Genetic monitoring in contemporary swine production

Abstract

The development of molecular techniques for genome studies has led to qualitative progress in the selection of domestic animals by enabling the use of genetic markers, in addition to phenotypic selection parameters in choosing an animal. Genetic montoring has a wide application in contemporary swine production. Namely, genetic control is in the basis of all procedures pertaining to the selection of parent couples. Genetic monitoring is thus used in the genetic characterization of breeds, lines (evaluation of genetic drift and calculation of genetic distance), identification of transgenic animals (gene introduction), identification and control of origin of an animal. An especially important quality of genetic monitoring is the possibility to use genetic markers in the prenatal test of an animal. The project to map swine genomes has already resulted in the identification of several genes which are significant for resistance to causes of certain diseases (F 18+ E. coli resistent), stress, as well as genes significant for economically important characteristics (RN), which are used as commercial tests in genetic monitoring of swine.

Keywords

• genetics
• monitoring
• swine