Crossbreeding experiment with mixed semen of boars of different breeds

Authors

• Elsi Ettala Agricultural Research Centre, Department of Animal Husbandry

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23986/afsci.72957

Abstract

Sows of the Finnish Landrace and Yorkshire breeds (L and Y) were artificially inseminated with mixed semen of Finnish Landrace and Yorkshire boars. Purebred and crossbred progeny were identified by blood group testing. The pairs of boars were selected to be as identical as possible in regard to semen quality. Mixing of the two diluted semen fractions did not affect unfavourably the viability and motility of the sperm. Normal conception rates and litter sizes were obtained. The progeny fell into groups as follows: LL 34, YL 28, YY 24, and LY 20 piglets. The distribution, however, varied greatly within the various litters. One litter consisted merely of purebreds. The sires were successfully determined by blood group testing in 95 % of the Cases. The crossbred piglets grew very significantly (P < 0.001) faster than the purebreds. They also were more vital than the purebreds. In carcass characteristics the purebreds and crossbreds were either similar to each other or the crossbreds represented intermediate forms between the two parent races.