scholarly journals Breeding the dairy cow of the future: what do we need?

2015 ◽  
Vol 55 (7) ◽  
pp. 823 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donagh P. Berry
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Dairy Cow ◽  
Genetic Gain ◽  
Breeding Strategy ◽  
Environmental Footprint ◽  
Breeding Goal ◽  
The Future ◽  
Breeding Objectives ◽  
Breeding Goals ◽  
Genetic Evaluations

Genetics is responsible for approximately half the observed changes in animal performance in well structured breeding programs. Key characteristics of the dairy cow of the future include (1) production of a large quantity of high-value output (i.e. milk and meat), (2) good reproductive performance, (3) good health status, (4) good longevity, (5) no requirement for a large quantity of feed, yet being able to eat sufficient feed to meet its requirements, (6) easy to manage (i.e. easy calving, docile), (7) good conformation (over and above reflective of health, reproductive performance and longevity), (8) low environmental footprint, and (9) resilience to external perturbations. Pertinent and balanced breeding goals must be developed and implemented to achieve this type of animal; excluding any characteristic from the breeding goal could be detrimental for genetic gain in this characteristic. Attributes currently not explicitly considered in most dairy-cow breeding objectives include product quality, feed intake and efficiency, and environmental footprint; animal health is poorly represented in most breeding objectives. Lessons from the past deterioration in reproductive performance in the global Holstein population remind us of the consequences of ignoring or failing to monitor certain animal characteristics. More importantly, however, current knowledge clearly demonstrates that once unfavourable trends have been identified and the appropriate breeding strategy implemented, the reversal of genetic trends is achievable, even for low-heritability traits such as reproductive performance. Genetic variation exists in all the characteristics described. In the genomics era, the relevance of heritability statistics for most traits is less; the exception is traits not amenable to routine measurement in large populations. Phenotyping strategies (e.g. more detailed phenotypes, larger population) will remain a key component of an animal breeding strategy to achieve the cow of the future as well as providing the necessary tools and information to monitor performance. The inclusion of genomic information in genetic evaluations is, and will continue, to improve the accuracy of genetic evaluations, which, in turn, will augment genetic gain; genomics, however, can also contribute to gains in performance over and above support of increased genetic gain. Nonetheless, the faster genetic gain and thus reduced ability to purge out unfavourable alleles necessitates the appropriate breeding goal and breeding scheme and very close monitoring of performance, in particular for traits not included in the breeding goals. Developments in other disciplines (e.g. reproductive technologies), coupled with commercial struggle for increased market share of the breeding industry, imply a possible change in the landscape of dairy-cow breeding in the future.

scholarly journals Breeding objectives for three silvicultural regimes of radiata pine

2001 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 654-662 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis A Apiolaza ◽  
Dorian J Garrick
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Gain ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Pulp Mill ◽  
Radiata Pine ◽  
Breeding Strategy ◽  
Breeding Objective ◽  
Breeding Objectives ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Average Wood

A generic vertically integrated firm, comprising a production forest, a sawmill, and a pulp mill was modelled under three silvicultural regimes: direct to pulp, intermediate (includes production thinning), and intensive (includes production thinnings and pruning). The harvest age traits included in the breeding objective were total volume (m3/ha) and average wood density (kg/m3). Economic values for each trait were calculated as the difference in discounted profit for a unit marginal increase of volume or density, and expressed as relative weights to facilitate comparisons between the objectives. The methodology was applied to a Chilean case study using representative economic and production circumstances. The breeding objectives so derived were 1vol + 2.4den for pulp, 1vol + 1.1den for intermediate, and 1vol + 1.2den for the intensive regime, where vol and den are the breeding values for volume and density, respectively. The firm was profitable under all regimes. Genetic correlations between the objectives for each regime were higher than 0.9, indicating that a single breeding strategy with objective 1vol + 1.5den could be adopted, with almost no loss of genetic gain relative to selecting for a particular silvicultural regime.

scholarly journals Stakeholder involvement in establishing a milk quality sub-index in dairy cow breeding goals: a Delphi approach

animal ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 878-891 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Henchion ◽  
M. McCarthy ◽  
V.C. Resconi ◽  
D.P. Berry ◽  
S. McParland
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cow ◽  
Stakeholder Involvement ◽  
Milk Quality ◽  
Delphi Approach ◽  
Breeding Goals

scholarly journals Recent developments in cattle, pig, sheep and horse breeding - a review

2014 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. 327-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alena Svitáková ◽  
Jitka Schmidová ◽  
Petr Pešek ◽  
Alexandra Novotná
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Performance Test ◽  
Evaluation Method ◽  
Genetic Evaluation ◽  
Random Regression ◽  
Farm Animals ◽  
Breeding Objectives ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Genetic Evaluations ◽  
Method Of Evaluation

