11.6.8 Creating a synthetic breed (2024)

Two breeds are crossed and males and females of the F₁ generation are reciprocally mated. This is continued in the F₂, F_3, F₄ etc. In this way a new (synthetic) breed is created containing equal parts (50%) of the alleles of the two founder breeds. According to this principle also three or four breeds can be used to create a synthetic breed. Then the reciprocally mating of males and females in the F₂ generation is the real start of the new synthetic breed. The Dutch Flevolander is a recent example of a created new breed. It started with the cross of Finnish Landrace sheep, a breed with a high litter size, with Ile-de-France sheep, a breed with a non-seasonal oestrus pattern. The F₁ ewes produce large litters and give three lambings in two years. The F₁ rams were mated to F₁ ewes, F₂ rams to F₂ ewes, F₃ rams to F₃ ewes etc. In this way a very prolific sheep breed is created.

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