The Australian national Pacific oyster selective breeding program commenced in 1998.  In 2005, after 6 generations of breeding, it was apparent that there were limitations to the breeding strategy.  The first was a lack of understanding of which genetic traits to select. Whilst the program was achieving genetic improvements in growth, little was known about which traits influenced grower profitability.  The second was a need to develop a breeding strategy that increased genetic gains and maintained inbreeding at safe levels.  And the third was a need for systems and tools to enable the breeding strategy to be efficiently implemented.  The purpose of this project was to address these limitations.

This project has resulted in significant changes to the ASI Pacific oyster breeding strategy. The breeding objective has changed and is now firmly focused on an economic outcome, which is to reduce the cost of production.  The size and structure of the breeding population has changed to allow greater genetic gains on a sustainable basis.  The goal is to produce 50 families per year and 42 families were produced for the 2009 year class, an increase from 24 families in the previous strategy.  A new nursery system has been implemented to produce the expanded population.  Data collection and storage systems have been completely revised to allow more efficient data collection, more efficient storage, and safeguards against data loss. A new genetic evaluation system has been implemented which will provide more accurate selections.  And a revised commercial deployment strategy has been implemented which will increase the supply of selectively bred spat to industry.

The Australian national Pacific oyster selective breeding program commenced in 1998.  In 2005, after 6 generations of breeding, it was apparent that there were limitations to the breeding strategy.  The first was a lack of understanding of which genetic traits to select. Whilst the program was achieving genetic improvements in growth, little was known about which traits influenced grower profitability.  The second was a need to develop a breeding strategy that increased genetic gains and maintained inbreeding at safe levels.  And the third was a need for systems and tools to enable the breeding strategy to be efficiently implemented.  The purpose of this project was to address these limitations.

This project has resulted in significant changes to the ASI Pacific oyster breeding strategy. The breeding objective has changed and is now firmly focused on an economic outcome, which is to reduce the cost of production.  The size and structure of the breeding population has changed to allow greater genetic gains on a sustainable basis.  The goal is to produce 50 families per year and 42 families were produced for the 2009 year class, an increase from 24 families in the previous strategy.  A new nursery system has been implemented to produce the expanded population.  Data collection and storage systems have been completely revised to allow more efficient data collection, more efficient storage, and safeguards against data loss. A new genetic evaluation system has been implemented which will provide more accurate selections.  And a revised commercial deployment strategy has been implemented which will increase the supply of selectively bred spat to industry.

The Australian national Pacific oyster selective breeding program commenced in 1998.  In 2005, after 6 generations of breeding, it was apparent that there were limitations to the breeding strategy.  The first was a lack of understanding of which genetic traits to select. Whilst the program was achieving genetic improvements in growth, little was known about which traits influenced grower profitability.  The second was a need to develop a breeding strategy that increased genetic gains and maintained inbreeding at safe levels.  And the third was a need for systems and tools to enable the breeding strategy to be efficiently implemented.  The purpose of this project was to address these limitations.

This project has resulted in significant changes to the ASI Pacific oyster breeding strategy. The breeding objective has changed and is now firmly focused on an economic outcome, which is to reduce the cost of production.  The size and structure of the breeding population has changed to allow greater genetic gains on a sustainable basis.  The goal is to produce 50 families per year and 42 families were produced for the 2009 year class, an increase from 24 families in the previous strategy.  A new nursery system has been implemented to produce the expanded population.  Data collection and storage systems have been completely revised to allow more efficient data collection, more efficient storage, and safeguards against data loss. A new genetic evaluation system has been implemented which will provide more accurate selections.  And a revised commercial deployment strategy has been implemented which will increase the supply of selectively bred spat to industry.

The Australian national Pacific oyster selective breeding program commenced in 1998.  In 2005, after 6 generations of breeding, it was apparent that there were limitations to the breeding strategy.  The first was a lack of understanding of which genetic traits to select. Whilst the program was achieving genetic improvements in growth, little was known about which traits influenced grower profitability.  The second was a need to develop a breeding strategy that increased genetic gains and maintained inbreeding at safe levels.  And the third was a need for systems and tools to enable the breeding strategy to be efficiently implemented.  The purpose of this project was to address these limitations.

