A Preliminary Investigation A Preliminary Investigation in the Development of in the Development of

Breeding Objectives for Breeding Objectives for Pinus radiataPinus radiata

Paul Chambers

Tony McRae

ObjectivesObjectives

Review of the STBA members production systems issues of concern

Estimation of economic weights using existing relationships between traits and profit

(from Greaves 2000 & Chambers 2000)

Recommendations easy transition to the FWPRDC project

Brief Theoretical Brief Theoretical BackgroundBackground

Use of Breeding Objectives: a Use of Breeding Objectives: a Common SchemeCommon Scheme

for alternative decisions (e.g. alternative choices of parents)

selection criteria, breeding values, genetic response

a profit function (i.e. calculation of the objective)

used to combine genetic merits of various traits into a single value (profit)

MethodologyMethodology

specification of the breeding, production and marketing systems

identification and definition of the wood-flows and the sources of income and cost

determination of the biological traits influencing wood-flow, income and cost

derivation of the economic value of each trait formal definition of the breeding objective

Profit FunctionsProfit Functions

• Hazel (1943) introduced the “total merit index”:H = w1A1 + w2A2 + ... + wnAn

Profit

Trait Units

slope = economic weight

Profit FunctionsProfit Functions

Hazel’s objective (profit function) revisited linear combination of traits coefficients (economic weights) were the effect on

profit when all other traits are held constant– non-linearity between a trait and profit ??

dealt with trait breeding values– what about non-additive genetic effects ??

The Breeding ObjectiveThe Breeding Objective

Genetic Values

Management Variables

PROFIT FUNCTIONPROFIT FUNCTION

PROFIT

Industry ReviewIndustry Review((February & March 2000)February & March 2000)

Industrial ProcessIndustrial Process

forest growerschemical (kraft & sulphite) pulpingthermo-mechanical pulpingsaw-milling (appearance, structural)composites

veneers (plywood, LVL) particleboard fibreboard (hardboard, MDF)

Production SystemsProduction Systems

Remanufacture

Production SystemsProduction Systems

Production SystemsProduction Systems

DEBARKING & CHIPPING

High Strength Kraft Pulp

Chips

TMP Fibres

Steam Recovery

Clean Steam

Clean Steam

Clean Steam

Bleached TMP Fibres

Blend of Bleached TMP Fibres/Kraft Fibres/Filler

Artificial Filler

Bleaching Chemicals

Electrical Energy

Pine Roundwood

REFINING

SCREENING & CLEANING

BLEACHING

SCREENING & CLEANING

PAPER

REBOILER

Future WorkFuture Work

kraft and sulphite pulping extend to paper properties sulphite pulping: a management solution ?

saw-milling improvement of current profit functions

composites development of profit functions (gluability important!)

risk traits and GxE incorporate into formally defined objectives

Issues from Saw-millersIssues from Saw-millers

resource issues uniformity of wood (core, knots, reaction wood etc.) wood for end-use flexibility juvenile wood core (centred)

• how do we define it ?

• is it masking the real issue ?

management issues log sorting ? drying degrade ?

Yield TablesYield Tables

several partners had yield tables which relate log properties to timber class

SED, length, taper, sweep link these tables to forest growing phase (maximise profit per

tree for the grower)

big issue is how branching affects these relationships ?

assume management controlled variables are optimised, but can we ?

access to spacing trials

Market Signals ?Market Signals ?

ok between processors and consumerstraditionally breaks down between

processors and growers lack of communication between these groups promote understanding of issues (mill studies)

however basis is there ! premiums paid on log size, region etc.

Saw-mill Model ?Saw-mill Model ?

relating timber grade (profit) to log properties

national database for sawing studies ?– continually revised and updated

create software for distribution ? the case of SAWMOD in NZ

An Economic Objective An Economic Objective (using HVP as an example)(using HVP as an example)

General Production SystemGeneral Production System Two Main Components

1. growing trees in the forest

2. the conversion from this raw resource into some desired end-product

HVP only involved in the first– use neo-classical economic production theory– thus assume as for a vertically integrated firm

Major RegionsMajor Regions

HVP’s plantation estate divided into four main regions:

1. North-east Victoria

2. Gippsland

3. Ballarat

4. South-west Victoria

MethodologyMethodology• define the production systems (for each region)

• define key assumptions used

• develop a model for each production system which calculates enterprise profitability

• define the traits which impact directly on profitability

• model the impact of objective traits on each production system

• calculate economic weights

• sensitivity analysis

Breeding Objective TraitsBreeding Objective TraitsMAIWOOD BASIC DENSITYSTEM SWEEPSTEM TAPERTIMBER WORKING STRESSPULP YIELDBRANCH INDEX