Inbreeding and heterosis effects on quantitative traits in a White Leghorn population under long‐term reciprocal recurrent selection

Abstract

1. Inbreeding and heterosis effects for quantitative traits were estimated in two White Leghorn lines selected with reciprocal recurrent selection (RRS) since 1950.

2. Pedigreed progeny were produced from full‐sib, half‐sib and unrelated pure line as well as reciprocal cross line matings to estimate inbreeding and heterosis effects “within sires”.

3. Inbreeding effects estimated as linear regressions agreed well with estimates considering inbreeding as fixed effect. The inbreeding depression per 10% inbreeding was highest for hatchability (6–7%), intermediate for production‐related traits (3%), and about 1% for shell quality, body weight and egg weight.

4. Heterosis effects were estimated by comparing pure line and cross line progeny of the same sires.

5. Results indicate considerably less heterosis for egg production than found earlier, which is interpreted as a consequence of pure line selection.