In search of a better appetite

摘要

From data recorded in commercial herds, it seems that pigs' daily feed intake has declined at a faster rate over the last 10-15 years than had been expected by geneticists. A prompt reversal of this tendency will be required before we are able to match nutrition to the improved lean growth potential of modern animals. That was the message to a recent meeting in Spain, arranged by feed supplements company Setna and attended by producers representing an estimated 800 000 Spanish sows. They heard of agrowing awareness among genetic improvers regarding the need for a greater emphasis on daily feed intake in the goals of breeding programmes. Successes in gene mapping will open the possibility of identifying specific genes involved in the control of appetite, to manipulate alongside more conventional selection methods.