Notas sobre teoría de mejora genética

The text is aimed at students studying for a degree in veterinary science, although it may be useful for students and professionals interested in livestock breeding. It attempts to provide a rigorous overview of quantitative genetics as it applies to animal breeding. It begins with an exposition of the infinitesimal model that serves as a framework for formally analysing parentage resemblance and the genetic parameters derived from it: heritability and genetic correlation. The prediction of the genetic value of a breeder is studied in depth, with a detailed exposition of the methodologies of selection indices and best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP). Once the value of the breeders is known, the response under different selection methods is analysed. The pyramidal organisation of breeding gives way to the analysis of the effects of inbreeding and outcrossing on productive traits, as well as an introduction to the threshold model. As annexes, concepts related to the estimation of variance components by ANOVA techniques are introduced and a reminder of matrix algebra is given.