Estimates of Crossbreeding Parameters for Growth and Conformation Traits in Nigerian Indigenous and Exotic Pig Breeds

Abstract

Abstract. Information on the crossbreeding parameter estimates involving Nigerian Indigenous pigs and exotic breeds are rare, as well as the best combination for improved growth and conformation traits. A 3×3 diallel cross was conducted among three breeds of pigs -Large White (WW), Landrace (RR) and Nigerian Indigenous pig (NN) breeds. Growth traits measured were body weight at birth (BWB), weaning (BWW at 6 weeks), maturity of 20 weeks (BW20) and average daily gain (ADG up to 20 weeks), while conformation traits were heart girth (HG), height-at-withers (HW), and body length (BL) all at 20 weeks of age. Significant heterotic and maternal effects were reported for BWW, BW20 and ADG. Also significant specific heterosis was recorded only for BW20, with no significant reciprocal effect for the other growth traits measured. Significant heterotic effects for HG and BL were also recorded, while maternal effect was significant only for BL. Significant specific heterosis was recorded for HG, while reciprocal effect was significant only for HW and B. This implies that for growth traits, RR, WW and NN breeds had the best combining ability for BWW, BW20 and ADG respectively with a high positive average heterosis of 0.06, 2.53 and 1.58. This shows that NN breed could elicit attractive economic and environmental benefits when crossbred with exotic ones, in terms of growth traits, as shown by the significant crossbreeding parameter values reported.

Partial diallel cross for assessing genetic merit of local rabbit breed

“…GCA for LS 0, LS 42, and MR 42 of Local breed was similar to that of Flemish Giant, but higher than that of Rex. The breed with the greatest GCA expected would give larger LS (Okoro and Mbajiorgu, 2017). The higher GCA indicated that Local breed would have a larger litter size at birth.…”

Diallel Crossing in Farm Animals and Poultry: A Review

“…Kurnianto et al, (2010) in analysis of partial diallel cross among Duroc, Yorkshire and Landrace, had observed highest GCA in Duroc breed for traits such as litter size/weight at birth, number of nipples, litter size/weight at weaning, average daily gain before/after weaning and body weight at 42 days of age as compared to Yorkshire and Landrace. Similarly, Okoro and Mbajiorgu (2017b) had also observed significant GCA effects for growth and body weight gain traits up to 20 weeks of age among Large white, Landrace and Nigerian indigenous breeds of pig.…”

“…length of ear, tail, snout and body, heart girth, snout circumference and height at withers among Indigenous Nigerian (IN), large white (LW) and landrace breeds. However, Okoro and Mbajiorgu (2017b) had reported no such effects for growth and reproductive traits.…”

“…Females of some species in general and some breeds in particular of different livestock are good mothers while others are poor, and this variability has a genetic basis (Fleming and Kraemer, 2019). The significant maternal effects was observed by Okoro and Mbajiorgu (2017b) for body weight gain (BWW and BW20) and average daily weight gain (ADG) traits, which was in accordance with Gonzalez-pena et al, (2015) where they observed significant maternal effects for average daily gain, back fat thickness, feed efficiency and carcass lean percent due to semen traits. Similarly, Hsu and Johnson (2015) in large white breed also reported such significant maternal effects on body weight at 180 days (WT180), longissimus muscle area (LMA) and back fat thickness (BF10) traits.…”