Broiler breeding strategies using indirect carcass measurements

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The objective of the current study was to determine the consequences of using indirect carcass measurements on the genetic response and rate of inbreeding in broiler breeding programs. In the base breeding scheme, selection candidates were evaluated based on direct carcass measurements on relatives. The possibilities of using indirect carcass measurements were investigated in alternative breeding schemes. Three alternative schemes, including indirect and own performance information for carcass traits on selection candidates, were evaluated by deterministic simulation. In the first scheme, indirect carcass traits were measured on male selection candidates. In the second scheme, indirect carcass traits were measured on male selection candidates, and direct carcass traits were measured on relatives. In the third scheme, indirect carcass traits were measured on male and female selection candidates, and direct carcass traits were measured on relatives. In the base scheme, the genetic response for breast muscle percentage (BMP) was 0.3%, and the rate of inbreeding was 0.96% per generation. In the third alternative scheme, the response for BMP increased by 66.2% compared with the base scheme, and the rate of inbreeding decreased to 0.79% per generation. The improved genetic gain resulted from increased accuracy of selection. The use of own performance information for selection candidates reduced the rate of inbreeding in alternative schemes, which is desirable for long-term selection. The accuracy of the indirect carcass measurements had consequences on the response for BMP and the rate of inbreeding. In most cases, an accuracy of 30% was sufficient to result in a higher gain for BMP and a lower rate of inbreeding as compared with the base scheme.