Development of a breeding objective for Estonian Holstein cattle

Economic weights for milk carrier (water plus lactose), fat and protein yields, calving interval, age at first service, interval between the first service and conception of heifers and length of productive life of Estonian Holsteins were estimated under assumed milk production quota and for non-quota conditions. A bio-economic model of an integrated production system of a closed herd was used. Economic values of milk carrier yield and length of productive life differed between quota and non-quota conditions, but there were only minor differences between those marketing systems in economic values for functional traits. The standardised economic values of the most important traits varied in magnitude between18 to 81% of the economic value for milk yield. Discounting had a substantial impact on the economic value of length of productive life. When defining the breeding objective for Estonian Holstein, the interval between the first service and conception of heifers, and the length of productive life should be included in the breeding goal along with the traits with the highest economic value, milk, fat and protein yield. In the optimum breeding objective, relative weights of production vs. functional traits were 79 and 21%, respectively.;

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Determining the appropriate selection index for Rayeni Cashmere goat under pasture-based production system

Animal Production Science ◽

10.1071/an16570 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 58 (9) ◽

pp. 1595

Author(s):

Najmeh Kargar Borzi ◽

Ahmad Ayatollahi Mehrgardi ◽

Masood Asadi Fozi ◽

Mahmood Vatankhah

Keyword(s):

Production System ◽

Selection Criteria ◽

Selection Index ◽

Economic Value ◽

Herd Size ◽

Cashmere Goat ◽

Economic Values ◽

Economic Weights ◽

Selection Indices ◽

Beneficial Traits

The aim of the present study was to identify the significance of Rayeni Cashmere goat’s socioeconomic traits so as to derive economic weights for the selection criteria that can be used easily by goat breeders. A deterministic bio-economic model was used to estimate economic value for adult bodyweight of doe (BWD), annual milk yield (MW), annual cashmere weight (CW), bodyweight of kids sold at 6.5 months (WK), and number of kids sold at 6.5 months per doe (NK). The relative importance of traits was determined on the basis of the estimated economic values, and, consequently, the most beneficial traits were applied to construct selection indices. Five selection indices with different herd sizes and buck ratios were proposed (I1–I5). The traits included in each index were as follows: BWD, MW, CW, WK and NK (I1); MW, CW, WK and NK (I2); BWD, MW, WK and NK (I3); BWD, MW and CW (I4); and BWD, CW, WK and NK (I5). Absolute economic values (US$) of BWD, MW, CW, WK and NK traits were $–0.870, $0.111, $5.660, $21.655 and $1.712 respectively. The results indicated that in all indices, the genetic and economic gains were elevated by an increased herd size and a decreased buck ratio. The maximum values of genetic and economic gains were obtained in herd size of 400 and buck ratio of 0.04. The highest genetic gain was obtained under Index 1, while the highest amount of economic gain was acquired under Index 2; however, the maximum accuracy of selection index was achieved under Index 1. The obtained results revealed that the most appropriate selection index for this breed is Index 1, which includes BWD, MW, CW, WK and NK. By applying Index 1, we could concurrently promote improvement of all traits, which highlights the potential of this index as a good promising strategy for developing selection criteria of Rayeni Cashmere goat under a pasture-based production system.

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Economic values of productive and functional traits in sheep of Bulgarian dairy synthetic population

Agricultural Science and Technology ◽

10.15547/ast.2021.01.018 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 99-104

Author(s):

S. Slavova ◽

S. Laleva

Keyword(s):

Functional Traits ◽

Economic Value ◽

Conception Rate ◽

Annual Number ◽

Dairy Sheep ◽

Economic Values ◽

Market Prices ◽

Economic Weight ◽

Synthetic Population ◽

Productive Systems

Abstract: The subject of the current research was to calculate profitability and economic values of production and functional traits in sheep of Bulgarian dairy synthetic population, reared at the Agricultural Institute – Stara Zagora. The study period was 7 years (2010-2016) and the average annual number of ewes in the flock was 188. The semi-intensive production system practised involved winter indoor lambing and summer grazing on pasture. Data were processed using the Program for calculating economic weights for sheep EWSH2. Profit and profitability in the flock had negative values – (-52.70 BGN) and -19.3%. Marginal economic values of the most important traits in dairy sheep – milk production and number of lambs born per ewe were estimated to 0.707 BGN per liter and 65.40 BGN per lamb, respectively. Litter size, milk yield, conception rate of ewes and ewe lambs and productive lifetime of ewes showed the highest economic importance. A very low economic weight was calculated for the wool production due to the market prices of wool. Conception rate of female animals and productive lifetime of ewes need to be more thoroughly investigated, as they are not currently an object of selection in dairy sheep breeding. Achieving competitive and economically sustainable productive systems in sheep farming is associated with a constant desire to increase the economic value of animals.

