Some optimum selection strategies and age structures with overlapping generations

1977 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. R. Hopkins ◽  
J. W. James

SUMMARYGenetic responses from selection strategies based on selection among all potential parents of the following year's crop were compared with those based on selection only within progeny crops. In the former group of strategies the duration of stay of an individual in the breeding herd is determined by the estimated breeding value of that individual, whereas in the classic model selected individuals of the same sex all remain in the breeding population for the same period. The former group of strategies, termed ‘parent selection’ strategies, were consistently superior in genetic response to the progeny selection strategies with a very large relative advantage under some conditions. The superiority of strategies that make more efficient use of genetic differences between own or parental age was greater among parent selection strategies than among progeny selection strategies. Similarly, increases in female to male mating ratios, fertility and survival rate generally resulted in larger increases i n genetic response in the more efficient strategies. The effect of changes in number of male and female age groups differs markedly between strategies.

1979 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. R. Hopkins ◽  
J. W. James

ABSTRACTRecurrence relationships are used to relate breeding values of age-sex classes from different time periods. Their application to single-stage (progeny) and multi-stage (parent) selection is demonstrated. These relationships enable definition of the effect of age structure, initial genetic differences between age groups, and the extent to which allowances are made for these or later genetic differences between age groups. The expressions derived show that, given initial genetic differences between age groups, subsequent progeny means will fluctuate even under completely random selection. Using these means as a basis for measuring responses to selection, it is shown that there can be selective effects where selection is at random within parental age classes. A careful definition of the alternative programme is therefore important in interpreting results of selection experiments and in investment appraisal of selection programmes.These models were then used to describe economic returns from parent and progeny selection programmes and from programmes in which returns are realized in more than one age group. A further extension of the model accommodates the effects of finite population size on returns through its effects on genetic variance.By separating the (constant) within- and (fluctuating) between-group components of the selection differential within the recurrence relationships a number of computational problems are overcome.


Author(s):  
N.V. SIVKIN ◽  
N.V. STREKOZOV ◽  
V.I. CHINAROV

В симментальской породе предусматривается разведение скота, сбалансировано сочетающего молочную и мясную продуктивность. Однако в практике совершенствования племенных стад в подборах быков доминируют улучшатели удоя, что во многом предопределяет результаты селекции и продуктивный тип животных. Объектом нашего исследования стало стадо чистопородного симментальского скота в условиях стойловой системы беспривязного и привязного содержания коров. Для изучения эффективности использования быков-производителей разного племенного достоинства сформировали 2 опытные группы: I состояла из бычков, полученных от отцов с племенной ценностью (ПЦ) по удою 100 кг и более, а во II с ПЦ от 0 до 100 кг молока. Симментальские бычки, отобранные для контрольного убоя, достигали весовых кондиций 500 кг и более в 17,5 мес при среднесуточном приросте 911 г. При использовании на маточном поголовье быков-производителей с улучшающим эффектом по удою 100 кг и более, их сыновья (I группа), на фоне более высоких суточных приростов (на 30 г) и раннем возрасте достижения живой массы 500 кг (на 18 дней) имели массу и выход туши на 21,4 кг и 2,7 ниже, чем у бычков II группы. При формировании молочно-мясного типа быки-производители с умеренной племенной ценностью по удою обеспечивали получение потомства, сочетающего молочную и мясную продуктивность в экономически значимых пропорциях.The Simmental breed provides for the breeding of cattle that combines milk and meat productivity in a balanced proportion. However, in the practice of improving breeding herds, the selection of bulls is dominated by milk yield improvers, which largely determines the results of selection and the productive type of animals. The object of our research was a breeding herd of purebred Simmental cattle in variety feeding and housing practices. To study the effectiveness of using bulls-producers of different breeding values, 2 experimental groups were formed: I consisted of bulls received from fathers with a breeding value (BV) of milk yield 100 kg or more, and II with a BV from 0 to 100 kg of milk. Simmental bulls selected for control slaughter reached weight standards of 500 kg or more in 17.5 months with an average daily increase of 911 g. When used on breeding of bulls with an improving effect on the yield of 100 kg or more, their sons (group I), against the background of higher daily gains (30 g) and an early age of reaching a live weight of 500 kg (18 days), had a mass and carcass yield of 21.4 kg and 2.7 lower than that of group II bulls. When forming a dairy-meat type, producing bulls with a moderate breeding value for milk yield provided for the production of offspring that combined dairy and meat productivity in economically significant proportions.


