Available technology allows pig breeding companies to automate feed intake recording during performance test. This provides data on ‘average daily feed intake’ as recorded with more traditional manual systems. It also results in feed intake curves, i.e. the relationship between ‘days on test’ and ‘daily feed intake’. This information can be used in different ways. The feed intake curve may be described using sophisticated linear or non-linear models; these may describe the feed intake curve accurately, but model parameters cannot be used easily in genetic/economic evaluation in the context of a breeding programme. A simple method to describe feed intake curves is used in this paper, allowing for easy interpretation of the results. The objective is to study the impact of existing selection procedures on the feed intake curve and the utilisation of variation in its shape in pig breeding.

Performance test data of 1331 boars of a Large White based line, collected from November 1990 to March 1993 were analysed. Boars are tested over a 12 week period, starting at approximately 30 kg. Feed intake data are recorded with the Hunday FIRE system.