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Impact of economic parameters on economic values in dairy sheep

Czech Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.17221/6522-cjas ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 58 (No. 1) ◽

pp. 21-30 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Z. Krupová ◽

E. Krupa ◽

M. Wolfová

Keyword(s):

Milk Production ◽

Litter Size ◽

Functional Traits ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Growth Traits ◽

Economic Value ◽

Production Traits ◽

Economic Values ◽

Economic Parameters ◽

The Impact

The impact of variation in economic conditions on the economic values of fourteen production and functional traits was examined for the Improved Valachian breed using a bio-economic model implemented in the ECOWEIGHT software. The following economic parameters were investigated: market prices of lambs, milk, and cheese (variation ± 40%), costs for roughage, concentrates, and total feeding rations , costs for labour and veterinary care, fixed costs (variation ± 20% for all costs), and discount rate of revenues and costs (0 and 3%). Results of the analyses were presented in detail for the marginal and relative economic values of the four most important traits: milk yield in the 150-day milking period, conception rate of ewes, litter size per lambed ewe, and productive lifetime of ewes. Furthermore, cumulative relative economic values of the four trait complexes – milk production, growth, functional, and wool traits – were presented. Prices for sheep products were found to be the most important factor for both the marginal and the relative economic values of the evaluated traits. The four traits with the highest relative economic values in the base calculation stayed the most important for all investigated economic parameters ranges. The relative economic values of the remaining 10 traits did not exceed 6.1%. The relative economic values of milk yield and litter size were the most sensitive to the variation in economic circumstances. For the investigated range of economic parameters, the relative economic value for the complex of milk production traits ranged 30.6–48.1%, for growth traits 6.3–9.4%, and that for functional traits 45.4–59.7%. The relative economic value for the wool trait did not exceed 0.3%.

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Customized selection indices for dairy bulls in Australia

Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1357729800014946 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 62 (3) ◽

pp. 393-403 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

P. J. Bowman ◽

P. M. Visscher ◽

M. E. Goddard

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Milk Fat ◽

Protein Yield ◽

Production Traits ◽

Breeding Objective ◽

Economic Weights ◽

Wide Range ◽

Selection Indices ◽

Dairy Bulls ◽

The Impact

AbstractCustomized sire selection indices were developed for Australian dairy bulls in order to promote more objective use of estimated breeding values in commercial breeding programmes. It was assumed that the breeding goal for commercial dairy farmers is the profitability of a bull's progeny. Seven characteristics of the progeny were identified as having a major impact on profitability and were included in the breeding objective: milk, fat and protein yield, survival, body weight, milking speed and temperament. Traits in the selection indices used to predict profit were milk, fat and protein yield, survival, milking speed, temperament, size, overall type and fore teat placement. Size was included because of its correlation with body weight, and overall type and front teat placement because of their correlation with survival. To avoid double counting the benefits of milk production traits, temperament and milking speed, the survival trait in the objective was defined as survival independent of voluntary culling for these traits. Customization of the breeding objective was achieved by adjusting the economic weights for traits in the objective to take account of important characteristics of farmers' herds, the milk payment system under which they operate and make allowance for their own value judgements. An assessment of the impact of customization suggested that, even though there is a wide range in the economic weights that are applicable in different areas of Australia, there would be little loss of efficiency in using a single national index. However, customization is still believed to be desirable given that it is likely that a substantial proportion offarmers will be reluctant to use a national index, especially in those states which have quotas and focus on the liquid milk market. The algorithms described in the paper have been incorporated into a user-friendly microcomputer program called $electabull which is now commercially available to farmers.

