Progeny testing
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Progeny testing is a test of the value for selective breeding of an individual's genotype by looking at the progeny produced by different matings.[1]
It is used in the breeding of both plants and animals, but is most commercially important in animal breeding to determine the true breeding value of an animal (especially males) which are used extensively for propagation of best germplasm. The extensive use of artificial insemination in domestic animals has helped in increasing the selection intensity on male animals. This selection tool is usually used for characters that are sex-limited, expressed after death (meat characteristics) and usually with low heritability, for example, milk or egg production in females. A bull, for example, cannot be assessed for milk production, however, the performance of its female offspring can be used to determine the use of the animal for future crosses.