2014 ◽  
Vol 139 (3) ◽  
pp. 253-260
Author(s):  
Mark E. Herrington ◽  
Craig Hardner ◽  
Malcolm Wegener ◽  
Louella Woolcock ◽  
Mark J. Dieters

The Queensland strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa) breeding program in subtropical Australia aims to improve sustainable profitability for the producer. Selection must account for the relative economic importance of each trait and the genetic architecture underlying these traits in the breeding population. Our study used estimates of the influence of a trait on production costs and profitability to develop a profitability index (PI) and an economic weight (i.e., change in PI for a unit change in level of trait) for each trait. The economic weights were then combined with the breeding values for 12 plant and fruit traits on over 3000 genotypes that were represented in either the current breeding population or as progenitors in the pedigree of these individuals. The resulting linear combination (i.e., sum of economic weight × breeding value for all 12 traits) estimated the overall economic worth of each genotype as H, the aggregate economic genotype. H values were validated by comparisons among commercial cultivars and were also compared with the estimated gross margins. When the H value of ‘Festival’ was set as zero, the H values of genotypes in the pedigree ranged from –0.36 to +0.28. H was highly correlated (R2 = 0.77) with the year of selection (1945–98). The gross margins were highly linearly related (R2 > 0.98) to H values when the genotype was planted on less than 50% of available area, but the relationship was non-linear [quadratic with a maximum (R2 > 0.96)] when the planted area exceeded 50%. Additionally, with H values above zero, the variation in gross margin increased with increasing H values as the percentage of area planted to a genotype increased. High correlations among some traits allowed the omission of any one of three of the 12 traits with little or no effect on ranking (Spearman’s rank correlation 0.98 or greater). Thus, these traits may be dropped from the aggregate economic genotype, leading to either cost reductions in the breeding program or increased selection intensities for the same resources. H was efficient in identifying economically superior genotypes for breeding and deployment, but because of the non-linear relationship with gross margin, calculation of a gross margin for genotypes with high H is also necessary when cultivars are deployed across more than 50% of the available area.


2010 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly A. Stiver ◽  
Suzanne H. Alonzo

Abstract Theory suggests that males that are larger than their competitors may have increased mating success, due to both greater competitive ability and increased attractiveness to females. We examined how male mating success varies with male size in the tessellated darter Etheostoma olmstedi. Previous work has shown that large males tend to move around and breed in vacant breeding sites, and consequently provide less care for their eggs, while smaller individuals can be allopaternal, caring for the eggs of other males as well as for their own. We studied female egg deposition in a natural breeding population using artificial breeding sites and in the laboratory, where female choice of spawning site was restricted to two breeding sites tended by two males of different sizes. In both the field and the laboratory, nests tended by larger males were more likely to receive new eggs. Additionally, the mean size of males associated with a nest was positively correlated with both the maximum coverage of eggs at the nest and the number of times new eggs were deposited. We discuss how the increased mating success of larger males, despite their decreased parental care, may help explain allopaternal care in this species.


Genome ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 838-843 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. E. Mather ◽  
F. C. Gunsett ◽  
O. B. Allen ◽  
L. W. Kannenberg

Ratios of the phenotypic values of two traits may be used as selection criteria in animal and plant breeding to improve the ratio traits themselves or to effect changes in their two component (numerator and denominator) traits. Prediction of genetic responses to ratio-based selection would facilitate quantitative analysis and evaluation of selection based on ratios. Methods for predicting such responses are derived and presented here. They employ expressions for the truncation value of a ratio and for the phenotypic selection differentials of the numerator and denominator traits. The derivation of these expressions is based upon the assumption that the phenotypic values of each of these traits are normally distributed. Worked examples relating to livestock and crop improvement are included to demonstrate how responses to selection for ratios may be predicted.Key words: ratio selection criterion, selection differential, genetic response.


