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Heterosis For Litter Traits In Native By Exotic Inbred Pig Crosses
Abstract
Inbred strains generated from native and exotic pigs were compared with their F1 and F2 backcross populations for a range of litter performance traits. Animals were intensively reared and at 81/2 months of age, the inbred genotypes from each strain were reciprocally mated to each other to
generate F1 crossbred genotypes; while gilts from each crossbred group were backcrossed to their male parents to obtain four backcross progeny groups. Results of the study showed that the litter performances were better in the crossbred groups than in the inbred parents and this improvement could be ascribed to the dominant genes from the exotic parents. Significant (P<0.05) heterosis was obtained in the crossbreds in most of the traits like prolificacy, nursing ability, sex-ratio, litter weight
and gestation length. The heterosis observed in the litter traits was low and mostly non- significant. The backcross groups recorded residual heterosis in the litter traits monitored and the magnitude was higher in the exotic than in the native backcrosses. The results further indicate that the litter traits performance of the crossbred groups were mostly influenced by maternal, sex-linked, dominance and epistatic gene actions. It could be suggested that the litter traits of the native pig could be improved by cross-mating selected native and exotic backcross pigs. This could be followed by criss -crossing before group selection.
generate F1 crossbred genotypes; while gilts from each crossbred group were backcrossed to their male parents to obtain four backcross progeny groups. Results of the study showed that the litter performances were better in the crossbred groups than in the inbred parents and this improvement could be ascribed to the dominant genes from the exotic parents. Significant (P<0.05) heterosis was obtained in the crossbreds in most of the traits like prolificacy, nursing ability, sex-ratio, litter weight
and gestation length. The heterosis observed in the litter traits was low and mostly non- significant. The backcross groups recorded residual heterosis in the litter traits monitored and the magnitude was higher in the exotic than in the native backcrosses. The results further indicate that the litter traits performance of the crossbred groups were mostly influenced by maternal, sex-linked, dominance and epistatic gene actions. It could be suggested that the litter traits of the native pig could be improved by cross-mating selected native and exotic backcross pigs. This could be followed by criss -crossing before group selection.
