Hudman, Donald B.

Tanksley, Jr., T. D.

Texas A&amp;M Repository

L-728Crossbreeding for Commercial Pork ProductionT. D. Tanksley, Jr. and Donald B. Hudman**Regional Swine Breeding Laboratory and Iowa State Universitydata.Table 1. Advantages of crossbreeding in commercial porkproduction*BREEDS TO USEOverall performance from crossbreeding comesfrom two sources. One is the hybrid vigor obtainedin certain traits, and the other is combining goodpoints of different breeds in the crossbred offspring.The basic goal in a commercial operation is toproduce large litters of fast-growing, efficient,muscular market hogs. In choosing breeds, con-sider the ability of selected individuals to contributethe following:1. Sow productivityLarge number of pigs farrowed and weaned,good milking ability, desirable temperament2. Rapid and efficient growth3. MeatinessWell-muscled, correctly finished market hogswith a high lean-to-fat ratioFirst cross Multiple crosses(between two breeds)12%none20%40%12%Sows crossbred,boars purebredAdvantage overpurebred pigsnone22%Sows purebred,boars purebredAdvantage overpurebred pigsnone(because sows arepurebred)7%(better survival ofpigs born)12%Negligible to slight(other than that due to correlation with gain)Litter sizeNo. weanedTraitNo. bornPig weight at154 daysLitter weight at154 daysEfficiencyof gainMeatiness·Extension animal husbandmen, Texas A&M University.Records from the Regional Swine BreedingLaboratory and the cooperating state sub-stationsduring the last 40 years indicate that a plannedcrossbreeding program yields increased productionefficiency.The mating of individuals from different breedsproduces "heterosis" or "hybrid vigor," a conditionin which offspring are superior in certain traits tothe average of their parents. The greater the geneticdifference in the parents, the greater the hybridvigor. In a swine crossbreeding program, heterosisresults in stronger pigs at birth) faster growth andmore pigs farrowed and weaned by the crossbreddarn. Heterosis gives little or no improvement infeed efficiency and carcass merit. These traits mustbe improved through selection of superior parents.The relative performance of purebreds, firstcrosses and multiple crosses is given in Table 1.All differences in the first cross (cross between twopurebreds) are because of better livability and fastergrowth of crossbred pigs. Additional advantagesin later crosses are gained because crossbred mothersfarrow larger litters and make better mothers. Thecrossbred sow contributes over half the increasedperformance gained through heterosis.For full benefits of crossbreeding, follow anaggressive, systematic program in selecting crossbredreplacement gilts and purebred boars. A purebredboar should provide uniform germ plasm to hisoffspring, and using purebred boars allows a pro-ducer to bring the strong points of different breedsinto his program. Rapid-growing, muscular boarsfrom strains with proven performance and carcassdata are the key to a successful crossbreeding pro-gram. Any breeding program, including cross-breeding, will improve through use of superioranimals identified through on-the-farm testing,breed certification and litter testing programs.34.1Texas A&M University • Agricultural Extension Service • John E. Hutchison, Director • College StationBoar SelectionBoars must meet strict requirements. Manybreeders participate in testing programs (on-the-farm testing, breed certification and test stationevaluation) designed to identify families with highperformance. Production and carcass records fromsuch programs are useful in selecting the "best."Selection standards for boars are these:1. Litter size from a large litter and a sow with proven milkingand mothering ability.2. Nipples no less than 12, well-spaced, not inverted orabnormal.3. Growth rate 220 pounds or more at 154 days.4. Backfat probe at 200 pounds 1.0 inch or less, preferably under .8 inch.5. Feed efficiency .less than 300 pounds per hundredweight gain(measured from 60-200 pounds).6. Feet and legs Moderate leg length, heavy bone, sound.7. Conformation Muscular shoulder and ham, long-rumped, goodlength and balance.8. Carcass cut-out on littermates or pigs sired by the same boar:a. Percent lean cuts, percent of carcass 63 percent or moreb. Ham and loin, percent of carcass .44 percent or morec. Backfat thickness 1.2 inches or lessd. Loin-eye area 5.0 inches or moree. Carcass length 29 inches or moreEnvironment, level of feeding, sex and seasonof year influence animal performance. One of themost overlooked factors is sex. Table 2 showsdifferences in full brothers and sisters at the OhioSwine Evaluation Station. Review these recordscarefully and consider these "built-in" sex differ-ences when evaluatiing records.SUMMARYTable 2. Records of full brothers and sisters under the samemanagement program**Ohio Swine Evaluation Station.BackfatLengthLoin-eye areaPercent lean cuts per carcassAge in days at 200 poundsFeed per 100 pounds gainBoar1.330.54.553.0150.0300.5Gilt1.530.24.051.3167.0338.0Barrow1.629.83.549.0160.0346.5Crossbreeding results in:• Larger litters farrowed• Larger litters weaned• Faster growth rateCrossbreds are no better in meatiness andfeed efficiency than the parents selected.Selection and use of good purebred boars isa most important factor in a successfulcrossing program.Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, Texas A&M University and United States Department ofAgriculture cooperating. Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8, 1914, as amended, and June 30, 1914.10M-3-68

Crossbreeding for Commercial Pork Production.

