18/07/2023
LINEBREEDING ANALYZED
Linebreeding is the mating of the new best offspring back to the original parent, over a number of generations. It brings out the best AND WORST of the genetics that reside in the original parent, that is back bred to.
Practically it is best done with animals that, in their natural state were lower in the food chain, hence produce offspring in large numbers, to be able to select the strongest and fittest; rabbits and chickens are more suitable than horses or elephants.
The purpose is to preserve or procure quality in broodfowl in this case.
The best proven son is bred back to his mother, the best proven grandson back to the same dam and so on. The same can be done with the same sire back to his daughter,granddaughter, great granddaughter and so on. This is often described with blood rates in volumes, like 1/2, 3/4, 7/8, 15/16, 31/32 and so forth. Is this correct scientifically?
What actually happens is, that part of the genes for which the parent is heterozygous (is only half present) becomes homozygous. The recessive ones appear: the positive AND THE NEGATIVE. Which is great, because it tells a lot about the original parent. When you have several hens single mated (trap nests will also do, when you are often there to free them) you will know the MOTHER of each extraordinary performer, and will discover which HEN BLOODLINE will be the better.
Now back to the gain in homozygous genes with each linebred generation. This does NOT add up like 50%, 75%; etcetera. According to Mendel’s Law only 25% becomes homozygous, the next generation 37,5
The following table can be made:
Generation. Inbreeding coefficient
1. 1/4. 25,0
2. 3/8. 37,5
3. 7/16. 43,75
4. 15/32. 46,75
5. 31/64. 48,4375
6. 63/128. 49,2188
As is clear to see, even when you linebreed infinitely, it will never cross the 50% line. So after the 4th or 5th generation it is practical to proceed with closed family breeding, amongst the last generation and so forth, uncle x niece, aunt x nephew, with as large a population as possible and harsh selection. I had more than 220 hatchlings, ending with 6 to 12 in autumn. The culls told a lot about the genetics of their mothers, which were culled on this information too! This kind of meticulous intelligent inbreeding makes a family as homozygous as can be ON POSITIVE GENES, and though started as a cross, will in 8 to 10 generations PRODUCE uniform enough to be called a pure family, and pertaining enough genetic variability to adapt, and allow selection.
John A. van der Laan.
Practice based on information from
Dr.L.R. Champion,
Poultry Sience Dept.
Michigan.
Published in “Grit and Steel”, 1971, information worth years of subscription. It works!
Visit my profile, I will answer all questions on Messenger.