This project has resulted in significant changes to the ASI Pacific oyster breeding strategy. The breeding objective has changed and is now firmly focused on an economic outcome, which is to reduce the cost of production.  The size and structure of the breeding population has changed to allow greater genetic gains on a sustainable basis.  The goal is to produce 50 families per year and 42 families were produced for the 2009 year class, an increase from 24 families in the previous strategy.  A new nursery system has been implemented to produce the expanded population.  Data collection and storage systems have been completely revised to allow more efficient data collection, more efficient storage, and safeguards against data loss. A new genetic evaluation system has been implemented which will provide more accurate selections.  And a revised commercial deployment strategy has been implemented which will increase the supply of selectively bred spat to industry.

The Australian national Pacific oyster selective breeding program commenced in 1998.  In 2005, after 6 generations of breeding, it was apparent that there were limitations to the breeding strategy.  The first was a lack of understanding of which genetic traits to select. Whilst the program was achieving genetic improvements in growth, little was known about which traits influenced grower profitability.  The second was a need to develop a breeding strategy that increased genetic gains and maintained inbreeding at safe levels.  And the third was a need for systems and tools to enable the breeding strategy to be efficiently implemented.  The purpose of this project was to address these limitations.

This project has resulted in significant changes to the ASI Pacific oyster breeding strategy. The breeding objective has changed and is now firmly focused on an economic outcome, which is to reduce the cost of production.  The size and structure of the breeding population has changed to allow greater genetic gains on a sustainable basis.  The goal is to produce 50 families per year and 42 families were produced for the 2009 year class, an increase from 24 families in the previous strategy.  A new nursery system has been implemented to produce the expanded population.  Data collection and storage systems have been completely revised to allow more efficient data collection, more efficient storage, and safeguards against data loss. A new genetic evaluation system has been implemented which will provide more accurate selections.  And a revised commercial deployment strategy has been implemented which will increase the supply of selectively bred spat to industry.

The Australian national Pacific oyster selective breeding program commenced in 1998.  In 2005, after 6 generations of breeding, it was apparent that there were limitations to the breeding strategy.  The first was a lack of understanding of which genetic traits to select. Whilst the program was achieving genetic improvements in growth, little was known about which traits influenced grower profitability.  The second was a need to develop a breeding strategy that increased genetic gains and maintained inbreeding at safe levels.  And the third was a need for systems and tools to enable the breeding strategy to be efficiently implemented.  The purpose of this project was to address these limitations.

This project has resulted in significant changes to the ASI Pacific oyster breeding strategy. The breeding objective has changed and is now firmly focused on an economic outcome, which is to reduce the cost of production.  The size and structure of the breeding population has changed to allow greater genetic gains on a sustainable basis.  The goal is to produce 50 families per year and 42 families were produced for the 2009 year class, an increase from 24 families in the previous strategy.  A new nursery system has been implemented to produce the expanded population.  Data collection and storage systems have been completely revised to allow more efficient data collection, more efficient storage, and safeguards against data loss. A new genetic evaluation system has been implemented which will provide more accurate selections.  And a revised commercial deployment strategy has been implemented which will increase the supply of selectively bred spat to industry.

The Australian national Pacific oyster selective breeding program commenced in 1998.  In 2005, after 6 generations of breeding, it was apparent that there were limitations to the breeding strategy.  The first was a lack of understanding of which genetic traits to select. Whilst the program was achieving genetic improvements in growth, little was known about which traits influenced grower profitability.  The second was a need to develop a breeding strategy that increased genetic gains and maintained inbreeding at safe levels.  And the third was a need for systems and tools to enable the breeding strategy to be efficiently implemented.  The purpose of this project was to address these limitations.

This project has resulted in significant changes to the ASI Pacific oyster breeding strategy. The breeding objective has changed and is now firmly focused on an economic outcome, which is to reduce the cost of production.  The size and structure of the breeding population has changed to allow greater genetic gains on a sustainable basis.  The goal is to produce 50 families per year and 42 families were produced for the 2009 year class, an increase from 24 families in the previous strategy.  A new nursery system has been implemented to produce the expanded population.  Data collection and storage systems have been completely revised to allow more efficient data collection, more efficient storage, and safeguards against data loss. A new genetic evaluation system has been implemented which will provide more accurate selections.  And a revised commercial deployment strategy has been implemented which will increase the supply of selectively bred spat to industry.

