Funded by: GUDP
Project description:
The project will increase the genetic improvement of feed efficiency and improve behaviour by combining group information, support features, advanced statistical models and genomic information. Feed efficiency is a central feature of pig production when it comes to environment and economy, and behaviour is important in the effort to reduce tail biting and thus tail docking. Both feed efficiency and behaviour are complicated to breed for, since the properties are difficult to measure. New methods for managing group information enable increased genetic improvement of feed efficiency while behaviour can become part of the Danish pig breeding programme.
The project is expected to increase genetic progress for feed efficiency and growth. The improvement will contribute to the reduction of nitrogen and phosphor surpluses and reduce CO2 emissions. The behavioural breeding value will increase genetic progress for growth and contribute to better animal welfare and increase earnings in Danish pig production.
