SELECTING THE BEST GENETICS TO BREED WITH.
Few animals are the highest performers. They should be used as much as possible to spread their genes as widely as possible for faster flock improvement. Selecting the highest performing animals will increase the rate of genetic gain.
The impact of the best animals can be maximised with artificial insemination (AI) and multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET).
BALANCE INTENSITY WITH INBREEDING
When you get an animal with optimum breeding values you will only want to use that animal. However, intensive breeding increases the risk of mating related animals.
Pinning the whole breeding program on one ram or a narrow group of rams also increases risk.
You need to consider:
- How much information do you know about the ram? Will his ASBVs change once you get more measurements?
- Will he perform? What’s your back-up plan?
- How related will the progeny be? Will all the progeny go back to one sire?
Mating relatives means the gene pool and genetic variation is reduced. A flock needs to be made up of different genes, which makes managing change easier.