GxE

The Impact of the Genotype x Feed Interaction on Feeding Behavior, Efficiency, and Carcass Traits in Pigs

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Abstract

An animal's genotype can affect its ability to adapt to dietary changes, potentially leading to genotypeà—feed interactions (Gà—F) within different pig populations. Two trials were conducted to assess the effects of reduced dietary N and P concentrations on feeding behavior, efficiency and carcass composition traits in pigs. A total of 1,100 purebred Landrace boars (PB) and 883 crossbred female and male Pietrian à— F1 pigs (CB) were investigated. In total 621 PB and 439 CB animals received a control diet, while 479 PB and 444 CB animals received a diet with reduced N/P based on recommendations of the German Agriculture Society. A total of six feeding behavior, six efficiency and eight carcass composition traits for PB animals and six efficiency and seven carcass traits for CB animals were analyzed. Variance component (VC) estimation was performed using ASReml to estimate heritabilities (h2) as well as genetic (rg) and phenotypic (rp) correlations, via uni- and multivariate analyses. A bivariate analysis was used to determine the importance of Gà—F by categorizing traits according to the feeding group. A significant Gà—F was assumed for traits with rg 2 for efficiency traits were between 0.19 and 0.38 (± 0.06 - 0.08) and for the carcass traits between 0.17 and 0.72 (± 0.06 - 0.09). Bivariate analyses in PB revealed a significant Gà—F for four behavior traits, and two carcass traits. In contrast, Gà—F was detected for two efficiency traits, and one carcass trait in the CB group. Multivariate analysis showed high negative rg of -0.77 between feed conversion ratio and meat content in PB. In CB, this correlation was even higher, at rg -0.93. Furthermore, univariate GWAS was performed within each breed and revealed several significant SNPs for these traits, providing insights into the architecture underlying the observed Gà—F effects. In the next step, bivariate GWAS, comparable to bivariate VC, will be performed to evaluate SNP-marker specific effects due to Gà—F. This study indicates that the N-/P-reduction could lead to significant Gà—F, a factor that could be considered in pig breeding programs.

Keywords: 2026

How to Cite:

Bellersen, M., Jonas, E., Brinke, I., Kiefer, A., Tholen, E. & Große-Brinkhaus, C., (2026) “The Impact of the Genotype x Feed Interaction on Feeding Behavior, Efficiency, and Carcass Traits in Pigs”, World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production Digital Archive 2026(1): 2286459. doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/wcgalp.24016

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