Selection and Culling

Individual Selection

-    This is the process by which an individual is evaluated on the basis of individual merit, this is strictly phenotypic in nature. This has the advantage that you can measure traits of the animal directly if suitable records are kept.

Pedigree Selection

-    A pedigree is a record of individual being evaluated including its ancestors.

Family Selection

• all selection which is based on the performance of related animals is called

Tandem Method

• -    This is a method where two or more traits are selected at any given time using certain sets of minimum standards for every trait.

Individual Culling Level

-    This is a method which only one trait is selected at a time. After the first trait is improved, the next trait is selected for and so on down the line until the last trait is finally selected for.

Selection Index

-    This is a method of selection using total score or index values for each individual such that the index values are closely related to individuals’ composites breeding value. The characteristics are measured and also weighted according to their economic importance.