Question

A horse breeder is interested in making genetic progress for racing the mile. The horse breeder has asked you to evaluate three potential selection schemes.

Data available for comparing each scheme includes the following: h2= 0.35 R= 0.57 ?P= 2.3 sec. ? = 130 sec.

Females are selected in the top 80% of the population with an accuracy based on the average of 3 race records, and the generation interval for females is 5 years. The breeder is considering three alternative schemes for selecting males, and each of these schemes will include selecting males in the top 5% of the population.

Please compare each of the three schemes and determine which approach is the most optimal for maximizing genetic progress:

a)Scheme 1: Selection based on a single race record of the individual sire with an estimatedgeneration interval of 6 years.

b)Scheme 2: Selection based on the average of 3 races of the individual with a generation interval of 6 years.

c)Scheme 3: Selection based on records of 5 progeny with 3 races each, and a generation interval of 10 years.d)Which approach is the most optimal for maximizing genetic progress? Why? Show all work please!

Answer 1

As the males are selected from the top 5 percent of the population unlike females in 80 percent of the population, they need to undergo intense testing procedure to maximize genetic progress. With the given data, the selection based on records of 5 progeny with 3 races each would be apt to produce sufficient results for monitoring the genetic progress. The generation interval of 10 years would also help in the analysis by adding the envonmental impact on the genes and their function. SO, this scheme is apt to follow in order to select males that can show maximal genetic progress.

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