Comparison of the Accuracy of the Estimated Traditional and Genomic Breeding Values using Single and Multi-Trait Analyses

The aim followed in this study was to use the multi and single trait analyses for a prediction of genomic and traditional breeding values and to make a comparison of the accuracies of these methods. A base population of 100 animals (50 males and 50 females) was randomly mated for 50 generations to create linkage disequilibrium among loci. The simulated genome size was 10 Morgan, equally divided among 10 chromosomes. On each chromosome, SNP markers were evenly located and QTLs randomly distributed over the genome. Single and multi-trait analyses were employed to BLUP estimate the SNP effects. Genomic breeding values of the animals, for each trait, amounted to the sum of SNP effects for all the loci. Results indicated that the accuracies of genomic breeding values were higher than those of traditional ones. Accuracy of breeding values increased as heritability, map density and the number of individuals, in training population, increased. High genetic correlation between the two traits led to the increased genomic and traditional breeding value accuracies.