Genomic evaluation of heat tolerance in pigs based on reaction norm models and computer vision

• Grant number: 24/15502-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: January 01, 2025
• End date: May 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Genetics and Improvement of Domestic Animals
• Principal Investigator: Aline Silva Mello Cesar
• Grantee: Felipe André Oliveira Freitas
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/02949-5 - Genomic evaluation of heat tolerance in pigs based on reaction norm models and computer vision, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Heat stress is a critical challenge for the global swine industry, significantly impacting animal welfare, production efficiency, and reproductive performance. In addition to considerable economic losses, factors such as territorial extension and climate change increase the complexity of studying heat stress in pigs, which highlights the need for approaches that incorporate aspects of resilience to heat stress together with production traits, often used in genetic selection indices. Thus, our objective is to identify genetic and behavioral traits in pigs that can be incorporated into selection programs, aiming to increase resilience to heat stress without compromising other traits of interest, such as growth and reproduction. For this, data provided by PIC (Pig Improvement Company, Genus Company, Hendersonville, TN) will be used, which will be analyzed through reaction norm models exploring the genotype-environment interaction and behavioral aspects of pigs under heat conditions. Feeding behavior patterns will be evaluated and correlated with heat tolerance using computer vision models, seeking to identify behavioral indicators of resilience. It is expected that resilience characteristics to heat stress will be identified, which can be incorporated into genetic improvement strategies that integrate resilience to heat with other productive characteristics of economic interest, contributing in a practical way to the sustainability of swine production in scenarios with different climate patterns.