CD Breeding Notation

CD Notation  |  Breeding Traits and Qualities  |  Multiple-Goal Breeding  | 

Traditional Notation

In traditional notation (Mendel?), the founding pair are called P1, and the offspring of the founding pair are called F1.  This notation has proven useful in genetic studies, particularly because the pairing of siblings is assumed.  The traditional notation has been useful in identifying specific genes and calculating probabilities based on observations.

However, traditional notation is more problematic in defining breeding programs that do not include siblings and reach beyond a couple of generations.  Traditional notation does not identify specific individuals.  Traditional notation does not recognize existing family groups, traits, or qualities.

Traditional notation fails to distinguish between siblings and cousins, where such differences may make a significant impact on breeding decisions, and hybrid expression problems.

While traditional notation can track specific traits that are carried in specific genes, it becomes troublesome when qualities have been identified that are produced by unknown genes and multiple gene combinations, such as relative rankings in a breeder's show competition.

With traditional notation, the P1 generation is ignored so that the F1 generation is known as the "first generation".

Introduction

CD Breeding Notation provides a method to define a breeding plan.  With CD Breeding Notation, it is possible to identify future pairings of birds that do not yet exist.  It is possible to define breeding selection decisions that have not yet been made.  It allows for the tracking of families and sub-families.  It recognizes specific traits and qualities.

With CD Breeding Notation, the first generation is the original outcross pair.  Their offspring are called the "second generation".

Traits

"Traits" are specific features that are likely the result of very few genes so that that the trait becomes a "Yes" or "No" feature.  Either the individual shows the trait, or it doesn't.

Qualities

"Qualities" are features that are measured on a relative scale to other individuals.  In the case of Ceremony Doves™, "Flying Skill" is a quality that we expect to improve in future generations and so becomes relative over time and relative to other individuals.

Family

A family is a group of individuals that are highly inbred and therefore have many homozygous genes in common.  It is assumed that a family is built on identifying some very specific traits or qualities that are considered desirable for future generations.

Sub-Family

It is not possible to have a single sub-family.  By definition, a sub-family assumes there are multiple families that are closely related. 

CD Breeding Notation

The First Generation is X

Where traditional notation uses P1, CD Breeding Notation begins with the letter X which represents the original outcross pair.  Individuals in the outcross pair include the female, Xf, and the male, Xm.  Additional characters can be added to the left and right of the X to identify families, traits, and qualities.

While the original pair designation can become as complicated as the breeder desires, later generations are designated with very simple notations.

When one of the first-generation birds are line-bred to later generations, their offspring are always considered to be second generation.

Families to the Left

Outcrosses, by definition, are made by crossing individuals from two different families.  Those families can be noted by placing a designation to the left of the X. Since each individual breeder obtains or maintains a unique set of families, the family designations are completely arbitrary so that their meaning is only valid for the breeder defining them.

Left hand designations are dropped in later generation notations.

For example when crossing a Stassert racing homer with a Scion racing homer, the pairing might be represented as StX-ScX.  A second outcross from the same families might be represented with St2X-Sc2X.  If gender is known, the same pairing might be represented by StXf-ScXm.  If specific individuals are known, the same pairing might be represented using their band numbers with St123Xf-Sc456Xm. 

In the case of Ceremony Doves, a key family is maintained based on flying skill.  That family is designated as family "A".  An outcross between family A and a bird from the Star Tail breed might be designated as AXm-StXf.

Left hand designations are unique to each breeder and a successful breeder will develop a precise set of designations that he uses consistently. 

Traits and Qualities to the Right

It is assumed that all outcrosses are performed with a specific goal, or specific criteria that will be used to judge the results of future generations.  Those criteria are designated to the right of the X when noting future individuals. 

For example, if Hc is used for the Head Crest trait, the proper designation would be XHc if such a trait were used in breeding decisions.  However, if the Head Crest is assumed, and not used for breeding decisions, the breeder would not use Hc in documenting his breeding plan.

Trait and Quality designations are generally not used until after the second-generation when criteria is used to select for future breeding.  We will come back to these designations later.

Second Generation Offspring Uses X Dot (n) Notation

The second generation is unique in that hybrid expression suppresses many traits that can never be seen until later generations.  While many breeders use such individuals in competition when hybrid vigor advantages are discovered, the second generation is typically unfit for making future breeding decisions. 

Where traditional notation uses F1, CD Breeding notation uses X dot (n), to identify individuals within that generation, so that the first notable female from an outcross becomes X.1f.  The first notable male becomes X.1m.  The second notable female is X.2f, while the second notable male is X.2m.

