Abstract
Considering the situation where a cluster of QTLs (CQTLs) very tightly linked to each other are located on a chromosomal region marked by genetic markers, this paper concerns the best linear unbiased prediction of the random effects of CQTLs and those of the remaining QTLs unlinked to CQTLs for the genetic evaluation in outbred populations of animals. The proposed method incorporates the upstream as well as flanking marker information and utilizes the mixed model methodology. It is shown how the most appropriate values of the expectations ofthe identity-by-descent proportions, or EIBDPs, for gametes of animals to be evaluated can be calculated in the current case. With this method, the EIBDPs are used as the elements of the gametic relationship matrix. Using a small data-sample, the current method is demonstrated, being compared to the two previous alternative methods.
