The genetic correlation between feed conversion ratio and growth rate affects the design of a breeding program for more sustainable fish production

Type Article
Date 2020-02
Language English
Author(s) Besson Mathieu1, 2, 3, Komen Hans1, Rose Gus1, Vandeputte Marc2, 3
Affiliation(s) 1 : Animal Breeding and Genomics Centre, Wageningen University, PO Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands
2 : Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
3 : Ifremer, Chemin de Maguelone, 34250, Palavas-les-Flots, France
Source Genetics Selection Evolution (0999-193X) (Springer Science and Business Media LLC), 2020-02 , Vol. 52 , N. 1 , P. 5 (10p.)
DOI 10.1186/s12711-020-0524-0
WOS© Times Cited 21
Abstract

Background

Most fish breeding programs aim at improving growth rate and include feed conversion ratio (FCR) neither in the breeding goal nor in the selection index, although decreasing FCR is known to increase farm profit and decrease environmental impacts. This is because FCR is difficult to measure in fish that live in groups and FCR is assumed to have a favourable (negative) genetic correlation with growth, although the magnitude of this correlation is unknown. We investigated the effect of the genetic correlation between growth and FCR on the economic and environmental responses of a two-trait breeding goal (growth and FCR), compared to a single-trait breeding goal (growth only). Next, we evaluated the weights to assign to growth and FCR in a two-trait breeding goal to maximize sustainability of fish production.

Methods

We used pseudo-best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) index calculations to simulate a breeding program for sea bass. For the single-trait breeding goal, the trait in the breeding goal and in the index was thermal growth coefficient (TGC) and for the two-trait breeding goal, the traits in the breeding goal were TGC and FCR and the traits in the index were TGC and percentage of fat in the dorsal muscle (an indirect measure of FCR). We simulated responses to selection for genetic and phenotypic correlations between TGC and FCR ranging from 0 to − 0.8. Then, in the two-trait breeding goal, we calculated the economic return and the change in eutrophication when using economic values (EV) or environmental values (ENV).

Results

When the genetic correlation between TGC and FCR was lower than − 0.45, we found major differences in economic returns and in eutrophication between single and two-trait breeding programs. At a correlation of − 0.25, the two-trait breeding goal based on EV increased economic return by 25% compared to the single-trait breeding goal, while using ENV decreased eutrophication by 1.34% per ton of fish produced after one generation of selection.

Conclusions

The genetic correlation between TGC and FCR affects the magnitude of economic losses due to omitting FCR in the breeding program. In addition, the genetic correlation affects the importance of choosing EV or ENV to reduce eutrophication and increase profit.

Full Text
File Pages Size Access
Publisher's official version 10 1 MB Open access
Additional file 1: Tables S1. Calculations and parameters involved in the bio-economic model. 1 519 KB Open access
Additional file 2: Tables S2. Technical parameters of the sea bass farm running under a quota on biomass. 1 26 KB Open access
Additional file 3: Tables S3. Revenue and costs (variable and fixed) of a sea bass farm running under a quota on biomass. 1 125 KB Open access
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