Publication Date:
1951-07-01
Description:
Mating Wessex Saddleback with Gloucester Old Spot pigs shows clearly that the former are of the three genotypes expected if the belt pattern is primarily determined by a single dominant gene (Be). Breeding tests and measurements of belt width agree in showing that homozygotes tend to have medium to wide belts, heterozygotes tend to have medium, narrow or broken belts, while pigs homozygous for the recessive are black. Crosses of Wessex with black-spotted pigs produce black piglings with or without wide symmetrical belts depending on the genotype of the Wessex parents.Selection of breeding pigs with narrow belts maintains a high incidence of recessive blacks. Solid blacks which are nevertheless genetically belted may occur, but if so their numbers are likely to be very small.Evidence is given which suggests that pigmentation in the skin and hair of Wessex × Large White pigs is much reduced if the Large White parents have blue eyes.
Print ISSN:
0021-8596
Electronic ISSN:
1469-5146
Topics:
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
