This book describes the methodology for predicting the genetic merit of animals in the context of genetic improvement in an animal breeding programme. Information on an animal and its relatives, on either the characteristic to be improved or from other traits, can be used to predict the animal's genetic merit, taking account of the relationships between measurements and the economic values of traits. The methodology is developed from first principles, and all the required statistical and mathematical concepts are fully described in the book. The text discusses the methods for combining different sources of information and illustrates their use with examples of breeding programmes in cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry. A series of questions with detailed answers is included in the book, to help reinforce the ideas and provide some practical experience in the prediction of genetic merit.

Introduction to Variance -- ANOVA in a Quantitative Genetics Framework -- Regression and Correlation -- Identification of Animals of High Genetic Merit -- Information from Relative -- Selection Index Methodology -- Examples of Selection Objectives and Criteria -- Factors Affectng the Rate of Genetic Improvement -- Performance Testing, Progeny Testing and MOET -- Simultaneous Prediction of Breeding Values for Several Animals -- Prediction of Breeding Values and Environmental -- Multivariate Breeding Value Prediction -- Breeding Values with a Gene of Known Large Effect -- Breeding Value for Binary Traits.