Department of Animal Science
Date of this Version
January 1981
Abstract
Duroc, Hampshire and Yorkshire boars were mated with crossbred gilts of Duroc-Hampshire, Duroc-Yorkshire and Hampshire-Yorkshire breeding to produce 133 three-breed and 259 backcross litters that were farrowed during four seasons beginning in the fall of 1975. Threebreed cross litters were .31 ± .27, .57 ± .24 and .50 ± .24 pigs larger than backcross litters at birth, 21 and 42 days, respectively, and .6 ± .34, 2.3 ± 1.2 and 5.4 ± 2.4 kg heavier at these ages. The differences in average pig weight and survival percentage were small. Three-breed cross litters gained faster (.024 ± .007 kg/day) and were younger (-4.7 ± 1.5 days) at 100 kilograms. Three-breed cross pigs were about 3% more efficient than backcross pigs. The differences in average backfat probe and average daily feed intake were small and not significant. Breed of sire contrasts for litter traits were small and not significant. However, significant differences between sire breeds existed for post-weaning performance. Also, few differences between crossbred dam groups were significant for litter size or litter weight, but significant differences in post-weaning performance existed between progeny of crossbred dam groups. In general, pigs with Duroc breeding had the fastest growth rate and those with Hampshire breeding were the leanest.
Comments
Published in JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE, VoL 52, No. 1, 1981. Copyright American Society of Animal Science. Used by permission.