Results for both age and backfat were similar in other Canadian breeds. Litter size does not respond to selection as readily as backfat or even growth rate. In addition, EBVs for litter size have not been available until fairly recently. This trend is particularly encouraging since it demonstrates that selection for production traits has not negatively affected litter size. The Canadian genetic improvement system has paid off and is continuing to do so.
Selection is a good investment.
During the last two years, national standards have been established for the recording of carcass and meat quality measurements, in support of the various programs developing in this area. Core measurements for meat quality include marbling score, structure score, colour score, fat hardness score and muscle pH. Other measurements for which standards are available are drip loss, loin colour, tenderness and iodine number. Core measurements for carcass quality include estimated lean yield, depth of loin muscle, depth of loin fat, carcass length and carcass weight. Other measurements of carcass quality are weight of loin, loin area, weight of ham, belly thickness and complete carcass cut out. There are a number of projects on-going in Canada in the meat and carcass quality area.