11.6.2 Three-way cross (2024)

Two-way cross females (F₁’s) are crossed to a purebred male of a third breed. For their offspring, the second generation in the cross, the notation F₂ is used. In this system, the full effect of heterosis in the crossbred dams (F₁) can be utilized.

Source: Breeding for profit, 2002. Editor J. Bertram, Department of Queensland, Australia. A special case of a three-way cross is the mating of female crossbreds to one of the sires of the parent breeds. This is known as a backcross. In the past in The Netherlands the backcross with the Landrace (NL) and the Dutch Large White (GY) was very popular. The Landrace sows were excellent mothers. The Dutch Large White was excellent in growth and carcass characteristics, but worse in maternal characteristics. The first cross gave excellent sows with a high litter size (due to the Landrace characteristics and the heterosis) and after the backcross a high number of piglets were born with excellent growth and carcasses.