, S
Luxford, B G
Graser, H -U
Crump, R E
Publication Date
2005-09
Abstract
Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is a naturally occurring polypeptide produced in the liver, muscle and fat tissues. It is known to be associated with growth and development during the post-natal growth period. Evidence for strong genetic correlations between juvenile IGF-I and performance traits would suggest this physiological measure would be useful as an early selection criterion. This paper reports estimates of genetic parameters from 9 trials where IGF-I was measured in juvenile pigs. All trials involved populations undergoing active selection for improved performance (e.g. efficient lean meat growth). Juvenile IGF-I was moderately heritable (average h2: 0.31) and influenced by common litter effects (average c2: 0.15). Genetic correlations (rg) between juvenile IGF-I and backfat (BF), feed intake (FI) or feed conversion ratio (FCR) traits were generally large and positive: rg averaged 0.57, 0.41 and 0.65, respectively. Phenotypic correlations (rp) between juvenile IGF-I and BF, FI or FCR were much lower (rp averaged 0.21, 0.09, and 0.15, respectively) as residual correlations between IGF-I and these performance traits were low, consistent with being measured at very different times. Correlations (genetic or phenotypic) between juvenile IGF-I and growth traits (e.g. lifetime daily gain or test daily gain) were relatively low, with average values within ± 0.09 of zero. Results from the trials reported here, and several physiological studies, indicate that information on juvenile IGF-I concentration can be used as an early physiological indicator of performance traits traditionally measured later in life. There is a clear role for juvenile IGF-I to facilitate pre-selection and more accurate selection of livestock for hard to measure traits, such as FCR, in pig breeding programmes.
Citation
Proceedings of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics, v.16, p. 90-90
ISBN
0643092331
064309234X
ISSN
1328-3227
Link
Title
Insulin-like Growth Factor-I Measured (IGF-I) in Juvenile Pigs is Genetically Correlated with Economically Important Performance Traits
Type of document
Conference Publication
Entity Type
Publication

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