The Australian national Pacific oyster selective breeding program commenced in 1998.  In 2005, after 6 generations of breeding, it was apparent that there were limitations to the breeding strategy.  The first was a lack of understanding of which genetic traits to select. Whilst the program was achieving genetic improvements in growth, little was known about which traits influenced grower profitability.  The second was a need to develop a breeding strategy that increased genetic gains and maintained inbreeding at safe levels.  And the third was a need for systems and tools to enable the breeding strategy to be efficiently implemented.  The purpose of this project was to address these limitations.

This project has resulted in significant changes to the ASI Pacific oyster breeding strategy. The breeding objective has changed and is now firmly focused on an economic outcome, which is to reduce the cost of production.  The size and structure of the breeding population has changed to allow greater genetic gains on a sustainable basis.  The goal is to produce 50 families per year and 42 families were produced for the 2009 year class, an increase from 24 families in the previous strategy.  A new nursery system has been implemented to produce the expanded population.  Data collection and storage systems have been completely revised to allow more efficient data collection, more efficient storage, and safeguards against data loss. A new genetic evaluation system has been implemented which will provide more accurate selections.  And a revised commercial deployment strategy has been implemented which will increase the supply of selectively bred spat to industry.

The Australian national Pacific oyster selective breeding program commenced in 1998.  In 2005, after 6 generations of breeding, it was apparent that there were limitations to the breeding strategy.  The first was a lack of understanding of which genetic traits to select. Whilst the program was achieving genetic improvements in growth, little was known about which traits influenced grower profitability.  The second was a need to develop a breeding strategy that increased genetic gains and maintained inbreeding at safe levels.  And the third was a need for systems and tools to enable the breeding strategy to be efficiently implemented.  The purpose of this project was to address these limitations.

This project has resulted in significant changes to the ASI Pacific oyster breeding strategy. The breeding objective has changed and is now firmly focused on an economic outcome, which is to reduce the cost of production.  The size and structure of the breeding population has changed to allow greater genetic gains on a sustainable basis.  The goal is to produce 50 families per year and 42 families were produced for the 2009 year class, an increase from 24 families in the previous strategy.  A new nursery system has been implemented to produce the expanded population.  Data collection and storage systems have been completely revised to allow more efficient data collection, more efficient storage, and safeguards against data loss. A new genetic evaluation system has been implemented which will provide more accurate selections.  And a revised commercial deployment strategy has been implemented which will increase the supply of selectively bred spat to industry.

The Australian national Pacific oyster selective breeding program commenced in 1998.  In 2005, after 6 generations of breeding, it was apparent that there were limitations to the breeding strategy.  The first was a lack of understanding of which genetic traits to select. Whilst the program was achieving genetic improvements in growth, little was known about which traits influenced grower profitability.  The second was a need to develop a breeding strategy that increased genetic gains and maintained inbreeding at safe levels.  And the third was a need for systems and tools to enable the breeding strategy to be efficiently implemented.  The purpose of this project was to address these limitations.

This project has resulted in significant changes to the ASI Pacific oyster breeding strategy. The breeding objective has changed and is now firmly focused on an economic outcome, which is to reduce the cost of production.  The size and structure of the breeding population has changed to allow greater genetic gains on a sustainable basis.  The goal is to produce 50 families per year and 42 families were produced for the 2009 year class, an increase from 24 families in the previous strategy.  A new nursery system has been implemented to produce the expanded population.  Data collection and storage systems have been completely revised to allow more efficient data collection, more efficient storage, and safeguards against data loss. A new genetic evaluation system has been implemented which will provide more accurate selections.  And a revised commercial deployment strategy has been implemented which will increase the supply of selectively bred spat to industry.

The Australian national Pacific oyster selective breeding program commenced in 1998.  In 2005, after 6 generations of breeding, it was apparent that there were limitations to the breeding strategy.  The first was a lack of understanding of which genetic traits to select. Whilst the program was achieving genetic improvements in growth, little was known about which traits influenced grower profitability.  The second was a need to develop a breeding strategy that increased genetic gains and maintained inbreeding at safe levels.  And the third was a need for systems and tools to enable the breeding strategy to be efficiently implemented.  The purpose of this project was to address these limitations.

