Simulation programmes for teaching animal breeding

Design and Optimisation of Animal Breeding Programmes

Conventional breeding programmes and genetic resistance to animal diseases.

The power of selection is illustrated by the increase in the average annual yield of dairy cows in Sweden in kg fat-corrected milk from 2,500 kg in the year 1900 to 8,200 kg in 1997. More than a half of this improvement has a genetic origin. The breeding goal for dairy cattle has successively been broadened to cover traits other than production. The prerequisites for a successful breeding progr...

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...

Beef Cattle Breeding Programmes : Progress and Prospects

INTRODUCTION Beef breeding programmes have developed significantly in the last 24 years since the 1 WCGALP. Breeding programs as defined here include the definition of breeding objectives, recording and genetic evaluation programs to develop selection criteria and developments in selection and mating technology to optimize genetic progress for the objective. Available today are tools for the im...

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...