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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 45(8)

Insulin-like growth factor-I measured in juvenile pigs is genetically correlated with economically important performance traits

K. L. Bunter A C , S. Hermesch A , B. G. Luxford B , H-U. Graser A and R. E. Crump A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.

B QAF Meat Industries, PO Box 78, Redlands Road, Corowa, NSW 2646, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: kbunter2@une.edu.au

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 45(8) 783-792 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA05048
Submitted: 14 February 2005  Accepted: 29 April 2005   Published: 26 August 2005

Abstract

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is a naturally occurring polypeptide produced in the liver, muscle and fat tissues. It is known to be associated with growth and development during the postnatal growth period. Evidence for strong genetic correlations between juvenile IGF-I and performance traits would suggest this physiological measure would be useful as an early selection criterion. This paper reports estimates of genetic parameters from 9 trials where IGF-I was measured in juvenile pigs. All trials involved populations undergoing active selection for improved performance (e.g. efficient lean meat growth). Juvenile IGF-I was moderately heritable (average h2: 0.31) and influenced by common litter effects (average c2: 0.15). Genetic correlations (rg) between juvenile IGF-I and backfat (BF), feed intake (FI) or feed conversion ratio (FCR) traits were generally large and positive: rg averaged 0.57, 0.41 and 0.65, respectively. Phenotypic correlations (rp) between juvenile IGF-I and BF, FI or FCR were much lower (rp averaged 0.21, 0.09, and 0.15, respectively) as residual correlations between IGF-I and these performance traits were low, consistent with being measured at very different times. Correlations (genetic or phenotypic) between juvenile IGF-I and growth traits (e.g. lifetime daily gain or test daily gain) were relatively low, with average values within ± 0.09 of zero. Results from the trials reported here, and several physiological studies, indicate that information on juvenile IGF-I concentration can be used as an early physiological indicator of performance traits traditionally measured later in life. There is a clear role for juvenile IGF-I to facilitate pre-selection and more accurate selection of livestock for hard to measure traits, such as FCR, in pig breeding programs.


Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the contributions of QAF Meat Industries (formerly Bunge Meat Industries, Australia), Bell Farming Group (USA), Rattlerow Farms (UK), contributing participants in the Australian National Pig Improvement Program (NPIP), and Mitteldeutscher Schweinezuchtverband e. V (Germany) for enabling publication of trial results. Special thanks to the staff involved in arranging trials (Jon Mercer, Ed Sutcliffe, Kitti Lahti, Uwe Wünsch) and also to staff that collected the blood samples and performance data. Thanks also go to Primegro Limited for providing the IGF-I testing. The measurement of IGF-I for selection purposes, known as PrimeGRO IGF-I, has international patents granted and pending.


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