The maternal effects on size at birth and weaning in Landrace-Native pig crosses

Abstract

Reciprocal matings between large, improved Swedish Landrace and small, primitive South African Native pigs produced strong evidence of a maternal effect at birth. However, compared with purebred Landrace piglets, the crossbred offspring out of large dams weighed less; conversely, compared with purebred Native piglets, the crossbred offspring out of small dams were heavier at birth. Differences between the various mean weights were all statistically significant. At weaning (eight weeks of age), the weights of crossbred pigs out of large Landrace sows equalled those of purebred Landrace pigs. Crossbred pigs out of Native-pig sows occupied an intermediate position between the above-mentioned and purebred Native pigs. The differences between the latter group means remained significant statistically.