Definitions of Breeding Value
Breeding value of an animal can be described as:
- It is the sum of average effect of the genes carried by an individual
- It is twice of transmitting ability
- It is the value of individual judged by mean value of its progeny
- All are correct — Correct Answer
Explanation:
Correct Answer: All are correct
All three statements correctly describe different facets of Breeding Value (BV) — the most fundamental concept in animal breeding.
Breeding Value — Three Definitions
| Definition | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Sum of average effects of genes | BV = sum of the additive effects of all alleles an individual carries at every locus affecting the trait |
| Twice the Transmitting Ability (TA) | A parent transmits only half its genes to offspring; BV = 2 × TA. TA = mean deviation of progeny from population mean |
| Value judged by mean value of progeny | Operationally, BV is estimated by how much an animal's offspring deviate from the population mean: BV = 2 × (mean of progeny − population mean) |
Key Formula Relations
- BV (Breeding Value) = 2 × Transmitting Ability (TA)
- h²N = bAP = regression of BV (A) on Phenotypic Value (P)
- Components of Phenotypic Value: P = G + E; Genotypic Value G = A + D (+ I if epistasis)
- Breeding value is the additive portion of genotypic value — the only part reliably passed to offspring
📚 About this Topic — Animal Genetics & Breeding
This multiple choice question is from Animal Genetics & Breeding, Animal Refresher. It has 4 options with a detailed explanation of the correct answer. Practice more MCQs from Animal Genetics & Breeding to strengthen your preparation.
