4.12.4 Combination of information sources (2024)

In breeding programs, data of animals are sampled and stored continuously in databases. These databases contain traits from ancestors, living breeding animals to be selected, their sibs and their progeny. For living animals, to be selected for breeding, all these data can be combined in statistical methods to estimate their breeding value. The number of generations between the animal to be selected and the animal from which interesting data are stored in the database determines the additive relationship. And it determines the usefulness in estimating the breeding value of the animal to be selected. In addition the value of the information depends on the nature of the character (sex limited, when can it be measured in life etc.). And numbers of relatives with data are important: one granddaughter with carcass data is hardly informative for the genetic value of a grandsire, but when there are thousands of granddaughters, as is the case in pork production, these data are very valuable.

In the genomic era, when the DNA-composition of an animal is known and is used for genomic selection, the combination of information is very effective: first the genetic relationship between animals is more accurately known and second genetic effects and non-genetic effects on the trait of interest can be separated more accurately.