Stear M J, Bishop S C, Mallard B A, Raadsma H
University of Glasgow Veterinary School, Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH, Scotland, UK.
Res Vet Sci. 2001 Aug;71(1):1-7. doi: 10.1053/rvsc.2001.0496.
Selective breeding for disease resistance utilises proven animal breeding methods to improve animal health, welfare and productivity. Unsurprisingly, it is receiving more and more attention from livestock breeders. However, there are a number of largely theoretical arguments that have been raised as potential problems in selection for disease resistance. These can be classified under sustainability, feasibility and desirability. This review considers each of these areas in turn. Several examples show that enhanced resistance to disease is stable under natural selection and therefore deliberate selection for disease resistance should also be stable and sustainable. The feasibility of selective breeding depends in part upon the heritability of the trait or traits used to measure disease resistance, as well as the amount of variation among animals. The heritability of traits associated with resistance to many important diseases is often high and considerable variation among animals exists. Consequently, selective breeding for enhanced disease resistance is certainly feasible. The desirability of breeding for disease resistance depends upon whether there are trade-offs with other economically important traits. By and large these remain to be defined. However, even if unfavourable associations exist, breeders can create selection indices that include traits with unfavourable associations and maximise the desired responses while attempting to minimise undesirable effects. In conclusion, so long as one or more diseases exert a significant influence on livestock production, selective breeding will be a useful tool to assist in disease control.
针对抗病性的选择性育种利用经过验证的动物育种方法来改善动物健康、福利和生产力。不出所料，它正受到越来越多牲畜育种者的关注。然而，有一些主要是理论上的观点被提出，作为抗病性选择中的潜在问题。这些问题可以归类为可持续性、可行性和可取性。本综述依次考虑这些方面。几个例子表明，在自然选择下，增强的抗病性是稳定的，因此有意选择抗病性也应该是稳定和可持续的。选择性育种的可行性部分取决于用于衡量抗病性的一个或多个性状的遗传力，以及动物之间的变异量。与许多重要疾病抗性相关的性状遗传力通常较高，并且动物之间存在相当大的变异。因此，针对增强抗病性的选择性育种肯定是可行的。抗病性育种的可取性取决于是否与其他经济上重要的性状存在权衡。总体而言，这些权衡仍有待确定。然而，即使存在不利关联，育种者也可以创建选择指数，其中包括具有不利关联的性状，并在试图最小化不良影响的同时最大化期望的反应。总之，只要一种或多种疾病对牲畜生产产生重大影响，选择性育种将是协助疾病控制的有用工具。
