RETHINKING SELECTIVE BREEDING FOR HEALTH: REDUCED PATHOGEN SHEDDING AS A NOVEL COMPONENT OF MULTI-TRAIT ENHANCEMENT IN SALMONID AQUACULTURE

The goal of the proposed work is to identify a new collection of broad-based traits that can be used in conjunction to breed healthier, more robust livestock and enhance the long-range genetic potential of intensively cultured salmonids. Our long-term goal is to develop a selection regimen that produces stocks with high resilience and vigor that are genetically equipped to thrive. In particular, we will focus on elucidating if IHNV transmission resistance (e.g., reduced viral shedding) is linked with clinical disease (e.g. morbidity and mortality) resistance as well as other performance traits. We focus primarily on IHNV resistance because it remains one of the most problematic infectious disease issues in salmonid aquaculture and we believe large gains can be made by rethinking IHNV management and refocusing genetic improvement strategies on IHNV transmission resistance and multi-trait selection [53]. We will achieve this through a partnership between Riverence Holdings LLC and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), leading institutions in aquaculture, aquatic health, virology, and selective breeding.