This project has resulted in significant changes to the ASI Pacific oyster breeding strategy. The breeding objective has changed and is now firmly focused on an economic outcome, which is to reduce the cost of production.  The size and structure of the breeding population has changed to allow greater genetic gains on a sustainable basis.  The goal is to produce 50 families per year and 42 families were produced for the 2009 year class, an increase from 24 families in the previous strategy.  A new nursery system has been implemented to produce the expanded population.  Data collection and storage systems have been completely revised to allow more efficient data collection, more efficient storage, and safeguards against data loss. A new genetic evaluation system has been implemented which will provide more accurate selections.  And a revised commercial deployment strategy has been implemented which will increase the supply of selectively bred spat to industry.

The Australian national Pacific oyster selective breeding program commenced in 1998.  In 2005, after 6 generations of breeding, it was apparent that there were limitations to the breeding strategy.  The first was a lack of understanding of which genetic traits to select. Whilst the program was achieving genetic improvements in growth, little was known about which traits influenced grower profitability.  The second was a need to develop a breeding strategy that increased genetic gains and maintained inbreeding at safe levels.  And the third was a need for systems and tools to enable the breeding strategy to be efficiently implemented.  The purpose of this project was to address these limitations.

This project has resulted in significant changes to the ASI Pacific oyster breeding strategy. The breeding objective has changed and is now firmly focused on an economic outcome, which is to reduce the cost of production.  The size and structure of the breeding population has changed to allow greater genetic gains on a sustainable basis.  The goal is to produce 50 families per year and 42 families were produced for the 2009 year class, an increase from 24 families in the previous strategy.  A new nursery system has been implemented to produce the expanded population.  Data collection and storage systems have been completely revised to allow more efficient data collection, more efficient storage, and safeguards against data loss. A new genetic evaluation system has been implemented which will provide more accurate selections.  And a revised commercial deployment strategy has been implemented which will increase the supply of selectively bred spat to industry.

The Australian national Pacific oyster selective breeding program commenced in 1998.  In 2005, after 6 generations of breeding, it was apparent that there were limitations to the breeding strategy.  The first was a lack of understanding of which genetic traits to select. Whilst the program was achieving genetic improvements in growth, little was known about which traits influenced grower profitability.  The second was a need to develop a breeding strategy that increased genetic gains and maintained inbreeding at safe levels.  And the third was a need for systems and tools to enable the breeding strategy to be efficiently implemented.  The purpose of this project was to address these limitations.

This project has resulted in significant changes to the ASI Pacific oyster breeding strategy. The breeding objective has changed and is now firmly focused on an economic outcome, which is to reduce the cost of production.  The size and structure of the breeding population has changed to allow greater genetic gains on a sustainable basis.  The goal is to produce 50 families per year and 42 families were produced for the 2009 year class, an increase from 24 families in the previous strategy.  A new nursery system has been implemented to produce the expanded population.  Data collection and storage systems have been completely revised to allow more efficient data collection, more efficient storage, and safeguards against data loss. A new genetic evaluation system has been implemented which will provide more accurate selections.  And a revised commercial deployment strategy has been implemented which will increase the supply of selectively bred spat to industry.

The Australian national Pacific oyster selective breeding program commenced in 1998.  In 2005, after 6 generations of breeding, it was apparent that there were limitations to the breeding strategy.  The first was a lack of understanding of which genetic traits to select. Whilst the program was achieving genetic improvements in growth, little was known about which traits influenced grower profitability.  The second was a need to develop a breeding strategy that increased genetic gains and maintained inbreeding at safe levels.  And the third was a need for systems and tools to enable the breeding strategy to be efficiently implemented.  The purpose of this project was to address these limitations.

This project has resulted in significant changes to the ASI Pacific oyster breeding strategy. The breeding objective has changed and is now firmly focused on an economic outcome, which is to reduce the cost of production.  The size and structure of the breeding population has changed to allow greater genetic gains on a sustainable basis.  The goal is to produce 50 families per year and 42 families were produced for the 2009 year class, an increase from 24 families in the previous strategy.  A new nursery system has been implemented to produce the expanded population.  Data collection and storage systems have been completely revised to allow more efficient data collection, more efficient storage, and safeguards against data loss. A new genetic evaluation system has been implemented which will provide more accurate selections.  And a revised commercial deployment strategy has been implemented which will increase the supply of selectively bred spat to industry.

The Australian national Pacific oyster selective breeding program commenced in 1998.  In 2005, after 6 generations of breeding, it was apparent that there were limitations to the breeding strategy.  The first was a lack of understanding of which genetic traits to select. Whilst the program was achieving genetic improvements in growth, little was known about which traits influenced grower profitability.  The second was a need to develop a breeding strategy that increased genetic gains and maintained inbreeding at safe levels.  And the third was a need for systems and tools to enable the breeding strategy to be efficiently implemented.  The purpose of this project was to address these limitations.

