SELECTION VALUE OF MATING PERFORMANCE TRAITS IN BOARS

The suitability of mating performance traits (farrowing rate, litter s ize and weight at birth in A.I. boars for use as selection criteria wa s studied on the basis of performance data received from breeding esta blishments and own experiments. The trait ''live-born farrows per 100 first inseminations'' proved to be a suitable breeding value estimatio n criterion for both boars and sows since it has a beneficial effect o n both the insemination success of the boars and the litter performanc e of their daughters (breeding sows). The estimation of the breeding v alue is sufficiently accurate and the optimal use of the trait in an i ndex or by BLUP for boar and sow selection appears meaningful if at le ast 80 matings per A. I. boar are available.