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Simulation Of Heterosis Effects On Costs Of Pork Production, G. L. Bennett, M. W. Tess, G. E. Dickerson, R. K. Johnson

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Individual plus maternal heterotic effects on swine production were simulated with a bioeconomic model by changing performance levels of eight traits: -8 d in age at puberty, +3% in conception rate, +.94 in pigs born/litter, +.035 kg in pig birth weight, +2.05 Mcal•sow^-1•d ^-1 in maximum milk output, +8% in preweaning survival, +10.8% in protein growth rate and +17.3% in fat growth rate. Associated heterosis simulated for other traits, such as weaning weights and postweaning gain/feed, was similar to experimental results. Effects of heterosis on biological (feed Mcal/kg) and economic ($/kg) costs were evaluated by simulating two- and …