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October 2012
The 2012 Pig Genetics Workshop was held in Armidale on 24 and 25 October.

Find out more information

February 2012
Susanne Hermesch and Rob Jones held a webinar on 15 February on the topic "Genetic analyses of haemoglobin levels in pigs and iron content in pork".

June 2011
Craig Lewis held a webinar on 1 June on the topic "Towards more uniform pig performance".

Pig Genetics Workshops

The Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit holds regular pig genetics workshops to demonstrate the latest PIGBLUP developments and present research findings. These workshops are held every 2 years in Armidale, NSW, Australia. PIGBLUP users from Australia and overseas have regularly attended these workshops to discuss a wide range of topics related to genetic improvement of pig production.

The last workshop was held in Armidale on 24 and 25 October 2012. For a news article on the workshop click here.

Following the tradition of previous workshops, research results relevant to animal breeding and pork production were discussed. Both Prof Hans Graser and Prof Chris Moran agreed to provide an overview of the application of quantitative and molecular genetics to livestock industries and beyond. Dr Andrew Swan outlined how genomic selection has been implemented in genetic evaluation systems used in the sheep and beef industries. Further topics presented at the workshop included identification of new traits to improve piglet survival including the evaluation of haemoglobin as a new on-farm measure and genetic aspects of carcase value. The latest findings from various projects funded by the Pork CRC were shown. These included an outline of the mechanisms of disease tolerance, an evaluation of environmental variation and a discussion about the economic importance of traits related to consistent, sustainable and efficient production of pork.

 

Papers presented at previous workshops can be viewed by following the links below and a news article on the 2010 Workshop can be viewed here.

Tables of contents


Topics covered

  1. Pig genetics – general
  2. Breeding objectives
  3. Genetic evaluations
  4. Proof of profit
  5. Molecular genetics
  6. Selection and mate allocation
  7. Genetics of reproductive traits of the sow
  8. Genetics of performance traits including feed intake and feed conversion ratio
  9. Genetics of carcase composition and meat quality traits
  10. Genetics of behaviour and conformation traits

For further information, please contact the PIGBLUP team (susanne.hermesch@removeme.une.edu.au)