An Intermediate Option: Limited Cross-Breeding

10.9.2 An Intermediate Option: Limited Cross-Breeding Some livestock improvement projects limit the number of animals imported by breeding only a few imported animals to local animals. For example, an improved male pig will be placed in a region to breed many of the local female pigs. The offspring are called, “half-bloods,” that is, one-half foreign breed and one-half local breed. Half-bloods have the advantage of being adapted to local environment and also being more productive than the local animals.

Full blood (foreign breed) Full blood (local breed) Half blood As an alternative, the half-bloods can be bred back to one of the imported animals (one that is unrelated - to avoid inbreeding). The resulting offspring are then “three-quarter bloods”, in other words, three quarters foreign breed and one quarter local breed. This strategy has worked well in many livestock projects.