Breeding programme for Pietrain pigs in Bavaria with an estimation of genetic trends and effective population size

Population structure, performance testing and breeding scheme of the sire breed Pietrain in Bavaria were analyzed as a basis for further optimization studies of the breeding programme. To evaluate the current breeding programme, genetic trends and effective population size were estimated. Four data sets were used which contained breeding animals born between 1981 and 2005, estimated breeding values of traits in the breeding goal, records from young boars in field test and records from purebred and crossbred progeny on test stations. The population is subdivided in many small herds. That has disadvantages with respect to a uniform breeding goal used across herds and with respect to selection intensity and the avoidance of inbreeding. The idealized selection practice consists of three selection stages. On the first two stages information from half and full sibs on test stations is most important so that the risk of co-selecting related animals is increased. The breeding scheme is a mixture of a half sib design and a progeny testing design, but both have disadvantages. Nevertheless, genetic trends are in the desired directions. To improve accuracy and intensity of selection, only AI-boars should be used instead of natural service sires. Though the effective population size is high, the recent trend of inbreeding shows that the extensive use of popular AI-boars can lead to a rapid increase of inbreeding. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.