Fixed Contributions Designs vs. Minimization of Global Coancestry to Control Inbreeding in Small Populations

Fixed Contributions Designs vs. Minimization of Global Coancestry to Control Inbreeding in Small Populations

J. Fernández^a,b, M. A. Toro^a, and A. Caballero^b
^a Departamento de Mejora Genética Animal, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria, 28040 Madrid, Spain
^b Departamento de Bioquímica, Genética e Inmunología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidade de Vigo, 36200 Vigo, Spain

Corresponding author: J. Fernández, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria, Ctra. Coruña Km 7,5, 28040 Madrid, Spain., jmj{at}inia.es (E-mail)

Communicating editor: J. B. WALSH

Populations with small census sizes are at risk because of theloss of genetic variability and the increase of inbreeding andits harmful consequences. For situations with different numbersof males and females, several hierarchical designs have beenproposed to control inbreeding through the fixation of individuals'contributions. An alternative method, based on the minimizationof global coancestry, has been proposed to determine contributionsas to yield of the lowest levels of inbreeding in the population.We use computer simulations to assess the relative efficiencyof the different methods. The results show that minimizing theglobal coancestry leads to equal or lower levels of inbreedingin the short and medium term, although one of the hierarchicaldesigns provides lower asymptotic inbreeding rates and, thus,less net inbreeding in the long term. We also investigate theperformance of the alternative methods against departures fromthe ideal conditions, such as inbred or differentially relatedbase individuals and random failures in the expected contributions.The method of minimization of global coancestry turns out tobe more flexible and robust under these realistic situations.

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