Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rcrh6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T15:08:51.306Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A note on the estimation of economic values for selection indices: a response

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

B. E. Melton
Affiliation:
Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
R. L. Willham
Affiliation:
Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
E. O. Heady
Affiliation:
Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
Get access

Abstract

Various procedures for estimating the economic values required to weight characteristics in multitrait selection have been proposed. Some, despite their theoretically sound foundations, are frequently misinterpreted. One such method involves the derivation of economic values based upon accepted economic theories of the firm, profit maximization, and the concepts of marginal economic behaviour. An amplified and more rigorous presentation of this method and its theoretical basis is presented that confirms the basic propriety of the method, clarifies the misinterpretations surrounding its application, and offers additional insights into the potential fallacy of less economically rigorous alternatives.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1994

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Chaing, A. C. 1974. Fundamental methods of mathematical economics. 2nd ed. McGraw-Hill, New York.Google Scholar
Falconer, R. S. 1960. Introduction to quantitative genetics. Ronald Press, New York.Google Scholar
Goddard, M. E. 1983. Selection indices for non-linear profit functions. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 64: 339344.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hazel, L. N. 1943. The genetic basis for construction of selection indices. Genetics 28: 476490.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Henderson, J. M. and Quandt, R. E. 1980. Microeconomic theory: a mathematical approach. 3rd ed. McGraw-Hill, New York.Google Scholar
Melton, B. E., Heady, E. O. and Willham, R. L. 1979. Estimation of economic values for selection indices. Animal Production 28: 279286.Google Scholar
Stigler, G. J. 1966. The theory of price. Macmillan Company, New York.Google Scholar
Thompson, R. 1980. A note on the estimation of economic values for selection indices. Animal Production 31: 115117.Google Scholar