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I agree that "Hybrid Vigor" is well documented and can improve traits for a generation of a given line. But its also the battle cry of breeders that ended up with poor examples of what ever they were raising. There are many causes. Most often a lack of funds, facilities, focus, or knowledge.... But for one reason or another, Its a breeder, that made the stock what is or is not. We have all personally seen it in rabbits, dogs, chicken and quail just to name a few.... Instead of taking the time to work within a given breed. Maintaining genetic diversity. Bringing in different lines of the same breed. And working toward specific goals. The same stock is bred, or most often, allowed to breed in one big pen. Till the off spring start to get smaller, show joint problems and become less fertile. Then a out cross is made and BAM. The resulting mutts are bigger and now breed well again. Its easy to proclaim that the out cross of another breed saved the day. Well thats not exactly what happened..... The "breeder" has actually started with poor stock in the first place or beat down the genetics of his line till it was so depressed the line shared too much of the same DNA. If If unrelated stock of the same breed had been introduced. The same improvements could have been seen. I say if you start with good stock. Maintain genetic diversity with a large enough pool of stock. And aggressively cull for defects or undesired traits. You can maintain a pure line that is as "healthy" as any line of hybrids, that will always breed true. Im absolutely not saying any of this pertains to you. But is often the case when a pure line becomes less productive or shows unhealthy traits.....
