Comparison of Breeding System Between Single Population and Two Sub-population Scheme by Computer Simulation I. Equal genetic level for Sub-populations

Breeding efficiency was investigated to reveal crucial factors for constructing effective breeding system with subdivided populations under equal genetic level. Simulation study of selection experiment was performed for 20 generations with 20 replications each, comparing average breeding values and inbreeding coefficients between the two breeding systems; single population scheme and two population scheme, each of which had the same genetic parameters. Genetic correlations (-0.5 to 0.5) were assumed to be caused only by pleiotropic effect of a gene. Phenotypes of the two traits generated by polygenic effect with additive 36 loci and residuals distributed normally were selected by two traits selection index procedure. Comparing between the single population scheme and the two population scheme, the single population scheme showed higher genetic gain with lower inbreeding coefficient. This result was confirmed particularly for the situation of high selection intensity, high heritability and high degree of unevenness for economic weight. Genetic correlations in the single population scheme were significantly lower than the two population scheme when initial genetic correlation was negative. When terminal crossbreeding for the two population scheme is taken into account, superiority of the two population scheme was suggested. The terminal crossbreeding was effective under the situation of long term selection, existence of moderate inbreeding depression and use of less extreme economic weight.