Using recent versus complete pedigree data in genetic evaluation of a closed nucleus broiler line

Stochastic simulation was used to study the effect of using full data and p edigree structure vs more recent data and pedigree structure to obtain best linear unbiased predictors (BLUP) of breeding values for single trait sele ction. Simulations used heritabilities of 0.10 and 0.50, with a population structure of 20 sires each mated to two dams, each producing 10 progeny, wi th 11 hatches from an unselected base population under both discrete and ov erlapping generations. Selection of parents was based on BLUP of breeding v alues using an animal model. The use of the last two generations of data and pedigrees gave the same sel ection response as when using full data and pedigree structure, for both he ritabilities. Under discrete generations with use of only the last generati on data and pedigree, which is similar to phenotypic evaluation, response t o selection decreased by 21 and 3.8% at Generation 10 compared to selection response when using the full data and pedigree for heritabilities of 0.10 and 0.50, respectively. Corresponding decreases in inbreeding were 72 and 3 7%. The amount of central processing unit time for genetic evaluation when using the last six, four, and two generations of data and pedigree was redu ced to 70, 40, and 11% of that when using the full data set, for a heritabi lity of 0.10 and discrete generations. Very similar values were observed fo r a heritability of 0.50 and also under overlapping generations.