The structural impact of implementing Optimal Contribution selection in a commercial pig breeding population

Abstract Text:

This study represents the first analysis of the structural changes occurring in a commercial population following the implementation of Optimal Contribution (OC) selection. It was shown that after OC selection, the estimated Mendelian sampling term (â) becomes an important determinant for whether an individual made a long-term genetic contribution (r) to the population, as well as for determining the magnitude of that contribution. This provides the first practical validation of published theoretical predictions, in particular that the selective advantage underlying OC is derived from the inclusion of â for making selection decisions. This validation is important as genomic evaluation will increase accuracy, in part through greater accuracy of â and demonstrates that genomic evaluation combined with OC has the potential to deliver more genetic gain for the same rate of inbreeding.

Keywords:

optimal contribution

long-term genetic contribution

estimated Mendelian sampling term