The aim of this review was to summarize new genetic approaches and techniques in the breeding of cattle, pigs, sheep and horses. Often production and reproductive traits are treated separately in genetic evaluations, but advantages may accrue to their joint evaluation. A good example is the system in pig breeding. Simplified breeding objectives are generally no longer appropriate and consequently becoming increasingly complex. The goal of selection for improved animal performance is to increase the profit of the production system; therefore, economic selection indices are now used in most livestock breeding programmes. Recent developments in dairy cattle breeding have focused on the incorporation of molecular information into genetic evaluations and on increasing the importance of longevity and health in breeding objectives to maximize the change in profit. For a genetic evaluation of meat yield (beef, pig, sheep), several types of information can be used, including data from performance test stations, records from progeny tests and measurements taken at slaughter. The standard genetic evaluation method of evaluation of growth or milk production has been the multi-trait animal model, but a test-day model with random regression is becoming the new standard, in sheep as well. Reviews of molecular genetics and pedigree analyses for performance traits in horses are described. Genome – wide selection is becoming a world standard for dairy cattle, and for other farm animals it is under development.

A comparison of the reproductive performance of Holstein-Friesian and Norwegian Red dairy cattle on commercial dairy farms over five lactations

2009 ◽  
Vol 2009 ◽  
pp. 61-61
Author(s):  
C P Ferris ◽  
D C Patterson ◽  
D J Kilpatrick
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Dairy Cow ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Current Fertility ◽  
Breed Selection ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Fertility Traits

Fertility traits have been included within breed selection programmes for the Norwegian Red (NR) dairy cow population in Norway for over thirty years. As a consequence, a 60 day non-return rate to first artificial insemination (AI) of 72.5% was recently calculated for NR cows in Norway (Garmo et al., 2008). In view of this long term breeding programme, and current fertility performance within Norway, there is considerable interest in the NR breed as a means of overcoming the high levels of infertility that currently exist within the Holstein-Friesian (HF) breed. However, farming systems within Norway are very different from those within the UK, with herd sizes in particular being much smaller. Thus an experiment was established on 19 commercial dairy farms to compare the fertility performance of cows of the NR and HF breeds.

scholarly journals Application of marker assisted selection for livestock improvement in Bangladesh

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Moniruzzaman ◽  
R Khatun ◽  
AA Mintoo
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Genetic Gain ◽  
Marker Assisted Selection ◽  
Breeding Strategy ◽  
Meat Production ◽  
Economic Traits ◽  
Generation Interval ◽  
Breeding Programmes ◽  
Selection Of

Molecular markers usually do not have any biological effect. They are identifiable DNA sequences, found at specific locations of the genome, and transmitted from one generation to the next. Marker assisted selection (MAS) is a novel technique that can complement traditional breeding methods for rapid genetic gains. Genetic gain through selective breeding is the objective of a breeder to achieve long term improvement in animal and plant genomes; however the pace of improvement is inversely proportional to the Generation Interval. Genetic improvement in livestock, particularly those with long generation intervals, requires decades for tangible results. Successful MAS breeding programmes require gene mapping, marker genotyping, quantitative trait loci (QTL) detection, genetic evaluation and finally MAS. Genomic selection is a form of markerassisted selection. Using markers covering the whole genome could mean potentially that all the genetic variance is explained; and the markers are assumed to be in linkage disequilibrium with the QTL so that the number of effects per QTL to be estimated is small. MAS drastically reduces generation interval and increases selection accuracy. Therefore, a breeding strategy based upon markers making the best use of the two approaches can facilitate rapid genetic gain though selection of markers related to economic traits such as milk and meat production. This review is designed to elaborate the technique of MAS and its application in developing countries. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bvet.v31i1.22837 Bangl. vet. 2014. Vol. 31, No. 1, 1-11

scholarly journals On-farm evaluation of growth and reproductive performances of Washera and Gumuz sheep in northwestern Ethiopia: Basics for setting up breeding objectives/goals

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. e0254924
Author(s):  
Sisay Asmare ◽  
Kefyalew Alemayehu ◽  
Solomon Abegaz ◽  
Aynalem Haile
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Interaction Effect ◽  
Growth Traits ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Daily Weight Gain ◽  
Average Daily Weight Gain ◽  
Breed Type ◽  
Breeding Objectives ◽  
Performance Traits