Texas A&M University

L-728
Crossbreeding for Commercial Pork Production
T. D. Tanksley, Jr. and Donald B. Hudman*
*Regional Swine Breeding Laboratory and Iowa State University
data.
Table 1. Advantages of crossbreeding in commercial pork
production*
BREEDS TO USE
Overall performance from crossbreeding comes
from two sources. One is the hybrid vigor obtained
in certain traits, and the other is combining good
points of different breeds in the crossbred offspring.
The basic goal in a commercial operation is to
produce large litters of fast-growing, efficient,
muscular market hogs. In choosing breeds, con-
sider the ability of selected individuals to contribute
the following:
1. Sow productivity
Large number of pigs farrowed and weaned,
good milking ability, desirable temperament
2. Rapid and efficient growth
3. Meatiness
Well-muscled, correctly finished market hogs
with a high lean-to-fat ratio
First cross Multiple crosses
(between two breeds)
12%
none
20%
40%
12%
Sows crossbred,
boars purebred
Advantage over
purebred pigs
none
22%
Sows purebred,
boars purebred
Advantage over
purebred pigs
none
(because sows are
purebred)
7%
(better survival of
pigs born)
12%
Negligible to slight
(other than that due to correlation with gain)
Litter size
No. weaned
Trait
No. born
Pig weight at
154 days
Litter weight at
154 days
Efficiency
of gain
Meatiness
·Extension animal husbandmen, Texas A&M University.
Records from the Regional Swine Breeding
Laboratory and the cooperating state sub-stations
during the last 40 years indicate that a planned
crossbreeding program yields increased production
efficiency.
The mating of individuals from different breeds
produces "heterosis" or "hybrid vigor," a condition
in which offspring are superior in certain traits to
the average of their parents. The greater the genetic
difference in the parents, the greater the hybrid
vigor. In a swine crossbreeding program, heterosis
results in stronger pigs at birth) faster growth and
more pigs farrowed and weaned by the crossbred
darn. Heterosis gives little or no improvement in
feed efficiency and carcass merit. These traits must
be improved through selection of superior parents.
The relative performance of purebreds, first
crosses and multiple crosses is given in Table 1.
All differences in the first cross (cross between two
purebreds) are because of better livability and faster
growth of crossbred pigs. Additional advantages
in later crosses are gained because crossbred mothers
farrow larger litters and make better mothers. The
crossbred sow contributes over half the increased
performance gained through heterosis.
For full benefits of crossbreeding, follow an
aggressive, systematic program in selecting crossbred
replacement gilts and purebred boars. A purebred
boar should provide uniform germ plasm to his
offspring, and using purebred boars allows a pro-
ducer to bring the strong points of different breeds
into his program. Rapid-growing, muscular boars
from strains with proven performance and carcass
data are the key to a successful crossbreeding pro-
gram. Any breeding program, including cross-
breeding, will improve through use of superior
animals identified through on-the-farm testing,
breed certification and litter testing programs.
34.1
Texas A&M University • Agricultural Extension Service • John E. Hutchison, Director • College Station

Boar Selection
Boars must meet strict requirements. Many
breeders participate in testing programs (on-the-
farm testing, breed certification and test station
evaluation) designed to identify families with high
performance. Production and carcass records from
such programs are useful in selecting the "best."
Selection standards for boars are these:
1. Litter size from a large litter and a sow with proven milking
and mothering ability.
2. Nipples no less than 12, well-spaced, not inverted or
abnormal.
3. Growth rate 220 pounds or more at 154 days.
4. Backfat probe at 200 pounds 1.0 inch or less, preferably under .8 inch.
5. Feed efficiency .less than 300 pounds per hundredweight gain
(measured from 60-200 pounds).
6. Feet and legs Moderate leg length, heavy bone, sound.
7. Conformation Muscular shoulder and ham, long-rumped, good
length and balance.
8. Carcass cut-out on littermates or pigs sired by the same boar:
a. Percent lean cuts, percent of carcass 63 percent or more
b. Ham and loin, percent of carcass .44 percent or more
c. Backfat thickness 1.2 inches or less
d. Loin-eye area 5.0 inches or more
e. Carcass length 29 inches or more
Environment, level of feeding, sex and season
of year influence animal performance. One of the
most overlooked factors is sex. Table 2 shows
differences in full brothers and sisters at the Ohio
Swine Evaluation Station. Review these records
carefully and consider these "built-in" sex differ-
ences when evaluatiing records.
SUMMARY
Table 2. Records of full brothers and sisters under the same
management program*
*Ohio Swine Evaluation Station.
Backfat
Length
Loin-eye area
Percent lean cuts per carcass
Age in days at 200 pounds
Feed per 100 pounds gain
Boar
1.3
30.5
4.5
53.0
150.0
300.5
Gilt
1.5
30.2
4.0
51.3
167.0
338.0
Barrow
1.6
29.8
3.5
49.0
160.0
346.5
Crossbreeding results in:
• Larger litters farrowed
• Larger litters weaned
• Faster growth rate
Crossbreds are no better in meatiness and
feed efficiency than the parents selected.
Selection and use of good purebred boars is
a most important factor in a successful
crossing program.
Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, Texas A&M University and United States Department of
Agriculture cooperating. Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8, 1914, as amended, and June 30, 1914.
10M-3-68


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Crossbreeding for Commercial Pork Production.

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Crossbreeding for Commercial Pork Production.

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