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Modeling selection for production traits under constant infection pressure.
E H van der Waaij1, P Bijma, S C Bishop
1Animal Breeding and Genetics Group, Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences, The Netherlands. Liesbeth.vanderwaaij@alg.vf.wag-ur.nl
Journal of Animal Science
|November 4, 2000
Summary
This study models disease resistance and animal production under infection pressure. Selection for production can improve resistance, especially when resistance is initially low, eventually leading to selection for maximum production potential.
Area of Science:
- Animal breeding and genetics
- Quantitative genetics
- Disease resistance modeling
Background:
- Disease resistance is crucial for animal production, especially under constant infection pressure.
- Understanding the trade-offs between disease resistance and production is vital for effective breeding programs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To model the dynamic relationship between disease resistance and production under infection pressure.
- To investigate the impact of selection for production on disease resistance levels.
- To evaluate the predictive accuracy of deterministic versus stochastic models.
Main Methods:
- Developed a model incorporating resistance thresholds and infection severity.
- Simulated selection experiments using both stochastic and deterministic approaches.
- Analyzed nonlinear selection responses and phenotypic correlations between traits.
Main Results:
- Selection for observed production initially increases disease resistance.
- As resistance improves, selection shifts towards maximizing production potential.
- Deterministic models accurately predicted outcomes from stochastic simulations.
Conclusions:
- Mass selection on production can effectively enhance disease resistance in populations with poor initial resistance.
- The model provides insights into optimizing breeding schemes for both resistance and production.
- Phenotypic correlations between traits change dynamically with increasing resistance levels.