ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF BREEDING OBJECTIVES IN SHEEP AND GOATS - GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

The procedures to be followed and some of the problems which arise in defining breeding objectives are discussed. Special emphasis is given to attempts to reconcile conflicts between different bases of evaluation, and it is concluded that from a long-term viewpoint, efficiency should be the goal of the breeder, where efficiency is measured as the ratio of the value of all inputs to the value of all outputs. In the shorter term, or where artificial distortions of markets occur, other objectives may be preferred. Goals should be clearly distinguished from selection criteria, and this will be more likely to be achieved if careful attention is given to the level of analysis which is employed