DIFFERENT METHODS OF SELECTION

Pr KHELIFI TOUHAMI N.A.

The aim of selection is to develop improved animals that
optimize feed efficiency, while being well-suited to the
technical and social conditions of the farm. The selected
animals will be ranked according to the estimation of their
additive genetic value.

A/ Problems Raised by Selection

1/ Depending on the heritability (h²) of the trait to be
selected
Traits with high h² are easier to select for (qualitative traits).
Traits with low h², genetic improvement is slow and difficult,
but it is important to maintain a certain level of selection
pressure and continue selecting, even if the genetic progress
is slower.
2/ Depending on the number of traits to be selected
a) Selection for a single trait
Genetic progress is rapid for the trait being considered.
Selection rarely focuses on a single trait.
b) Selection for multiple traits
In practice, genetic improvement focuses on:
Several traits,
Several selection criteria, often correlated.
Thus, genetic improvement is slower.
b1- Tandem or Alternative Selection

One trait is improved at a time:

The first trait is improved in the first phase,
The second trait is improved in the second phase, without
considering the first trait that has already been improved.
Disadvantage: It neglects potential correlations that may
exist between the traits to be improved.
Possible existence of a negative correlation between two
traits:
The gain made with the first trait is partly lost when
improving the second trait.
This is a less effective method and is rarely used.
b2- Selection by Thresholds or Independent Elimination
Levels

This involves setting a threshold for each selection

criterion, above or below which the individual is
eliminated, regardless of its value for other criteria.

The major problem is determining the thresholds, which

are obviously dependent on the desired objectives, their
economic importance, and the genetic correlations
between traits.

This method is more effective than the previous one.

b3- Selection by Selection Index

The selection index is an estimate of the overall genetic

value of the breeding candidate, taking into account all
genetic parameters (h², correlations) as well as the
economic importance of the various traits to be
improved.

The animal likely to bring the most economically

significant genetic improvement is the one with the
highest index value.
B/ The Different Methods of Selection

There are four selection methods used, either:

Separately,
Or simultaneously (combined selection).

Intra-breed selection aims to improve the average genetic

value of animals from generation to generation for the
chosen traits.
 Based on the
Performance of the
Parents
SELECTION BASED
ON ANCESTRY

Based on its Based on the

ANIMAL TO BE performance of its
performance
siblings
INDIVIDUAL SELECTED
SELECTION BASED ON
SELECTION COLLATERALS

SELECTION BASED ON
DESCENDANTS
Based on the
performance of the
offspring
1/ Individual or Mass Selection
Principle: Breeding animals are selected based on their
own performance measured on the farm or at a station.
Only animals that meet the selection criteria are retained.
The evaluation can be done either objectively or
subjectively.
Advantages:
Simple to carry out, as it involves selecting an animal from
a group.
Effective for traits with high h².
Low cost.
Short generation interval.
High selection intensity, even very high.
Disadvantages:
For traits with low h², the environment may mask defects.
2/ Selection Based on Ancestry or Pedigree Selection
Principle:
Selecting an animal based on its pedigree (the
performance of its ancestors).
Advantages:
Quick selection at birth if the parents have undergone
performance testing.
Low cost.
One of the best methods for selecting females.
Disadvantages:
The more distant the degree of relatedness (grandfather,
grandmother, great-grandfather, great-grandmother), the
more the performance of these ancestors should be
minimized.
This method remains imprecise for traits with low h².
Selection Based on Collaterals
Principle:
It involves estimating the genetic value of an individual
based on the average performance of its brothers, sisters,
half-brothers, and half-sisters.
Advantages:
Good results, especially for prolific species (e.g., poultry).
This method is used when selecting animals for traits with
low h².
Disadvantages:
It is a less precise method than individual selection for
traits with high h².
Selection Based on Descendants (Progeny-Test)
Principle:
It involves selecting breeders based on the performance
of their offspring.
Advantages:
The best method for selecting males.
Good results for traits with low h².
Disadvantages:
The setup is complex, long, and costly. Additionally, the
generation interval is very long, and it provides a delayed
assessment of the genetic value of animals.
USE OF BREEDERS
Selection eliminates mediocre animals and retains only
the best ones to be used as breeders, in order to maximize
the number of offspring.
Definition
Species:
A group of animals that share similar
characteristics, are capable of reproducing with
each other, and produce fertile offspring. (e.g.,
bovine, caprine, ovine species)
Breed:
A group of animals within the same species that
share a set of common traits (biological,
morphological) which can be passed down from
one generation to another.
Variety, Strain, Type, Lineage:
Genetically improved subpopulations within a breed,
selected for one or more specific traits.
Individual:
An animal that possesses its own unique characteristics.
A / Purebred Breeding
1 / Definitions
Purebred:
A purebred animal is an individual born from parents of
the same breed and is likely to be homozygous for the
genes that determine the morphological characteristics
(standards) of breeds with simple genetic determinism.
Purebred Breeding:
It consists of mating animals that belong to the same
breed. It forms the basis of breeding organization and
the creation of herdbooks by establishing breed
standards (coat color, morphology, performance).
2/ Advantages:
Adaptation of breeds to specific environmental
conditions.
Achievement of slow genetic progress.
3/ Disadvantages:

