SelAction: Software to Predict Selection Response and Rate of Inbreeding in Livestock Breeding Programs

Abstract

Software was developed to predict selection responses and rates of inbreeding from livestock breeding programs. Variance components are needed as input for the program, which subsequently enables the user to evaluate various breeding program designs. Consequently, breeding program structures with discrete (e.g., fish or poultry breeding) or overlapping generations (e.g., pig or cattle breeding) can be evaluated for selection on multiple traits. For discrete generations, selection response of multistage selection schemes can be predicted as well. Rates of inbreeding can be predicted for breeding programs with discrete generations and single-stage selection. With this software program, BLUP breeding values (animal model) can be used as information sources. It also accounts for reduction of genetic variance due to selection (“Bulmer effect”), and for reduction of selection intensity due to finite population size and correlated index values of family members. Predefined information sources can be either switched on or off, according to the user's needs. The number of traits is limited to a maximum of 20.