Systematic Fostering Experiments in Swine

Abstract

An experimental design, incorporating fostering, that has proven useful in smaller animals is described and tested in pigs. Data on body weight to 154 days from 33 litters indicates that postnatal factors including mothering ability and pen environment is maximum at 42 days representing 26% of the total variance. Prenatal effects and individual genetic differences among litters rises from 6% to 13% between 21 and 154 days. An interaction between the main effects was indicated in the weights at 98 and 154 days. No evidence was found that fostering, by itself, influences weight. The design appears feasible and useful in pigs as an approach to problems on maternal influences and other factors controlling quantitative characters. Copyright © . .