| Question | Answer |
| traits measured by STAGES | -NBA (+)
-21 day litter weight (+)
-days to 250 lbs (-)
-pounds of lean (+)
-backfat (-)
-sow productivity index
-maternal line index
-terminal sire index |
| S.T.A.G.E.S. | -Swine Testing And Genetic Evaluation System
-developed by Purdue University
-uses EDP to measure economically important traits |
| Measurable carcass traits | -10th rib fat - indicator of total carcass fat
-last rib fat-most repeatable measurement
-loin eye area (total carcass muscle)
-carcass length - as length increases, fat decreases
-color, firmness, and marbling scores - muscle quality |
| carcass traits | -high in heritability
-important, fat hogs are less efficient
-consumers are concious of their fat intake
-what packing industry pays for has reflected consumer demands |
| measurable growth traits | -days to market
-average daily gain
-weight per day of age
-days to 250 lbs
-feed efficiency |
| growth traits | -moderate in heritability
-traits that relate in performance & efficiency
-60-70% of all production costs are in feed |
| measureable reproductive traits | -number of pigs born alive
-number pigs weaned
-21 day litter weight
-number of parities
-number of funcitonal nipples
-pigs per sow per year
-gestation: 3 mo 3 wk 3 days |
| selection for reproductive traits | -low traits in heritability
-improved by crossbreeding
-highly important on economic scale
-perhaps the largest determinant in profit and loss |
| sow productivity index | -measures an animals ability to pass on maternal traits
-index accounts for # pigs born alive & 21 day litter weight |
| maternal line index | -includes most of all economically important traits
-includes # born of alive, 21 day litter weight, days to 250, and back fat |
| terminal sire index | -includes traits that are important for market hog production
-traits included in (TSI) days to 250, backfat, and pounds of lean |
| adjust backfat to constant weight (formula) | Act. BF +[(250-act. wt)*act. BF/act. wt-25 |
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