Low selection efficiency for traits with low h² because the

precision of selecting breeders is low. This disadvantage can
be mitigated by selection based on descendants.

Difficulty of simultaneous selection on multiple traits.

Risk of insufficient genetic variability: Decrease in genetic

variability and therefore a slowdown in genetic progress,
especially in populations with small effective sizes.
B/ Crossbreeding

This method of using breeders contrasts with purebred

breeding or inbreeding, highlighting the importance of
using both methods in a complementary manner.

1/ Definition

Mating of breeders from two genetically different

populations (breeds, strains, or lines).
a) Crossbreeding for Genetic Purposes

•Allows the introduction of foreign genes.

•A faster change in direction compared to selection,

•enabling quicker adaptation to changes in economic

conditions.

More effective improvement than selection in

populations with insufficient genetic levels.

Increases genetic variability, thus enhancing the

effectiveness of selection.
b) Crossbreeding for Commercial Purposes
Crossbreeding for commercial purposes has a dual
interest:

Complementarity: The crossbreeding between breeds or

populations selected for different, sometimes antagonistic
traits allows the combination of these different qualities in
a single animal within one generation.

Example: Breeding traits (fertility, prolificacy) and

production traits (growth rate, feed efficiency, muscle
development) are generally opposing traits.
Heterosis:

It manifests at the level of traits that are mainly or

partially subject to non-additive genetic effects. These
are traits with low or medium heritability (h²).
H = Heterosis Effect

H = PF1 – (PA + PB)

2

PF1: Average performance of crossbred

individuals
PA: Average performance of breed A
PB: Average performance of breed B
3/ Different Types of Crossbreeding
A/ Crossbreeding for Genetic Purposes
Crossbreeding for hybrid vigor
Crossbreeding for improvement or
backcrossing
Substitution or absorption crossbreeding

c
Crossbreeding (Grading-up):
It consists of mating animals from different breeds in
the first generation. The crossbred animals are then
mated among themselves in the following generations.

At each generation, selection eliminates the animals

that do not meet the desired objective.

When the animal type reaches a certain level of

homogeneity, it is considered that a new breed has
been created.
Breed A ♀ x ♂ Breed B

F1♀ x F1♂
At each generation, animals
F2♀ x F2♂ that do not conform to the
objectives defined by
F3♀ x F3♂ selection are eliminated.

F4♀ x F4♂

A new breed
Examples of Hybrid Vigor Crossbreeding

Cattle :
Shorthorn x Mancelle Maine Anjou

Sheep :
Dishley x Mérinos Ile de France

Romanov x Berrichon du cher INRA 401

b) Improvement or Outcrossing Crossbreeding
It consists of the temporary use of males from an
improved breed on females of another breed, in order to
introduce favorable genes into the female population.

Examples:

Monbeliarde ♀ x Red Holstein ♂

Jamaica Hope ♀ x Holstein ♂

c) Substitution or Absorption Crossbreeding
It involves the substitution of a local breed with a highly
improved breed through the use of improved breeders
generation after generation.

The replacement of females is done exclusively with

crossbred females.

The implementation of the improved breed is achieved

after 5 to 7 generations, or 30 years in cattle and 20 years
in sheep.
 Breed A ♀ x ♂ Breed B

Crossbred AB♀ x ♂ B

ABB ♀ x ♂ B

ABBB ♀ x ♂ B

ABBBB ♀ x ♂ B

New Breed

Example :
FFPN ♀ x Holstein ♂ Prim-Holstein
B/ Crossbreeding for Commercial Purposes

Static Crossbreeding
Rotational Crossbreeding
2. Rotational Crossbreeding

a) Simple, industrial, or first-generation crossbreeding

b) Two-stage crossbreeding
a) Simple, industrial, or first-generation crossbreeding
It involves mating two different breeds with the goal of
producing F1 crossbred animals intended for slaughter.

