Effect of founder allele survival and inbreeding depression on litter size in a closed line of Large White pigs

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Abstract
An experimental herd of Large White pigs was established in 1931 and maintained as a closed population until 1992. The complete -pedigree (410 boars and 916 sows) has been analysed to measure along the succesive cohorts of breeding animals: thefounder representation and allele survival, the evolution ofcoancestry and inbreeding and the components of inbreeding due to each founder. Inferences about genetic and phenotypic parameters and effects of dam and litter inbreeding on litter size were obtained, using Bayesian techniques, from 2612 litter records. A significant mean reduction of 0·27 piglets born and 0·39 live born for each 10% of litter inbreeding was found but also evidence of variation among founder lineages in inbreeding depression. Alleles contributing to inbreeding depression were descendent from specific founder lineages.