An attempt of using public ambient temperature data in swine genetic evaluation for litter-size traits at birth in Japan

Context Large-scale genetic evaluation is promising for efficiently improving sow lifetime productivity, and therefore, a reasonable operational model should be pursued to analyse phenotypic data collected from around Japan, where unique seasonality exists. However, the information on establishing currently insufficient. Aims To obtain fundamental using ambient temperature in developing routine swine by analysing total number born, born alive, stillborn at Japanese farm, together with off-farm measured nearest Automated Meteorological Data Acquisition System station. Methods Five repeatability animal models were exploited, considering effects of farrowing season (Model 1), month 2), quadratic regressions daily maximum day 3), 4), or 5). Key results Patterns estimated Model 3 similar those 1 2. Adding effect (Models 4 5) could explain variability better than only either 2). Estimated heritability was stable among rank correlation predicted breeding values >0.98 all traits. Conclusions The indicated possibility that public can capture large part litter-size traits birth caused Japan. Implications This study support availability meteorological development flexible future