The Genetics of Thermoregulation in Pigs: A Review

Heat stress (HS) affects pig performance, health and welfare, resulting in a financial burden to the pig industry. Pigs have a limited number of functional sweat glands and their thermoregulatory mechanisms used to maintain body temperature, are challenged by HS to maintain body temperature. The gen...

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Published inFrontiers in veterinary science Vol. 8; p. 770480
Main Authors Gourdine, Jean-Luc, Rauw, Wendy Mercedes, Gilbert, Hélène, Poullet, Nausicaa
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Switzerland Frontiers Media 13.12.2021
Frontiers Media S.A
Subjects
genetics
heat stress
Life Sciences
pig
selection
thermoregulation
Veterinary Science
heat stress
genetics
selection
thermoregulation
pig
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Summary:Heat stress (HS) affects pig performance, health and welfare, resulting in a financial burden to the pig industry. Pigs have a limited number of functional sweat glands and their thermoregulatory mechanisms used to maintain body temperature, are challenged by HS to maintain body temperature. The genetic selection of genotypes tolerant to HS is a promising long-term (adaptation) option that could be combined with other measures at the production system level. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the genetics of thermoregulation in pigs. It also discusses the different phenotypes that can be used in genetic studies, as well as the variability in thermoregulation between pig breeds and the inheritance of traits related to thermoregulation. This review also considers on-going challenges to face for improving heat tolerance in pigs.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-2
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PMCID: PMC8711629
Edited by: Angela Maree Lees, University of New England, Australia
Reviewed by: Yachun Wang, China Agricultural University, China; John Gaughan, The University of Queensland, Australia
This article was submitted to Livestock Genomics, a section of the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science
ISSN:2297-1769
2297-1769
DOI:10.3389/fvets.2021.770480