Food efficiency in pure strains and hybrids of laying hens analysed in a diallel cross - III. Direct, heterosis and maternal effects on food consumption and adjusted food consumption.
Ut. Brenoe et K. Kolstad, Food efficiency in pure strains and hybrids of laying hens analysed in a diallel cross - III. Direct, heterosis and maternal effects on food consumption and adjusted food consumption., ACT AG SC A, 51(2), 2001, pp. 129-133
Direct effect, maternal effect and heterosis on food consumption and food c
onsumption adjusted for live weight, egg production and weight gain is anal
ysed in a 4 x 4 diallel cross including 576 laying hens. Heterosis is divid
ed into average-, strain- and specific heterosis and residual reciprocal ef
fect. Significant differences were found between strains in direct genetic
effect on food consumption and adjusted food consumption. There was a signi
ficant maternal effect on food consumption, but not on adjusted food consum
ption. Average heterosis was positive and significantly different from zero
in both food consumption and adjusted food consumption. Some strains showe
d significant differences in strain heterosis. Specific heterosis and resid
ual reciprocal effect have small effect on both food consumption and adjust
ed food consumption.