Principles of Genetics and Breeding

13.1.9. Family selection

The second basic type of selection is family selection.

• This is based on performance and measurements made on their relatives, usually full and half-sibs.
• Family selection also give higher genetic gain for traits of low heritability compared to individual selection.
• Family selection programmes are more costly to operate than individual selection and the magnitude of genetic gain will depend on number of families tested in each generation.
• There are three types of family selection: i) between-family selection, ii) with-in-family selection, and iii) combined family selection.