Genetic analysis of protein efficiency and its association with performance and meat quality traits under a protein-restricted diet.

PE is a heritable trait that can be considered in breeding programs to reduce the environmental impact of pig production. We found no strong negative correlation of PE with meat quality traits, and that there is potential to indirectly select for improved phosphorus efficiency. Selecting nutrient efficiencies might be a more suitable strategy to reduce nitrogen pollution from manure than focusing on FCR because the latter also shows genetic antagonism with some meat quality traits in our population.