HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Van Raden, P. M. Articles by Rothschild, M. F. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Van Raden, P. M. Articles by Rothschild, M. F.

Maximizing Genetic Gain under Multiple-Stage Selection¹

Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames 50011

ABSTRACT

In selection theory a goal of selection is to maximize the mean of the selected group. With two stages of selection, a more appropriate goal for the first stage of selection might be to choose those members that give maximum expected response to the sum of both stages of selection. An index procedure is developed that considers both the animal's estimated breeding value and the accuracy of its evaluation for the first stage of selection. This procedure chooses a group of animals with lower expected mean but larger expected variance by favoring individuals estimated with less accuracy. A potential application of the index is in choosing young bulls to be progeny tested. Monte Carlo results in a progeny test program indicate that selection on the index would give only .36% (±.26%) faster genetic gain than selection on estimated breeding values alone.

¹ Journal Paper No. J-11233 of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames, Project No. 1053.