Skip to content
MateSel Docs

Reduce Inbreeding

Another way to manage inbreeding in MateSel is by minimising average progeny inbreeding using an emphasis/weighting approach, which can be used on its own or alongside a set inbreeding limit. In this way, not only can you set an inbreeding limit, but you can also minimise inbreeding below this limit. To reduce average progeny inbreeding, please follow the steps below:

Reduce Progeny Inbreeding

  1. Check the “Reduce progeny inbreeding via weighting” option and select an Emphasis level.
  2. Click the “Update Target” button.

MateSel will then add this target to the objective function and search for new mating solutions that satisfy this inbreeding target. It may take some time for these changes to show up on the Progeny Inbreeding Histogram.

Monitor the “Avg Progeny Inbreeding” metric to see the effect of your chosen settings.

What “Emphasis On Progeny Inbreeding (F)” Should I Set?

Section titled “What “Emphasis On Progeny Inbreeding (F)” Should I Set?”

The Emphasis value determines how strongly MateSel prioritises lowering inbreeding. High emphasis can sometimes reduce genetic gain or affect other breeding targets (such as Avg Progeny Index, Parental Coancestry, other Trait/Marker targets) and may be unacceptable. If results are not satisfactory, try different Emphasis values to balance inbreeding with other objectives.