Abstract
Optimum structure of poultry breeding flock which maximizes genetic progress is studied theoretically, when combination selection based on individual and family records is applied to females and simultaneous selection based on full-sib and half-sib family records is applied to males. This involves the number of sires, dams mated to each sire and daughters from each mating. If the population size were fixed these variables can be transformed to the selection intensities, the fraction of males and females saved for breeding. The optimum structure of the flock is then synonymous to finding out optimal fractions of males and females to be saved in order to give maximum progress for a given trait. The maximum gains are dependent only on the selection intensities which are applied to males and females. Numerical solutions were obtained by means of a digital computer, and the problem was discussed from viewpoint of practical poultry breeding.
