Location: Livestock Behavior Research
Project Number: 5020-32000-014-077-R
Project Type: Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jul 1, 2023
End Date: Jun 30, 2026
Objective:
The objective is to evaluate the interactions between the genome, microbiome, and metabolome in order to select sows that are more resistant to producing offspring that suffer from negative in utero heat stress phenotypes.
Approach:
We will evaluate transgenerational microbiome changes in offspring that are predicted to be at high or low risk of displaying phenotypes associated with in utero heat stress. Replacement gilts that are genomically predicted to be at high and low risk of producing offspring that will suffer from in utero heat stress phenotypes will be bred to sires that are considered heat sensitive or heat tolerant. It is expected that their offspring will be more or less likely to display in utero heat stress phenotypes. The replacement gilts and their offspring will be genotyped, phenotyped, and microbiome data will be collected and evaluated as biomarkers for breeding selection to develop swine that are more resilient to the negative effects of climate change thereby improving swine health, performance, and welfare under heat stress conditions.
