Genetic parameters of cross‐ and purebred poultry

Heritabilities were estimated from sire and dam components for egg production traits in four generations of two pure‐lines and their reciprocal crosses. Heritabilities in cross‐breds, as estimated from the sire components of variance, were larger than in pure‐breds for production and sexual maturity. Heritabilities estimated from dam components were larger than the sire estimates, thus indicating the presence of maternal and/or dominance effects. Again, heritabilities in cross‐breds were larger than in pure‐breds for production and sexual maturity as well as for specific gravity. Heritabilities were also estimated for disease traits in material from one generation. Cross‐line values were as large or larger than those estimated from pure‐lines but the standard errors of the estimates were quite large.

Genetic correlations were estimated between pure‐line and cross‐line performance using both sire and dam covariances. These approached unity for body weight, egg quality traits and adult mortality but were considerably less than unity for production, sexual maturity, blood spots and mortality during growth and mortality due to Marek's disease.

The possible bias due to genotype x environment interaction is discussed and it is concluded that such a bias, if present, is small, and that in spite of possible G × E interaction effect the genetic correlations between pure‐line and cross‐line performance for production and sexual maturity are less than one. The same holds true of mortality during growth and to Marek's disease although these estimates are much less precise.

The genetic correlation between pure‐breds and cross‐breds appears to decrease over the span of the five generations.

Use of cross‐line performance will permit more efficient selection for traits when the genetic correlations are much less than one.