Breeding Horizons Next-Gen Breeder
Training
Venue:
University of New England, Armidale, NSW Australia
Course Audience:
Postgraduate students and Industry professionals
The Next-Gen Breeder Training program offers intensive face-to-face
training focused on the critical aspects of efficient and sustainable breeding
programs—covering how to maximise genetic gain
while maintaining genetic diversity. Participants will gain a solid theoretical
foundation and practical skills through hands-on experience, with a focus on
applying the latest theory to real breeding programs. Concepts are presented in
a practical way using simple teaching tools in Excel and R, with
straightforward examples to illustrate key ideas. The course covers the full
selection pipeline—from defining breeding goals and translating these
into traits and relative weights, through to measuring phenotypes or using
genomic testing to predict breeding value, and finally optimising
selection decisions across multiple traits while maintaining sufficient genetic
variation.
Content:
Program Monday 16 November
|
8.30
– 9.00am |
Arrival and Registration |
|
9.00
– 10.30am |
Introduction, obtaining accurate
selection criteria (EBVs) |
|
10.30
– 11.00am |
Morning Tea |
|
11.00
– 12.30pm |
The accuracy of genomic selection |
|
12.30
- 1.30pm |
Lunch |
|
1.30
– 3.00pm |
Optimising selection response |
|
3.00
– 3.30pm |
Afternoon Tea |
|
3.30
– 5.00pm |
Setting multiple traits breeding
objectives |
|
Evening |
Social Event, Welder’s Dog, 120
Marsh Street, Armidale |
Program Tuesday 17 November
|
8.30
– 9.00am |
Arrival and Registration |
|
9.00
– 10.30am |
Optimising multiple trait selection |
|
10.30
– 11.00am |
Morning Tea |
|
11.00
– 12.30pm |
Selection for multiple
environments (GxE) |
|
12.30
– 2.00pm |
Lunch |
|
2.00
– 3.00pm |
Managing genetic
diversity |
|
3.00
– 3.30pm |
Afternoon Tea |
|
3.30
– 5.00pm |
Implementing
optimal breeding programs |
|
Evening |
Free evening |
Details on
topics and relevant materials will be populated below during the course
Introduction, obtaining accurate selection
criteria (EBVs)
The accuracy of genomic selection
Optimising selection response
Setting multiple traits breeding objectives
Optimising multiple trait selection
Selection for multiple environments (GxE)
Managing genetic diversity
Implementing optimal breeding programs