Genetic improvement programs play a pivotal role in maximizing productivity and profitability in various industries, including aquaculture. This talk presents a comprehensive analysis of the Investment Returns (IR) for genetic improvement in shrimp, specifically focusing on different breeding strategies: mass selection, family selection, and genomic selection.
Multi-trait breeding programs often require higher marker densities to capture genetic variation across traits such as growth, disease resistance, quality, and reproduction. Genome size also impacts marker density needs, influencing genome-wide coverage. LD breakdown and recombination rates affect marker effectiveness, requiring strategic placement to ensure critical trait regions are adequately covered. Balancing marker density with LD decay and recombination events is essential for long-term breeding program success.
Analysis shows genetic improvement investments utilizing different breeding strategies offer substantial IR in the long term. While genomic selection stands out as the most efficient and accurate approach, mass selection and family selection remain viable alternatives depending on the specific needs and resources of the company. Understanding the economic impact and trade-offs of each breeding strategy enables companies to make informed decisions and optimize their breeding strategies.
It is equally important to consider an adaptive approach to marker density planning, ensuring genotyping tools align with breeding program goals. By optimizing marker selection, aquaculture breeding programs can enhance genetic improvement efficiency, maximize selection accuracy, and sustain progress over generations.