Technical Abstract: Genetic gains in yield of forage crops have lagged far behind gains made in yield of grain crops. Inefficient breeding procedures are one reason for the lag in yield gains. Efficiency of breeding procedures for increased yield can be improved by sowing families into sward plots to accurately measure yield under competitive conditions and by utilizing all additive genetic variance, including that within and among families. Within family genetic variance can be utilized by providing effective selection pressure for proxy traits to yield, including DNA markers and survivorship.