Not all offspring are designated because they may not be suitable for future breeding.  However, all individuals found to be notable receive a designation.

Now consider a first-generation pairing; Xf-Xm, or simply X.  We will use X dot (n) notation to designate their offspring.  Their first eight notable offspring representing the second generation would be designated X.1f, X.1m, X.2f, X.2m, X.3f, X.3m, X.4f, and  X.4m.

When line-breeding a second-generation bird to its first-generation parent, the result is another second-generation bird.  For example Xf-X.1m might produce designations of X.5f, X.5m, X.6f, X.6m, X.7f,  X.7m, etc.

When line-breeding a second-generation bird to later generations, their offspring are always considered to be third-generation.

Third Generation Offspring Uses X(n) Dot (n) Notation

The third-generation is where certain recessive traits can begin to emerge and be used in making future breeding decisions.

Where traditional notation uses F2, CD Breeding notation uses X(n) dot (n) to designate individuals of that generation.  The first pair of second-generation birds, X.1f-X.1m, will be known as X1.  Their offspring will be designated as X1.(n), or X1.1f, X1.1m, X1.2f, X1.2m, etc. 

The second pair of  second-generation birds, X.2f-X.2m, will be known as X2 and their offspring will be designated as X2.(n), or X2.1f, X2.1m, X2.2f, X2.2m, etc.

To say it another way, third-generation offspring are designated with X(n) dot (n) notation so that the first notable female of the first second-generation pair becomes X1.1f.  The first notable female of the second second-generation pair becomes X2.1f.

When line-breeding third generation birds to later generations, the offspring are always considered to be fourth generation.

Fourth Generation Offspring Uses X(n) Dot (n) Dot (n)

Assuming the foundation pair X were from two different highly refined families, the fourth-generation is unique in that some useful criteria may have been used to select their third-generation parents. 

Where traditional notation uses F3, CD Breeding notation uses X(n) dot (n) dot (n) to identify individuals within that generation.  Looking at the third column of the table above, at the offspring of X3, we find their first notable third-generation offspring to be X3.1f and X3.1m. 

If we pair X3.1f with X3.1m, their fourth-generation offspring will be known as X3.1.1f, X3.1.1m, X3.1.2f, X3.1.2m, etc.  Therefore, the grandchildren of X3 from their second notable pair of offspring, become X3.2.1f, X3.2.1m, X3.2.2f, X3.2.2m, etc. 

X(n) Dot (n) Dot (n) Dot (n) etc. etc. etc.

This notation system can be carried infinitely into future generations, and each breeder will decide at what point such notations become meaningless.  At some point after the second-generation, trait and quality designations should be added to the notations.  Eventually, members of future sub-families are either dropped or used in future outcross projects.  Then, the designations will start over, beginning with X.

Breeding for Traits and Qualities

After the second-generation, it is most useful to create logical designations based on a trait or quality rather than using chronological order. 

For example, with Ceremony Doves, the goal is to create a bird that is small, white, flies good, and has good show qualities.  Such designations might be noted as Sm, Wh, Fl, and Sq.  Given an outcross that promises to deliver on some of those goals, we might decide the "first" notable pair from X1 will be chosen for the Sm trait.  That pair would be designated as XSm1.1f and XSm1.1m, or simply XSm1.1. 

While the "Sm" does nothing to help identify the individuals, who could just as well be identified as X1.1, it helps the breeder associate those birds with other Sm birds in the plan.  It helps maintain continuity through the many years that might follow an outcross.

The Benefit for Me

For me, the biggest benefit of the CD Breeding Notation, is that it allowed me to vastly reduce the number of birds necessary to be comprehensive and methodical.  It allowed time to replace numbers.  It helped to break out of the trap in which, years on the calendar became generations in the outcross project.  It allowed me to maintain multiple-outcross projects.  It helped maintain a close relationship between outcross families so that multiple goals could be pursued simultaneously.

The Goal is the Goal

Trait and quality designations help define when to break out a sub-family and treat them like an outcross to other sub-families.  The trait and quality designations define the goal.

Multiple-Goal Breeding

When CD Breeding Notation is maintained across multiple sub-families, it becomes possible to achieve more with less. 

contact: info2@oregoncity.com

Wynn Smith
(503)650-9496

© copyright Wynn Smith 2004, All Rights Reserved

Ceremony Dove is a trademark of Wynn Smith.