Genomic selection in pigs: State of the art and perspectives.

Genomic selection, that is based on the prediction of the breeding value (the genomic breeding value or GEBV) of the animals considering genomic information, is changing breeding strategies and approaches in dairy cattle and in several other livestock species. The starting points for the application of genomic selection in pigs were the development of a first commercial single-nucleotide polymorphism panel for high throughput genotyping, the sequencing of the pig genome and the application of statistical and methodological approaches first developed in dairy cattle and then adapted to the peculiarities of the pig breeding industry. In this review, we focused on the specific applications of the genomic selection in pigs, considering its limits, its advantages and its perspectives throughout an analysis of the simulation studies and field applications already available targeting many different traits (with high and low heritability). In addition, we presented an overview of the problems related to the implementation of genomic selection in crossbred and multi-breed pig populations and the potential solutions taking into account the economic aspects that should be faced in including genomic selection in pig breeding programmes.