Investing in the genetics of Scotland's trout sector

Investing in the genetics of Scotland's trout sector

Source: The Fish Site

8/31/2022

Investing in the genetics of Scotland's trout sector

Credit: Kames

According to Xelect, the agreement marks the start of the first selective breeding programme for sea-grown rainbow trout (which are often referred to as steelhead) in the UK and is designed to provide Kames with a major boost to the quality of their production – faster growing fish, with high survival rates, that thrive in seawater.

The project started with an initial genetic evaluation of Kames’ broodstock to ensure that the selective breeding programme would be based on a highly diverse population, with strong potential for future gains.

“In the next stage, Xelect will combine genetic analysis of the fish (genotypes) with real world performance data (phenotypes). By using the latest breeding programme management techniques and our highly sophisticated software, OptiMate, Xelect can then identify the optimal crosses to provide Kames with major trait improvements every generation,” said Xelect programme manager, Lidia de los Rios Perez in a press release