Part IV Laboratory

Exercise # 1
SELECTION OF ANIMALS BASED ON RECORDS

Introduction

Selection is a process in which some individuals are chosen over others as parents of the
next generation. Selection can be natural (due to nature) or artificial (imposed by man). This
choice of parents results in changing the genetic composition of the population of the succeeding
generations. Genetic improvement is synonymous with improvement of the performance of
animals brought about by selection, assuming that the environment is favorable. For selection to
be effective, candidates for selection should have accurate records of themselves and from their
relatives. The success of a selection program, therefore rests on sound record keeping and
reliable evaluation of the genetic worth of an animal.

Objectives

At the end of the exercise, the student should be able to:

1. Learn the methods of adjusting and standardizing animal performance records.
2. Compare the merit of selecting animals based on own record alone with those in
combination with records from relatives.
3. Compare different procedures of selection for simultaneously improving two or more
traits.

Materials

• Calculator
• Animal performance records
• Set of data for adjusting and standardizing animal performance records
• Set of data for selection using independent culling level and selection index procedures

Methods

Using the formula for adjusting and standardizing performance records, adjust data on
pigs and cattle provided by your instructor. Take note of the change in absolute value when data
are adjusted.

Pig:

("#$%"& ()*+,$)
a. 30 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑒𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 = ("#$%"& "+))
(30)
 ("#$%"& ()*+,$./01)(/22)
b. 154 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑘𝑒𝑡 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 = ("#$%"& "+).10)
− 154

The selection index (SI) formula for pigs:

SI = 240 + 110 (ADG in kg) – 50 (FE) – 19.7 (BFT in cm), where ADG refers to average daily gain,
FE for feed efficiency and BFT for backfat thickness. Using the set of data provided by your
instructor, compute for the SI of each animal. Rank the animals using the SI values.

I. Adjustment and standardization of actual performance records of farm animals.

1. Rank the following animals based on their actual weaning weight alone.
2. Adjust and standardize their weaning weight using the standardization formula.
Rank again based on the adjusted weaning weight. Show your calculations.

Actual Ranking
Adjusted 30- Ranking after
weaning Actual age before
Pig No. days weaning adjustment
weight (days) adjustment
weight (2)
(kg) (1)
1 9.9 28
2 10.0 27
3 7.6 29
4 6.8 26
5 10.4 32

a. Are the rankings using actual records and adjusted records the same? Why is this so?

b. If you are going to select animals, which would you use as your basis for selection, the
actual weight or the adjusted weight? Why?
 II. Rank the following pigs using the selection index (SI) method and select the top 3 pigs.
Show your solutions.

Pig ID ADG (kg) FE BFT (cm) SI Value Rank

11 0.810 2.31 1.31
12 0.860 2.70 1.72
13 0.900 2.50 1.22
14 0.878 2.30 1.56
15 0.905 2.42 1.45
16 0.890 2.39 1.38
17 0.840 2.85 1.57
18 0.865 2.48 1.69
19 0.893 2.39 1.41
20 0.919 2.56 1.38

Top 3 pigs selected using the SI method: ________, _________, _________

a. Using independent culling level, determine the number of pigs on the table above that
will be selected if the following three standards of performance are used: > 875 g ADG; <
2.45 FE and < 1.45 cm BFT.
ID number of pigs selected: _________________________

b. Using the same procedure for the selection, determine the number of pigs that will be
selected this time if only two standards of performance are used, that is, > 875 g ADG and
< 1.45 cm BFT.
ID number of pigs selected: _________________________

c. What did you observe (with respect to the number of pigs selected) when the standards
of performance used was changed from 3 to 2? What do you think is the reason for this?
Part IV Laboratory

Exercise # 2
SYSTEMS OF BREEDING IN FARM ANIMALS

Introduction

Inbreeding and outbreeding are systems of breeding that result to change in the genetic
composition of farm animal population. Inbreeding is the mating of closely related individuals
while outbreeding is the opposite of inbreeding. Crossbreeding, which is a form of outbreeding,
refers to the mating of animals belonging to different genetic groups. The reduction in the
average performance as a consequence of mating related animals is called inbreeding
depression. The phenomenon where the performance of crossbred offspring is better than the
average of the parental breeds is called hybrid vigor or heterosis. Knowing the important role in
changing the genetic composition of a population, it is important to understand their genetic and
phenotypic effects in a population and how they are measured.

Objectives

At the end of the exercise, the student should be able to:

1. Identify benefits that can be derived from inbreeding and crossbreeding
2. Learn the nature and degree of inheritance of economically important traits; and
3. Learn how to compute for inbreeding coefficient and percent heterosis

Materials

• Calculator
• List of selected traits of farm animals with corresponding heritability estimates
• Data on average performance of purebreds and crossbreds for some traits
• Pedigree for inbred animals

Methods

• Using the list of selected traits with heritability estimates, identify which traits are lowly
heritable, moderately heritable or highly heritable. In your earlier exercise, you classified
traits as related to production and reproduction. Did you notice any correlation between
these trait classifications and the degree by which they are inherited?

I. Classify the traits as to whether they are production or reproduction traits. Using the
heritability estimates below, identify the degree of heritability (high, moderate, or
low) and heterosis level (high, moderate or low) of these traits.
 Degree of
Trait Heterosis
Heritability
Heritability Classification Level (high,
Farm Animal Trait (high,
Estimate (reproduction, moderate,
moderate,
production) low)
low)
Slaughter
0.40-0.45
grade
Beef cattle Marbling 0.40-0.45
Dressing
0.35-0.40
percentage
Milk yield 0.80-0.90
Dairy cattle Milk protein
0.78-0.88
content
No. of pigs
0.05-0.10
farrowed
Swine Loin eye area 0.45-0.55
Backfat
0.40-0.50
thickness
Multiple
0.09-0.25
births
Weaning
Goat 0.33-0.55
weight
Weight at 7
0.49-0.77
months
Egg
0.20-0.30
production
Chicken Egg weight 0.45-0.55
Fertility 0.10-0.15
Hatchability 0.05-0.10

II. Determine the expected performance of the crossbreds offspring (EPCO) given the
following breeds and their average performance (in parentheses). The expected
average of crossbred offspring is estimated as: Average of offspring = (percent of
heterosis x average of parents) + average of parents. Show your solutions.

1. Feed Conversion Efficiency: Saanen (2.41) x Alpine (2.50)

%H = 10%

EPCO =
 2. Litter size at weaning: Yorkshire (8.40) x Duroc Jersey (8.72)
%H = 9%

EPCO =

3. Birth weight: Angus (46.70 kg) x Shorthorn (45.00 kg)

%H = 8%

EPCO =

III. Calculate the percentage of inheritance from each of three breeds in successive
generation of the crossbred progeny when the three-breed rotational cross is used.
Show your solutions.

Number of each generation Breed of sire Percentage of each breed in

the progeny
1 Breed 2

2
Breed 3

3
Breed 1

4
Breed 2

5
Breed 3

6
Breed 1

7
Breed 2

8
Breed 3