Selective Breeding

Fish Reproduction:
Special Genetic Issues
 Genetics: What is it?
• Genetics: The science of heredity and
variation.

• Heredity: transmission from generation to

generation (usually through the process of
reproduction) factors which cause the
offspring to resemble their parents (or not.)
 Selective Breeding
• Selective breeding rationalized by:
– size
– color
– shape
– better FCR
– reproductive capacity
– disease resistance
 Domestication

process by which a population of animals

becomes adapted to man and to the captive
environment by some combination of genetic
changes occurring over generations and
environmentally induced developmental events
recurring during each generation
 Selective breeding programs

1. Simple breeding programs applying individual

selection, usually for growth rate
2. Family based breeding programs selecting for
multiple economically important traits.
Selection (mass and family)
F0

Selection gain at first generation

F1

Selection gain at second

generation
F2
Tagging
 Conditions breeding program

1. There must be variation between animals for the traits under

prospect of selection since if all animals share identical
phenotypes, there are no individuals with higher than average
trait values to select
2. A portion of this variation must be due to genetic differences
since it is only the genetic variation that is transferred to the
next generation through eggs and sperm
3. The lifecycle for the species in question must be known and
able to be controlled since it must be possible to evaluate
progeny for trait characters, subsequently select parents for
the next generation and cross them in a controlled manner
4. Individual animals must be identifiable (through various
tagging methods) in order to keep track of their pedigree.
 Breeding Strategies

Inbreeding
increase in homozygosity, and reduction in genetic
variance.

Crossbreeding
the mating of animals from different species, strains or
inbred lines.

Purebreeding
relatively easy to perform, and is particularly effective when a
strain is identified to be equal to or better than alternative
strains
 Methods of Selection

1. Migration
Crossing with animals from other populations that show
better performance than the starting population
2. Selection
Selection of breeders with high performance within the
population
3. Mutation
a continuously process with small and typically harmful
effects in the short term
4. Genetic Drift
a process that occurs by chance and has the most
pronounced effects in small populations rather than in
large populations
 Breeding Goal

1. Reduced cost of production (ensuring price

competitiveness)
2. High product quality (ensuring
competitiveness in the market)
3. Improved welfare and reduced stress
4. Increased resistance to diseases.
Questions??