METHODS FOR MONITORING PERFORMANCE AND ASSESSING THE GENETIC VALUE OF PURE- BRED AND HYBRID BREEDING PIGS

METHODS FOR MONITORING PERFORMANCE AND

ASSESSING THE GENETIC VALUE OF PURE-BRED

AND HYBRID BREEDING PIGS

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 437.10

METHODS FOR MONITORING PERFORMANCE

AND ASSESSING THE GENETIC VALUE OF PURE-

BRED AND HYBRID BREEDING PIGS

REGULATIONS *

7th October, 2003

LEGAL NOTICE 288 of 2003.

(1) The title of these regulations is the Methods for

Monitoring Performance and Assessing the Genetic Value of Pure-

Bred and Hybrid Breeding Pigs Regulations.

(2) The scope of these regulations is to implement the

provisions found under European Union Commission Decision 89/

507/EEC laying down methods for monitoring performance and

assessing the genetic value of pure-bred and hybrid breeding pigs

which in turn has a legal basis under article 6(a) and 10(a) of

European Union Council Directive 88/661/EEC.

The genetic m erit of a porcine animal may be calculated using one or a

combination of the following methods. All the data accruing from the test results

must be accessible to the competent authority. The final results must be accessible.

1. Performance testing

(1) Performance testing on a station

(a) The name of the body or of the authority responsible for the

station and the name of the competent authority for the

calculation and publication of the results are to be given.

(b) The design of the test is to be stated.

(c) The following items are to be clearly stated

(i) conditions for acceptance into the station and in particular

maximum age of young breeding animals at the start of the

test;

(ii) length of the test period in the station;

(iii) type of diet and system of feeding.

(d) The traits recorded (for example live-weight, feed conversion,

estimator of the body composition or any other relevant data)

shall be stated.

(e) The method used for estimating genetic merit must be

scientifically acceptable according to established zootechnical

principles.

The genetic merit of a tested breeding animal must be stated as a

breeding value or contemporary comparison for each trait.

(2) Performance testing on a farm

A performance test may be carried out on a farm providing that at the

end of the test a breeding value can be calculated following established

zootechnical principles.

2. Progeny and, or collaterals testing

(a) The name of the body or of the authority responsible for the testing and

the name of the competent authority for the calculation and publication

of the results are to be given.

(b) The genetic merit of the breeding animal is to be calculated by assessing

the qualities of a suitable number of progeny and, or collaterals in

relation to production characteristics -

(i) a detailed description of the test method must be given or quoted,

(ii) the progeny and, or the collaterals may not be selectively treated,

(iii) three types of progeny and, or collaterals tests are to be

recognised -

(1) central testing in progeny and, or collaterals testing station;

(2) planned progeny and, or collateral testing in a farm. The

progeny and, or the collaterals should be distributed amongst

herds in such a way that a valid comparison between

breeding animals is possible;

(3) data collected on identified progeny and, or collateral

carcases.

METHODS FOR MONITORING PERFORMANCE AND

ASSESSING THE GENETIC VALUE OF PURE-BRED

AND HYBRID BREEDING PIGS

(c) The progeny and, or collaterals must be chosen in an unbiased manner.

All relevant data must be used in assessing the breeding value of the

breeding animals. Influences other than the genetic merit must be

eliminated by appropriate procedures in the determination of the

breeding value.

(d) The traits recorded (for example live-weight gain, feed conversion,

carcass-quality, reproduction characteristics, fertility, prolificity,

viability of the progeny and, or collaterals or any other relevant data)

must be stated.

(e) The method used for estimating genetic merit must be scientifically

acceptable according to established zootechnical principles.

The performance monitoring methods and the methods for

assessing the genetic value of pure-bred and hybrid breeding pigs

shall be those laid down in the Schedule.

*These Regulations have been repealed by Legal Notice 11 of 2024.

METHODS FOR MONITORING PERFORMANCE AND

ASSESSING THE GENETIC VALUE OF PURE-BRED

AND HYBRID BREEDING PIGS

Contemporaries testing for the breeding animals of hybrid lines The

conditions applicable to the progeny and, or the collaterals, defined in paragraph

2(a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) of this Schedule are to apply mutatis mutandis to

contemporaries of breeding animals of hybrid lines.