This project has resulted in significant changes to the ASI Pacific oyster breeding strategy. The breeding objective has changed and is now firmly focused on an economic outcome, which is to reduce the cost of production.  The size and structure of the breeding population has changed to allow greater genetic gains on a sustainable basis.  The goal is to produce 50 families per year and 42 families were produced for the 2009 year class, an increase from 24 families in the previous strategy.  A new nursery system has been implemented to produce the expanded population.  Data collection and storage systems have been completely revised to allow more efficient data collection, more efficient storage, and safeguards against data loss. A new genetic evaluation system has been implemented which will provide more accurate selections.  And a revised commercial deployment strategy has been implemented which will increase the supply of selectively bred spat to industry.

The Australian national Pacific oyster selective breeding program commenced in 1998.  In 2005, after 6 generations of breeding, it was apparent that there were limitations to the breeding strategy.  The first was a lack of understanding of which genetic traits to select. Whilst the program was achieving genetic improvements in growth, little was known about which traits influenced grower profitability.  The second was a need to develop a breeding strategy that increased genetic gains and maintained inbreeding at safe levels.  And the third was a need for systems and tools to enable the breeding strategy to be efficiently implemented.  The purpose of this project was to address these limitations.

This project has resulted in significant changes to the ASI Pacific oyster breeding strategy. The breeding objective has changed and is now firmly focused on an economic outcome, which is to reduce the cost of production.  The size and structure of the breeding population has changed to allow greater genetic gains on a sustainable basis.  The goal is to produce 50 families per year and 42 families were produced for the 2009 year class, an increase from 24 families in the previous strategy.  A new nursery system has been implemented to produce the expanded population.  Data collection and storage systems have been completely revised to allow more efficient data collection, more efficient storage, and safeguards against data loss. A new genetic evaluation system has been implemented which will provide more accurate selections.  And a revised commercial deployment strategy has been implemented which will increase the supply of selectively bred spat to industry.

The Australian national Pacific oyster selective breeding program commenced in 1998.  In 2005, after 6 generations of breeding, it was apparent that there were limitations to the breeding strategy.  The first was a lack of understanding of which genetic traits to select. Whilst the program was achieving genetic improvements in growth, little was known about which traits influenced grower profitability.  The second was a need to develop a breeding strategy that increased genetic gains and maintained inbreeding at safe levels.  And the third was a need for systems and tools to enable the breeding strategy to be efficiently implemented.  The purpose of this project was to address these limitations.

This project has resulted in significant changes to the ASI Pacific oyster breeding strategy. The breeding objective has changed and is now firmly focused on an economic outcome, which is to reduce the cost of production.  The size and structure of the breeding population has changed to allow greater genetic gains on a sustainable basis.  The goal is to produce 50 families per year and 42 families were produced for the 2009 year class, an increase from 24 families in the previous strategy.  A new nursery system has been implemented to produce the expanded population.  Data collection and storage systems have been completely revised to allow more efficient data collection, more efficient storage, and safeguards against data loss. A new genetic evaluation system has been implemented which will provide more accurate selections.  And a revised commercial deployment strategy has been implemented which will increase the supply of selectively bred spat to industry.

The Australian national Pacific oyster selective breeding program commenced in 1998.  In 2005, after 6 generations of breeding, it was apparent that there were limitations to the breeding strategy.  The first was a lack of understanding of which genetic traits to select. Whilst the program was achieving genetic improvements in growth, little was known about which traits influenced grower profitability.  The second was a need to develop a breeding strategy that increased genetic gains and maintained inbreeding at safe levels.  And the third was a need for systems and tools to enable the breeding strategy to be efficiently implemented.  The purpose of this project was to address these limitations.

This project has resulted in significant changes to the ASI Pacific oyster breeding strategy. The breeding objective has changed and is now firmly focused on an economic outcome, which is to reduce the cost of production.  The size and structure of the breeding population has changed to allow greater genetic gains on a sustainable basis.  The goal is to produce 50 families per year and 42 families were produced for the 2009 year class, an increase from 24 families in the previous strategy.  A new nursery system has been implemented to produce the expanded population.  Data collection and storage systems have been completely revised to allow more efficient data collection, more efficient storage, and safeguards against data loss. A new genetic evaluation system has been implemented which will provide more accurate selections.  And a revised commercial deployment strategy has been implemented which will increase the supply of selectively bred spat to industry.