1989 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 163-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Teepker ◽  
C. Smith

ABSTRACTRepeated cloning of bovine embryos by nuclear transfer, producing large clones of monozygous animals, may be possible in the future. Initially, clones could be tested and the best one selected and spread over the commercial population by embryo transfer. Further genetic improvement could be obtained by rebreeding a number of the best clones to produce a new set of clones. However, the testing and selection systems to pick the best clone (for short-term clonal response) and to pick clones with the best breeding values (for long-term genetic response) are different. The objective of this study was to derive a system which achieves both high clonal and high genetic responses. An adult MOET (multiple ovulation and embryo transfer) scheme with 40 breeding males and 40 breeding females per generation (cycle) was used to maintain adequate genetic variation for continued genetic response. For a fixed set of testing facilities and a given family structure initial clonal response is maximized by testing several members per clone. Long-term genetic response is usually greatest when testing one member per clone. Compromises to obtain both high clonal response and high genetic responses were from 95 to 100% efficient.


1978 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 267-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. R. Hopkins

ABSTRACTDesigns of open nucleus breeding schemes, which comprise a nucleus having the best males and females and a base comprising the remainder, with some base-born individuals used in the nucleus and vice versa, are studied.Steady-state genetic responses, optimum transfer rates between nucleus and base in both sexes, and genetic differences between nucleus and base are estimated for a range of age structures, selection either within or among age groups (selection methods), nucleus sizes, mating ratios, fertility rates and survival rates appropriate to sheep and cattle populations. With optimum transfer rates between layers maximum or near maximum genetic responses are obtained with nucleus sizes varying from 2 to 15% of the population. Optimum transfer rates are fairly stable for nucleus sizes larger than about 5% and where the same selection procedures are used in both layers. However, a small nucleus with more efficient age structures and selection procedures and more accurate selection than in the base is economically desirable, and then almost no base-born females should be selected as nucleus replacements and up to 70% of male replacements for the base should come from the base. Optimum age structures differed markedly between selection methods.Although few ‘rules of thumb’ about optimum age structures and transfer rates are sufficiently robust to be widely recommended in commercial situations, the nucleus breeding system behaves according to a few basic principles that can be used to predict the direction if not the magnitude of effects of changes in structure.


2016 ◽  
Vol 283 (1841) ◽  
pp. 20161280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Gerber ◽  
Hanna Kokko

Theories for the evolution of sex rarely include facultatively sexual reproduction. Sexual harassment by males is an underappreciated factor: it should at first sight increase the relative advantage of asexual reproduction by increasing the cost of sex. However, if the same females can perform either sexual or asexual life cycles, then females trying to reproduce asexually may not escape harassment. If resisting male harassment is costly, it might be beneficial for a female to accept a mating and undertake a sexual life cycle rather than ‘insist’ on an asexual one. We investigate the effects of sexual harassment on the maintenance of sex under different population densities. Our model shows that resisting matings pays off at low population densities, which leads to the complete extinction of males, and thus to the evolution of completely asexual populations. Facultative sex persists in a narrow range of slightly higher densities. At high densities, selection favours giving up resisting male mating attempts and thus sexual reproduction takes over. These interactions between the outcomes of sexual conflict and population density suggest an explanation for the rarity of facultative sex and also patterns of geographical parthenogenesis, where marginal environments with potentially low densities are associated with asexuality.


Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 1236
Author(s):  
Elisa Cappetta ◽  
Giuseppe Andolfo ◽  
Antonio Di Matteo ◽  
Amalia Barone ◽  
Luigi Frusciante ◽  
...  

Genomic selection (GS) is a predictive approach that was built up to increase the rate of genetic gain per unit of time and reduce the generation interval by utilizing genome-wide markers in breeding programs. It has emerged as a valuable method for improving complex traits that are controlled by many genes with small effects. GS enables the prediction of the breeding value of candidate genotypes for selection. In this work, we address important issues related to GS and its implementation in the plant context with special emphasis on tomato breeding. Genomic constraints and critical parameters affecting the accuracy of prediction such as the number of markers, statistical model, phenotyping and complexity of trait, training population size and composition should be carefully evaluated. The comparison of GS approaches for facilitating the selection of tomato superior genotypes during breeding programs is also discussed. GS applied to tomato breeding has already been shown to be feasible. We illustrated how GS can improve the rate of gain in elite line selection, and descendent and backcross schemes. The GS schemes have begun to be delineated and computer science can provide support for future selection strategies. A new promising breeding framework is beginning to emerge for optimizing tomato improvement procedures.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document