Prediction of Genetic Response to Truncation Selection Across Generations

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Abstract
When generations overlap, a relationship exists between the age of the parents and their average genetic merit. Therefore, prediction of genetic gains should not be computed as of all parents belonged to a homogenous distribution. When an optimal selection rule of truncation selection across distributions is applied in this case, a simple method described in this paper can be used to compute adequate selection differentials. Possible applications of this method are the calculation of the asymptotic yearly genetic gain and yearly prediction of average genetic values for all age groups-or "cohorts" -following the implementation of a new selection scheme. To illustrate these two points, a typical dairy AI breeding plan was modelled. The numerical example shows that the population inventory approach is a more powerful tool than the asymptotic genetic gain for comparisons of breeding plans.
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