Performance of Duroc and Yorkshire boars and gilts and reciprocal breed crosses

Analyses of variance were computed for records on growth and body composition traits made in 1983 by 255 boars and gilts in selected and control lines of Durocs and Yorkshires and their reciprocal crossbreds. Previous selection over a period of several generations was mainly on an index of sow productivity including preweaning litter sizes and weight. Animals in the select lines were selected for high index values; animals in the control lines were selected to average near the mean index values of that year and line. Breeding animals in all four lines during that period were basically randomly selected with regard to growth rate or body composition traits. The same boars sired both purebred and crossbred litters in 1983. Traits analyzed were average daily gain (ADG) during a standard test period from 56 d of age to 90.7 kg and average backfat thickness (ABF) and longissimus muscle area (LMA) from ultrasonic scans at 90.7 kg. Crossbred pigs had greater (P less than .01) ADG than purebred pigs, but did not differ (P greater than .05) in ABF or LMA. Heterosis was 8.2% for ADG. Crossbreds with Yorkshire dams had thinner (P less than .01) ABF and larger (P less than .01) LMA than crossbreds with Duroc dams. Boars had greater (P less than .05) ADG, thinner (P less than .01) ABF and smaller (P less than .01) LMA than gilts. Correlations between 38 half-sib family averages of purebred and crossbred pigs of the same sex and the same sires were .07, .37 and .24 for ADG, ABF and LMA, respectively. Implications of the above and additional findings for swine breeding strategies are discussed.