Genomic Predictions for Age at Puberty and Reproductive Longevity in Sows Using Bayesian Methods

...................................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................ iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ..................................................................................................v CHAPTER 1 1.1 Literature Review ............................................................................................1 1.1.1 Economic Importance of Reproductive Traits ....................................1 1.1.2 Genetic Variation of Reproductive Traits ...........................................2 1.1.3 Selection Response for Reproductive Traits .......................................3 1.1.4 Mapping Loci that Influence the Variation of Reproductive Traits ..5 1.1.4.1 QTL Mapping ......................................................................5 1.1.4.2 Candidate Gene Approach ...................................................8 1.1.5 Bayesian Analyses in Genome-wide Association Studies ................11 1.1.6 Genomic Predictions .........................................................................13 1.1.7 Conclusion ........................................................................................17 1.2 Literature Cited .............................................................................................18 CHAPTER 2 Genomic Predictions for Age at Puberty and Reproductive Longevity in Sows Using Bayesian Methods ................................................................................................25 2.