Quantitative
genetics a) in livestock improvement b) theory
Professor
W.G. Hill
Dr.
S. Brotherstone
The
main traits to be improved in livestock, such as efficiency of weight gain,
milk yield and fertility are quantitative. Breeding programme design is based
on estimates of parameters such as the heritability and genetic correlations
among these traits. New data from automatic recording procedures, for example
of daily food intake, and on genotypes for molecular markers are being
obtained. These, coupled with computer-intensive statistical methods, provide
new opportunities for analysis and understanding of the genetics of
quantitative traits. Projects based on field data and on laboratory animal
models using selected lines can be provided.
Theoretical
problems which can be investigated include the design and long term selection
programmes, particularly the role of mutation, and the relationship of
livestock improvement to evolutionary biology.
Kirkpatrick
M, Hill W G and Thompson R (1994) Estimating the covariance structure of traits
during growth and ageing; illustrated with lactation in dairy cattle. Genet.Res.
64, 57-69.
Brotherstone
S, Veerkamp R F and Hill W G (1997) Genetic parameters for a simple predictor
of the lifespan of Holstein-Friesian dairy cattle and its relation to
production. Anim Sci 65: 31-37.
Hill
W G and Mbaga S H (1998) Mutation and conflicts between artificial and natural
selection for quantitative traits. Genetica 102/103: 171-181.
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