Shortage of quantitative geneticists in animal breeding

Shortage of quantitative geneticists in animal breeding.

More and more I receive phone calls from various breeding companies looking to hire a PhD in quantitative genetics. They inquire if I know of a graduate versed in quantitative genetics and mixed models, with some programming skills, who can speak and write passable English, has a general understanding of markers and molecular genetics, can run and troubleshoot a genetic evaluation, and in gener...

Maintenance of quantitative genetic variation in animal breeding programmes

Factors influencing the maintenance of genetic variation in quantitative traits in populations undergoing artificial selection are reviewed. Formulae are given for simple cases, in particular for the infinitesimal model where variation is lost by genetic drift and gained by mutation and therefore the minimum population size to maintain genetic variation is a function of mutation rate. For genes...

Software Packages in Animal Breeding

Six packages for solving mixed model equations and estimating variance components by REML are compared. Each has a unique strength. Meticulously finished DFREML is the only one that implements hypothesis testing for variance component estimates. MTDFREML is a comprehensive, relatively easy to install and simple to use package for analyses of experimental data. PEST, the only semi-commercial pro...

Random Regression in Animal Breeding

Precision animal breeding.

We accept that we are responsible for the quality of life of animals in our care. We accept that the activities of man affect all the living things with which we share this planet. But we are slow to realize that as a result we have a duty of care for all living things. That duty extends to the breeding of animals for which we are responsible. When animals are bred by man for a purpose, the aim...