Data on osteochondrosis and femur dimensions from 195 F2 pigs from a wild boar × Large White
intercross were analysed with the aim of detecting quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for normal and
disturbed bone formation. The information from numerous recorded traits was summarized by
principal component analysis and analysed by least-squares interval mapping. An increase in the
proportion of wild boar alleles across the genome increased length versus width of femur and
reduced the prevalence of osteochondrosis. The presence of QTLs with an impact on femur
dimensions was indicated on chromosomes 2, 4, 16 and 17 and on osteochondrosis on
chromosomes 5, 13 and 15. A substantial effect of the chromosome 5 QTL calls for further studies
within commercial populations to evaluate whether marker-assisted selection could be used to
reduce the prevalence of osteochondrosis.