Selective breeding programs in Atlantic salmon aim to improve disease resistance, stress tolerance, and production efficiency, with welfare implications alongside production benefits.
Salmon genetics and welfare are increasingly integrated as producers recognize that stress-resistant, disease-tolerant genetics improve welfare and production simultaneously. Selection for sea lice resistance, reduced susceptibility to salmon alphavirus, and better cardiovascular function all represent welfare-aligned breeding priorities. The risk of repeating the broiler chicken mistake — selecting for growth rate at the expense of structural integrity — requires ongoing monitoring of cardiac and skeletal function in fast-growing salmon lines. Welfare-positive genetics programs include behavioral stress response as a selection trait alongside production metrics.