Genetic changes in Canadian performance-tested pigs for fat depth and growth rate

Data on more than 1.3 million pigs of four breeds in four regions of Canada were used to estimate genetic changes in fat depth and growth rate from 1976 to 1993. Analysis was by a multi (two)-trait best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) animal model within breed and across regions. The genetic changes were measured as the changes in average estimated breeding value (EBV) over years. The across-breed average total phenotypic changes from 1976 to 1993 were -3.9 mm in fat depth (26% of the mean) and -17 d in age at 100 kg (9% of the mean). The multi-trait BLUP estimates of the genetic trends were similar to single-trait BLUP estimates. The mean EBV and the changes were similar for the four regions. The changes were larger in the Landrace and Yorkshire breeds than in the Duroc and Hampshire. The overall genetic trends were -1.44% of the mean yr(-1) in fat depth and -0.36% of the mean yr(-1) in age at 100 kg. The trend for age at 100 kg increased over time as better methods of deriving the EBV were implemented. The current rates of pig improvement in Canada are good and yield large economic benefits. However, they could be improved to recoup the full gains possible through the Canadian Swine Improvement Program.