OCCURRENCE OF ESCHERICHIA-COLI F4 RECEPTO RS IN SEVERAL PIG BREEDS INGERMANY AND INFLUENCE ON PARAMETERS OF REPRODUCTION AND FATTENING PERFORMANCE

E. coli F4 adhesion phenotypes were determined in several pig breeds i n Germany. Genotypes for the 3 different E. coli F4-variants F4ab, F4a c and F4ad were derived from predicted genotype probabilities. Five di fferent adhesion phenotypes (A, B, C, D, E) were found. Wild boar, Dur oc and Hampshire showed more resistant animals (30 to 75 %) in compari son with the German Landrace, Belgium Landrace, Pietrain and Deutsches Edelschwein breeds (9 to 14 %). Sows with the adhesion phenotype A or B or with the homozygous or heterozygous, susceptible F4ab- or F4ac-g enotype had significantly more live born piglets per litter. Fattening pigs without Mad-receptor showed a significantly higher daily gain In addition, animals without F4ab- or F4ac-receptor or with the adhesion phenotype E showed a significantly shorter fattening period.