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An experiment with crossbred swine was conducted over six generations of selection based on an index (Index) of average daily gain in weight (ADG) in a test period from 56 d of age to 91 kg gross weight and average backfat thickness (ABF) measured from ultrasonic scans at 91 kg. Test pigs of the high protein select (HS) and control (HC) lines were fed a 24% crude protein (CP) diet and pigs of the low protein select (LS) and control (LC) lines were fed a 12% CP diet during the test period. The extent of genetic (selection line) x environmental (dietary) interaction effects was determined based on feeding closely related boars and gilts from both the HS and LS lines on both diets. Tests were conducted in 1986 and 1987 with progeny of the fifth and sixth generations of selection. Records for 472 pigs sired by 37 boars and out of 101 dams were analyzed for effects of selection and diets on AGE of pig at 91 kg, ADG, ABF, LMA (longissimus muscle area at the last rib) and Index. Statistically significant interactions effects of line x diet were noted (P less than .01) for AGE, ADG and Index, traits with low to moderate heritabilities (h2). For ABF and LMA, body composition traits with moderate or higher h2, interaction effects of line x diet were near zero. These results suggest that for best all-around future performance, traits such as AGE and ADG, selection probably should be practiced under dietary conditions under which future populations will be produced. For body composition traits such as ABF and LMA, selection probably would be more effective if pigs were fed a more enriched protein diet. However, as a practical matter, to more rapidly improve the genetic merit of the swine population, both the central station and on-the-farm testing programs should be conducted under standard commercial production systems.

Purebred Duroc and Yorkshire boars and gilts, farrowed in spring litters from 1974 through 1982 and in fall litters from 1974 through 1978, were maintained as closed select and control lines descended from the same base population. Spring-farrowed pigs were selected mainly on an index of sow productivity traits, whereas selection among fall-farrowed pigs was mainly on an index of pig performance traits. Basic traits analyzed were age of pig at 91 kg, postweaning average daily gain in weight, average backfat thickness (ABF) and longissimus muscle area (LMA), with ABF and LMA measured from ultrasonic scans at 91 kg. Also analyzed were estimated weight of trimmed wholesale lean cuts at 91 kg live weight and lean cuts growth rate from birth to 91 kg. Standardized selection differentials indicated that no significant selection pressure was applied to the four basic traits in the population. A nested analysis of variance of intraclass correlations among paternal half-sib families was computed with 1,930 gilt records, providing estimates of heritabilities and genetic and phenotypic correlations among the six traits. Also, estimates were computed for the portion of total phenotypic variance due to maternal-related covariances among littermates and the portion due to random environmental variances among individuals. In addition, estimates of the population parameters were computed from regressions of boars and gilts on sires, dams and mid-parental values with 974 boar and 1,686 gilt deviation records. Composite parameter estimates were then computed from the separate values weighted by the inverse of their standard errors.