title: Genetic contributions and their optimization.
abstract: Genetic contributions were first formalized in 1958 by James and McBride (Journal of Genetics, 56, 55-62) and have since been shown to provide a unifying framework for theories of gain and inbreeding. As such they have underpinned the development of methods that provide the most effective combination of maximizing gain whilst managing inbreeding and loss of genetic variation. It is shown how this optimum contribution technology can be developed from theory and adapted to provide practical selection protocols for a wide variety of situations including overlapping generations and multistage selection. The natural development of the theory to incorporate genomic selection and genomic control of inbreeding is also shown.
authors.affiliation: The Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Woolliams
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Dagnachew
authors.forename: T H E
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Meuwissen
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D005788:Gene Pool; D005828:Genetics, Population; D016678:Genome; D007178:Inbreeding; D008957:Models, Genetic; D012641:Selection, Genetic
keywords: breeding program; genetic contribution; genetic gain; genomic selection; inbreeding; optimal contributions