Improving carcase value by incorporating primal weights into pig breeding objectives

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the benefits of including primal cut measures of pig carcases in the breeding objective by comparing the efficacy of two different approaches; a detailed approach and a simpler approach. The detailed approach included economic values for the loin and belly primals separately ($1.54 and $2.24/pig respectively), where the simpler approach included an economic value for the combination of these (the 'middle primal' at $1.89/pig). Each approach was evaluated in two different scenarios by adding information on the primal cut(s). Inclusion of primal traits in the breeding objective increased the predicted response to selection by 2.47% and 3.20% for both approaches (I and II) and primals contributed 15% and 12% to the new breeding objectives. The predicted response to selection was greater for the approach that included the middle primal, which was consistent with moderate to high genetic correlations with other traits in breeding objectives.