• Explain the elements required to set up a successful breeding scheme.
• Compare principles underlying the definition of breeding objectives and methods for their derivation.
• Describe and use stochastic and deterministic methods for predicting effects of breeding schemes
• Model specific breeding schemes and predict their effects.
• Explain the effects of reproductive and genomic technologies.
• Explain methods for maintaining genetic diversity in the presence of selection.
• Discuss optimization of breeding plans in the presence of genotype-environment interactions and breeding plans utilizing cross breeding.
• Describe principles for dissemination of genetic progress.

In earlier courses, breeding plans and theory are presented. In this course students will develop a more detailed understanding of the elements of breeding schemes. Particularly, focus will be on understanding elements of and implementation of a deterministic model to predict response to selection in realistic breeding schemes. Through on-line lectures, discussions, presentations, individual studies, group exercises, individual semester assignments, the use of models developed in the course and lectures, students should be able to evaluate:

- consequences of alternative strategies on effects of breeding, response, correlated response and inbreeding.

- effect of alternative definitions of breeding objectives.

- recording of traits

- derivation of economic values in breeding goals, and calculation of economic gain from breeding.

- the importance of the structure of the production system for dissemination of genetic progress, including genotype-environment interactions and use of cross-breeding

Students will analyse model breeding schemes for fish, pigs, poultry, cattle, sheep and/or goats in exercises and written reports.

Textbook for HFA200 or other basic course in breeding/quantitative genetics.

Distributed notes and scientific papers. Material on the course web site.