The Australian national Pacific oyster selective breeding program commenced in 1998.  In 2005, after 6 generations of breeding, it was apparent that there were limitations to the breeding strategy.  The first was a lack of understanding of which genetic traits to select. Whilst the program was achieving genetic improvements in growth, little was known about which traits influenced grower profitability.  The second was a need to develop a breeding strategy that increased genetic gains and maintained inbreeding at safe levels.  And the third was a need for systems and tools to enable the breeding strategy to be efficiently implemented.  The purpose of this project was to address these limitations.

This project has resulted in significant changes to the ASI Pacific oyster breeding strategy. The breeding objective has changed and is now firmly focused on an economic outcome, which is to reduce the cost of production.  The size and structure of the breeding population has changed to allow greater genetic gains on a sustainable basis.  The goal is to produce 50 families per year and 42 families were produced for the 2009 year class, an increase from 24 families in the previous strategy.  A new nursery system has been implemented to produce the expanded population.  Data collection and storage systems have been completely revised to allow more efficient data collection, more efficient storage, and safeguards against data loss. A new genetic evaluation system has been implemented which will provide more accurate selections.  And a revised commercial deployment strategy has been implemented which will increase the supply of selectively bred spat to industry.

The Australian national Pacific oyster selective breeding program commenced in 1998.  In 2005, after 6 generations of breeding, it was apparent that there were limitations to the breeding strategy.  The first was a lack of understanding of which genetic traits to select. Whilst the program was achieving genetic improvements in growth, little was known about which traits influenced grower profitability.  The second was a need to develop a breeding strategy that increased genetic gains and maintained inbreeding at safe levels.  And the third was a need for systems and tools to enable the breeding strategy to be efficiently implemented.  The purpose of this project was to address these limitations.

This project has resulted in significant changes to the ASI Pacific oyster breeding strategy. The breeding objective has changed and is now firmly focused on an economic outcome, which is to reduce the cost of production.  The size and structure of the breeding population has changed to allow greater genetic gains on a sustainable basis.  The goal is to produce 50 families per year and 42 families were produced for the 2009 year class, an increase from 24 families in the previous strategy.  A new nursery system has been implemented to produce the expanded population.  Data collection and storage systems have been completely revised to allow more efficient data collection, more efficient storage, and safeguards against data loss. A new genetic evaluation system has been implemented which will provide more accurate selections.  And a revised commercial deployment strategy has been implemented which will increase the supply of selectively bred spat to industry.

The Australian national Pacific oyster selective breeding program commenced in 1998.  In 2005, after 6 generations of breeding, it was apparent that there were limitations to the breeding strategy.  The first was a lack of understanding of which genetic traits to select. Whilst the program was achieving genetic improvements in growth, little was known about which traits influenced grower profitability.  The second was a need to develop a breeding strategy that increased genetic gains and maintained inbreeding at safe levels.  And the third was a need for systems and tools to enable the breeding strategy to be efficiently implemented.  The purpose of this project was to address these limitations.

This project has resulted in significant changes to the ASI Pacific oyster breeding strategy. The breeding objective has changed and is now firmly focused on an economic outcome, which is to reduce the cost of production.  The size and structure of the breeding population has changed to allow greater genetic gains on a sustainable basis.  The goal is to produce 50 families per year and 42 families were produced for the 2009 year class, an increase from 24 families in the previous strategy.  A new nursery system has been implemented to produce the expanded population.  Data collection and storage systems have been completely revised to allow more efficient data collection, more efficient storage, and safeguards against data loss. A new genetic evaluation system has been implemented which will provide more accurate selections.  And a revised commercial deployment strategy has been implemented which will increase the supply of selectively bred spat to industry.

The Australian national Pacific oyster selective breeding program commenced in 1998.  In 2005, after 6 generations of breeding, it was apparent that there were limitations to the breeding strategy.  The first was a lack of understanding of which genetic traits to select. Whilst the program was achieving genetic improvements in growth, little was known about which traits influenced grower profitability.  The second was a need to develop a breeding strategy that increased genetic gains and maintained inbreeding at safe levels.  And the third was a need for systems and tools to enable the breeding strategy to be efficiently implemented.  The purpose of this project was to address these limitations.

