Rapid Improvement

The production results for the DanBred breeding herds and central test station appear from the tables below.

Breeding herds - average production results for boars
Breeds	Number of boars	Daily gain (1.5-30 kg)	Daily gain (30-100 kg)	Lean meat percentage	Confor-mation
Duroc	7,777	384	1,053	60.4	2.92
Yorkshire	14,224	359	924	61.6	3.05
Landrace	19,044	379	976	62.3	2.94
Total	41,045

Breeding herds - average production results for females
Breeds	Number of females	Daily gain (1.5-30 kg)	Daily gain (30-100 kg)	Lean meat percentage	Confor-mation
Duroc	10,033	387	1,004	60.7	2.99
Landrace	22,145	383	932	62.2	3.05
Yorkshire	16,276	363	892	61.5	3.11
Total	48,454v	-	-	-	-

Central test station - average production results for boars
Breeds	Number of boars	Daily gain (30-100 kg)	Feed Conversion kg feed/kg gain	Lean meat percentage	Slaughterloss kg
Duroc	2,110	969	2,31	60.1	26.4
Landrace	1,358	909	2,38	60.9	26.8
Yorkshire	1,341	883	2,34	61.1	26.3
Total	5,105	-	-	-	-

Index Calculation

All data from the breeding and multiplier herds combined with all the other data recorded by the owner are sent to the database of DanBred. Every Thursday evening a new index calculation will be automatically carried out in the central computer. Consequently, each Friday morning a new index for all animals in the breeding programme will be available.

The calculations are made by a UNIX computer using the PEST programme developed by E. Groeneveld.

The BLUP method is used for index calculations:

1. All relatives contribute to the estimation of the breeding values for each individual.
2. Simultaneous correction for fixed effects and estimation of breeding values.
3. Breeding animals from different generations can be accurately compared.

A reliable multi-trait animal model is developed on the basis of well-founded assessments of genetic correlations and heritabilities so that known correlations between the various traits of the breeding goal are used. This is very important when a trait is measured on a few animals, such as feed conversion, which is only measured at the test station.

When computing the breeding values the results are obtained using the following model:

Y = S + K + a + l + p +e
where:

S is the effect of section (contemporary group)
K is effect of sex
a    is the BREEDING VALUE
l     is the effect of litter
p    is the effect of pen
e    is residual.

In the DanBred breeding programme 90-95 percent of the sows are artifically inseminated. By means of AI and the station test, genetic relationships are created between the breeding stock in different herds. This genetic relationship allows the efficient use of the multi-trait BLUP method.

Genetic Trend
The purpose of breeding is to create a genetic improvement for the traits that are part of the breeding goal. The table below shows the annual average genetic improvement for all four breeds achieved during the last four years.

Annual breeding progress 2003- 2007
Breeds	Daily gain 1.5-30 kg	Daily gain 30-100 kg	Feed Conversion kg/kg	Lean meat, %	Slaughter loss, kg	LP5*	Conformation
Duroc	3.2	19.0	-0.039	0.16	-0.05	-	0.03
Landrace	-0.6	11.9	-0.028	0.03	0.07	0.31	0.03
Yorkshire	-0.1	5.5	-0.012	0.03	0.03	0.32	0.05
Annual average	0.9	12.1	-0.026	0.07	0.02	0.32	0.04

*LP5: Live piglets at day 5 after farrowing. Included in the breeding goal of the dam lines only.

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Rapid Improvement