Increased genetic gains in sheep breeding programs from using female reproductive technologies combined with genomic selection

Reproductive technologies such as MOET and JIVET can boost rates of genetic gain but they can also increase rates of inbreeding. We used optimal contribution selection to explore these potential benefits while managing inbreeding and we evaluated the synergies that exists between genomic selection (GS) and reproductive technologies. When selecting for a trait that can be measured early in life and on both sexes, GS combined with MOET and JIVET gave 46% more gain. When selecting on a late measured trait, use of MOET was not beneficial without GS. However, breeding programs combining GS with MOET or MOET + JIVET had increased genetic gain of 39% and 83%, respectively, while the inbreeding was limited to a 10% increase over 20 years. This provides evidence that reproductive technologies and genomic selection can be useful tools for nucleus breeders.