Breed A (Breeding qualities) x Breed B (Production

qualities)

♀ and ♂ crossbred AB (1/2A, 1/2B)

Intended for slaughter.

Heterosis is maximized in the crossbreeds, which benefit

from the complementarity of the two selected parental
breeds.
Example :

Dairy breed or rustic local breed ♀ x ♂ Meat breed

Normande x Charolaise
Montbéliarde x Limousine
Holstein x Blonde d’aquitaine
b) Two-stage Crossbreeding
It involves two stages of crossbreeding:

The 1st stage:

Aimed at producing F1 females (complementarity and
heterosis); Males are slaughtered.

The 2nd stage:

Involves mating the F1 females with males from the
parental breed or from another breed.
Depending on the number of breeds used, the following types
of crossbreeding are distinguished:

Two-stage
crossbreeding

Backcrossing Triple crossbreeding or

three-way crossbreeding

Quadruple
crossbreeding or four-
way crossbreeding
 Backcrossing

F1 females with one of the two parental breeds

Breed A ♀ x Breed B ♂

AB ♀ x B ♂ (♂ AB) Slaughtered

♂ and ♀ B(AB) all slaughtered

Heterosis is: maximal in the dam, 50% of its maximum in

the terminal (offspring)
Triple crossbreeding or three-way crossbreeding

Breed A ♀ x ♂ Breed B

AB ♀ x ♂ C (♂ AB) slaughtered

♂ et ♀ C(AB)
All slaughtered

Heterosis is maximal both in the dam (AB) and in the

terminal product, which is 1/2C, 1/4A, 1/4B.
1/2C, 1/4A, 1/4B.
 ♀ F1 x ♂ Race à viande
♂ et ♀ croisés abattus

Example : Sheep

Rustic breeds for meat♀ x Prolific breed ♂

♀ F1 x ♂ Meat breed

♀ and ♂ crossbreeds slaughtered

Quadruple crossbreeding or four-way crossbreeding

Breed A x Breed B Breed C x Breed D

AB CD

(ABCD)

Heterosis is maximal in the parents (AB) and (CD)

and in the terminal product (1/4A, 1/4B, 1/4C,
1/4D). This type of crossbreeding is used to
produce commercial poultry strains, for which
multiple traits must be considered.
Static crossbreeding requires strict organization,
which can sometimes be difficult to implement
depending on the type of crossbreeding considered.

Moreover, it requires part of the female herd to be

kept purebred for the renewal of the parental
mothers.

Thus, the triple cross requires maintaining 2 genetic

types of mothers (A) and (AB); and 3 genetic types of
mothers (A), (AB), (D) for the quadruple cross.
 2 / Rotational crossbreeding

Rotational crossbreeding with 2 or 3 breeds is more

commonly used.
The more breeds there are in the rotation, the higher the
retained heterosis, and the more complicated the
management system becomes.
With each generation, the parental breed is changed. The
replacement females come from the cross itself.
a) Two-breed rotational crossbreeding

♀ Race A X ♂ Race B
♀ AB X ♂ Race A
♀ ABA X ♂ Race B
♀ ABAB x ♂ Race A

After a few generations, all the animals produced in the

system exhibit two-thirds of the maximum heterosis.
b) Three-breed rotational crossbreeding

♀ Race A X ♂ Race B
♀ AB X ♂ Race C
♀ ABC X ♂ Race A
♀ ABCA x ♂ Race B

After a few generations, the animals produced exhibit

six-sevenths of the maximum heterosis.
C / Hybridization

It is the mating of animals from different species,

and in general, the offspring are sterile (due to
different chromosome numbers depending on the
species), but they benefit to the maximum from the
heterosis effect.
Examples:

The mating of zebu cattle, adapted to life in dry

tropical areas, with European taurine cattle,
adapted to farming in temperate climate zones, has
resulted in the creation of homogeneous
populations with intermediate characteristics
(hardiness and productivity).

Both species have 60 chromosomes, with a slight

difference appearing in the characteristic Y
chromosome, which does not affect the fertility of
the offspring.
Charolais x Indian Zebu Canchim

Charolais x Brahman Zebu Charbrey

Shorthorn x Brahman Zebu Santa Gertrudis

Limousine x Afrikander Zebu Renitelo

Other examples where the offspring are sterile.
4o mini

 Donkey x Mare → Mule

Stallion x Female Donkey → Hinny
Hare x Female Rabbit → Hare-Rabbit hybrid
Ram x Goat → Goat-Ram hybrid
Rooster x Female Pheasant → Cockerel-Pheasant
hybrid