This project has resulted in significant changes to the ASI Pacific oyster breeding strategy. The breeding objective has changed and is now firmly focused on an economic outcome, which is to reduce the cost of production.  The size and structure of the breeding population has changed to allow greater genetic gains on a sustainable basis.  The goal is to produce 50 families per year and 42 families were produced for the 2009 year class, an increase from 24 families in the previous strategy.  A new nursery system has been implemented to produce the expanded population.  Data collection and storage systems have been completely revised to allow more efficient data collection, more efficient storage, and safeguards against data loss. A new genetic evaluation system has been implemented which will provide more accurate selections.  And a revised commercial deployment strategy has been implemented which will increase the supply of selectively bred spat to industry.

The Australian national Pacific oyster selective breeding program commenced in 1998.  In 2005, after 6 generations of breeding, it was apparent that there were limitations to the breeding strategy.  The first was a lack of understanding of which genetic traits to select. Whilst the program was achieving genetic improvements in growth, little was known about which traits influenced grower profitability.  The second was a need to develop a breeding strategy that increased genetic gains and maintained inbreeding at safe levels.  And the third was a need for systems and tools to enable the breeding strategy to be efficiently implemented.  The purpose of this project was to address these limitations.

This project has resulted in significant changes to the ASI Pacific oyster breeding strategy. The breeding objective has changed and is now firmly focused on an economic outcome, which is to reduce the cost of production.  The size and structure of the breeding population has changed to allow greater genetic gains on a sustainable basis.  The goal is to produce 50 families per year and 42 families were produced for the 2009 year class, an increase from 24 families in the previous strategy.  A new nursery system has been implemented to produce the expanded population.  Data collection and storage systems have been completely revised to allow more efficient data collection, more efficient storage, and safeguards against data loss. A new genetic evaluation system has been implemented which will provide more accurate selections.  And a revised commercial deployment strategy has been implemented which will increase the supply of selectively bred spat to industry.

The Australian national Pacific oyster selective breeding program commenced in 1998.  In 2005, after 6 generations of breeding, it was apparent that there were limitations to the breeding strategy.  The first was a lack of understanding of which genetic traits to select. Whilst the program was achieving genetic improvements in growth, little was known about which traits influenced grower profitability.  The second was a need to develop a breeding strategy that increased genetic gains and maintained inbreeding at safe levels.  And the third was a need for systems and tools to enable the breeding strategy to be efficiently implemented.  The purpose of this project was to address these limitations.

This project has resulted in significant changes to the ASI Pacific oyster breeding strategy. The breeding objective has changed and is now firmly focused on an economic outcome, which is to reduce the cost of production.  The size and structure of the breeding population has changed to allow greater genetic gains on a sustainable basis.  The goal is to produce 50 families per year and 42 families were produced for the 2009 year class, an increase from 24 families in the previous strategy.  A new nursery system has been implemented to produce the expanded population.  Data collection and storage systems have been completely revised to allow more efficient data collection, more efficient storage, and safeguards against data loss. A new genetic evaluation system has been implemented which will provide more accurate selections.  And a revised commercial deployment strategy has been implemented which will increase the supply of selectively bred spat to industry.

The Australian national Pacific oyster selective breeding program commenced in 1998.  In 2005, after 6 generations of breeding, it was apparent that there were limitations to the breeding strategy.  The first was a lack of understanding of which genetic traits to select. Whilst the program was achieving genetic improvements in growth, little was known about which traits influenced grower profitability.  The second was a need to develop a breeding strategy that increased genetic gains and maintained inbreeding at safe levels.  And the third was a need for systems and tools to enable the breeding strategy to be efficiently implemented.  The purpose of this project was to address these limitations.

This project has resulted in significant changes to the ASI Pacific oyster breeding strategy. The breeding objective has changed and is now firmly focused on an economic outcome, which is to reduce the cost of production.  The size and structure of the breeding population has changed to allow greater genetic gains on a sustainable basis.  The goal is to produce 50 families per year and 42 families were produced for the 2009 year class, an increase from 24 families in the previous strategy.  A new nursery system has been implemented to produce the expanded population.  Data collection and storage systems have been completely revised to allow more efficient data collection, more efficient storage, and safeguards against data loss. A new genetic evaluation system has been implemented which will provide more accurate selections.  And a revised commercial deployment strategy has been implemented which will increase the supply of selectively bred spat to industry.