EVOLUTIONS OF SELECTION OBJECTIVE FOR PIG BREEDING IN FRANCE - CONSEQUENCES ON EXPECTED GENETIC CHANGES

The definition of breeding objective is a prerequisite to the developm ent of an animal breeding program. The program's efficiency depends on the unambiguity of the breeding objective selected. In this review we present the main critera most frequently used to select the traits fo r inclusion in the aggregate genotype, and the methods developed to es timate the relative economic importance of these traits. We show the e volution of selection objectives in French pig breeding programs over the last twenty years. The effects of including the trait prolificacy in the aggregate genotype, which is the latest evolution to date, are also discussed.