Individual Selection: Properties

Correct Answer: All of the Above

From the notes (Basis of Selection section): All four statements are true about individual selection.

Properties of Individual Selection (from notes)

• (a) Animals are selected based on their own phenotype — also called mass selection or performance testing or phenotypic selection
• (b) Most accurate aid to selection — gives a DIRECT estimate of breeding value
• (c) Shortest generation interval among all selection methods — fastest genetic progress per year
• (d) Gives direct estimate of breeding value when heritability is high

Limitations (from notes)

• Cannot be used for sex-limited traits (bulls cannot express milk yield)
• Cannot be used for carcass/slaughter traits (animal must be killed to measure)
• Less effective when heritability is low (phenotype is poor predictor of genotype)