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Blueprint: Selection for feed efficiency helps pigs adapt to stressors
National Hog Farmer
  • Samaneh Azarpajouh, Iowa State University
  • Jessica Colpoys, Iowa State University
  • Jack Dekkers, Iowa State University
  • Nicholas Gabler, Iowa State University
  • John Patience, Iowa State University
  • Anna Johnson, Iowa State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
4-18-2016
Abstract

Enormous strides have been made to improve feed efficiency during the grow-finish period by selecting for pigs that grow faster and that have less backfat. Recently, selection for feed efficiency has been accelerated by directly measuring feed intake and, therefore, feed efficiency on animals in nucleus breeding populations. The question whether selection for feed efficiency results in pigs that are less robust and that may be less able to cope with physiological and behavioral stress is, however, often raised. After all, mounting an immune response and coping with stress requires substantial amounts of energy, and pigs that are very efficient may not have the resources to mount an effective response to cope.

Comments

This article is published as Azarpajouh, S., J. Colpoys, J. Dekkers, N. Gabler, J. Patience, and A. Johnson. Blueprint: Selection for feed efficiency helps pigs adapt to stressors. National Hog Farmer. April 18, 2016. Posted with permission.

Copyright Owner
Informa PLC
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Samaneh Azarpajouh, Jessica Colpoys, Jack Dekkers, Nicholas Gabler, et al.. "Blueprint: Selection for feed efficiency helps pigs adapt to stressors" National Hog Farmer (2016)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/john-patience/132/