Growth and reproductive performance traits are traits of economic importance for sheep selection and productivity improvement interventions. This study aimed at comparative evaluation of growth and reproductive performance traits of sheep in the highland and lowland agro-ecologies of northwestern Ethiopia. Data on growth performance traits were collected from 144 Washera (78 males and 66 females) lambs and 72 Gumuz (37 males and 35 females) lambs. Data on reproductive performance traits were collected from 260 Washera (130 rams and 130 ewes) sheep and 150 Gumuz (75 rams and 75 ewes) sheep. General linear model univariate procedure was employed to analyze the collected data. Breed, the interaction effect between breed and season of birth as well as the interaction effect between breed and type of birth all exerted very high significant effect (P<0.001) on live weight at all age groups. Breed type affected pre-weaning average daily weight gain significantly (P<0.01). Pre-weaning average daily weight gain of Washera (70 g/day) was found much better performance than 60 g/day of Gumuz. Breed type exerts significant (P<0.05) effect on age at first lambing, lambing interval, annual reproductive rate and number of lambs born per ewe life time. Average age at first lambing and lambing interval of Washera sheep were 11.69 months and 9.27 months, respectively. The corresponding values for Gumuz sheep were 12.51 months and 10.43 months, respectively. Production and reproduction performance values of traits varied across the two breeds and sexes as well. These values can be used to set up breeding objectives or goals for selective breeding of sheep giving special emphasis to growth traits believed to have medium heritability values.

scholarly journals A multi-part strategy for introgression of exotic germplasm into elite plant breeding programs using genomic selection

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene S. Breider ◽  
R. Chris Gaynor ◽  
Gregor Gorjanc ◽  
Steve Thorn ◽  
Manish K. Pandey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Plant Breeding ◽  
Genomic Selection ◽  
Genetic Gain ◽  
Genetic Improvement ◽  
Breeding Strategy ◽  
Breeding Program ◽  
Breeding Programs ◽  
Polygenic Inheritance ◽  
Polygenic Traits

Abstract Some of the most economically important traits in plant breeding show highly polygenic inheritance. Genetic variation is a key determinant of the rates of genetic improvement in selective breeding programs. Rapid progress in genetic improvement comes at the cost of a rapid loss of genetic variation. Germplasm available through expired Plant Variety Protection (exPVP) lines is a potential resource of variation previously lost in elite breeding programs. Introgression for polygenic traits is challenging, as many genes have a small effect on the trait of interest. Here we propose a way to overcome these challenges with a multi-part pre-breeding program that has feedback pathways to optimise recurrent genomic selection. The multi-part breeding program consists of three components, namely a bridging component, population improvement, and product development. Parameters influencing the multi-part program were optimised with the use of a grid search. Haploblock effect and origin were investigated. Results showed that the introgression of exPVP germplasm using an optimised multi-part breeding strategy resulted in 1.53 times higher genetic gain compared to a two-part breeding program. Higher gain was achieved through reducing the performance gap between exPVP and elite germplasm and breaking down linkage drag. Both first and subsequent introgression events showed to be successful. In conclusion, the multi-part breeding strategy has a potential to improve long-term genetic gain for polygenic traits and therefore, potential to contribute to global food security.

scholarly journals Effect of winter pasture residuals' and grazing- off on subsequefit milk production and pasture performance

1994 ◽  
pp. 55-59
Author(s):  
D.A. Clark ◽  
W. Carter ◽  
B. Walsh ◽  
F.H. Clarkson ◽  
C.D. Waugh
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Dairy Cow ◽  
Milk Protein ◽  
Late Spring ◽  
Composition And Structure ◽  
Winter Grazing ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Pasture Productivity

Concern at the effect of winter pasture residuals on pasture productivity led to the comparison of different wintering systems at the DRC No. 3 Dairy from May-December 1993. Three farmlets were designed to have 2000 kg DM/ha average farm cover at calving, but with pastures grazed to either 900, 1400 or 1800 kg DM/ha at least once during the winter. A fourth farmlet was spelled from grazing from 25 May-4 July to give an average farm cover at calving of 2900 kg DM/ha. Pasture regrowth, composition and structure, milk yield, liveweight and reproductive performance were measured. A simulation model UDDER was used to generalise from the specific experimental results. Pasture regrowth in July-August was greater on the wintering-off treatment than those grazed during winter, but treatment differences in late spring were inconsistent. Wintering-off decreased ryegrass tiller and white clover growing point densities in August but differences had disappeared by November. Winter grazing treatment had no effect on any component of milk production from calving to late October. From late October until m&December-milk-protein-and.milksolids y i e l d were less on the wintering-off treatment than the mean of the other three treatments (0.62 vs 0.68 kg/cow/day) and (1.49 vs 1.59 kg/cow/day), respectively. Grazing to different winter pasture residuals had no consistent effects on subsequent pasture productivity, composition or milk yield. Simulation showed that wintering-off can lead to increased milksolids production when average farm cover in September is predicted to fall below 1750 kg DM/ha. Timing and amount of conservation become c&i&i1 slfterwintering;off if pasture quality and hence milk production are to be maintained in late spring. Keywords: dairy cow, milksolids, milk yield, pasture regrowth, pasture residual, pasture structure

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