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Genetic variation of income over feed costs as an individual trait in Holstein cows

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1752756200010413 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 2005 ◽

pp. 130-130 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

P. Zamani ◽

S. R. Miraei-Ashtiani ◽

A. Naserian ◽

A. Nikkhah ◽

M. Moradi Shahrebabak

Keyword(s):

Genetic Variation ◽

Milk Fat ◽

Selection Index ◽

Variable Cost ◽

Single Measure ◽

Breeding Objective ◽

Economic Weights ◽

Individual Trait ◽

Feed Costs ◽

Genetic Evaluations

The goal of a breeding programme is to select animals that will be more profitable or efficient than their parents. Two main methods have been developed to allow selection on the breeding objective. The first method is use of selection index that combines individual trait breeding values with economic weights to provide a single measure on which to select animals. The second method measures the breeding objective (e.g. net profit or lifetime profit) directly and provides genetic evaluations for this measure (Visscher and Goddard, 1995). The profitability of a dairy cow is dependent on both outputs (incomes of milk, fat, protein, calving, etc.) and inputs (costs of feed, labour, facilities, etc). Outputs have received considerable attention in breeding objectives for dairy cattle, whilst there has been less consideration of inputs. Feed is a major cost input for dairy producers. Hence, breeding for increasing main gross incomes (milk, fat and protein) and reducing main variable cost (feed) potentially can be of considerable importance. This study was conducted to estimation of genetic variation in income over feed cost (IOFC), as a single trait, and its association with some of other traits in Holstein dairy cows.

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Economic values for a total merit index of dairy goats in Austria

Die Bodenkultur Journal of Land Management Food and Environment ◽

10.2478/boku-2018-0009 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 69 (2) ◽

pp. 97-104

Author(s):

Birgit Fuerst-Waltl ◽

Birgit Lang ◽

Christian Fuerst

Keyword(s):

Functional Traits ◽

Genetic Relationships ◽

Economic Value ◽

Dairy Goat ◽

Dairy Production ◽

Dairy Goats ◽

Economic Values ◽

Saanen Goat ◽

Economic Weight ◽

Important Trait

SummaryWhen defining a total merit index, all economically important traits, both performance and functional traits shall be considered. Aside from breeding values, their reliabilities and all genetic relationships, the knowledge of the economic importance of all traits involved is required. In this study, economic values were derived for the most numerous dairy goat breed in Austria, the Saanen goat. Calculated marginal utilities are expressed per average ewe place and year. The calculations were based on a herd model including dairy production, rearing and fattening of goat kids. Economic values are calculated by multiplying the marginal utilities with the genetic standard deviations of the traits. The economic value is thus defined by the value of one unit of genetic superiority of a trait. In order to derive the economic value of one trait, a single parameter in the model was varied while keeping all other traits constant. The relative economic values (in %) for the trait complexes were as follows: dairy : functional : meat traits = 74 : 25 : 1, respectively. Within the dairy complex, milk carrier yield was the most important trait, while in the functional traits fertility, defined as conception rate, had the highest economic weight.

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Including protein yield and mastitis resistance in dairy cattle breeding goal optimizes response to selection

South African Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.4314/sajas.v49i6.18 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 49 (6) ◽

pp. 1148-1157

Author(s):

C.B. Sagwa ◽

T.O. Okeno ◽

A.K. Kahi

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cattle ◽

Selection Index ◽

Economic Value ◽

Milk Quality ◽

Protein Yield ◽

Quality Traits ◽

Response To Selection ◽

Economic Values ◽

Breeding Goal ◽

Daily Gain

Selection response from a two-tier nucleus breeding scheme using the current Kenyan breeding goal was compared with an alternative that also accounts for protein yield (PY) and mastitis resistance (MR). The economic value for PY was estimated using a bio-economic model. For mastitis resistance, like other disease resistance traits, the economic value cannot be estimated with profit equations because they have multi-fold effects on input and output, which affects profitability. Therefore, selection index methodology was used. Somatic cell count (SCC) was used as an indicator trait for MR. The ZPAN computer program was used to model the breeding schemes and evaluate response to selection. The alternative breeding goal, which included PY and MR, realized additional KES358.48, 613.55, and 613.65 in annual genetic gain, returns and profit per cow per year, respectively, compared with the current breeding goal. Economic values for PY and MR were KES778.99 and -2364, respectively. Relative economic values for milk yield (MY, kg), fat yield (FY, kg), protein yield (PY, kg), MR, calving interval (CI, days), preweaning daily gain (DG, g/day), postweaning daily gain (PDG, g/day), live weight (LW, kg), preweaning survival (SR1, %), postweaning survival (SR2, %), and length of productive life (PLT, days) were 23 689.80, 4 146.77, 34 665.50, -992.88, 33.66, 62.40, 159.80, 391.94, 987.04, 4 474.37, and 7.56, respectively. This implies that including milk quality traits such as PY in the breeding goal would optimize response to selection in dairy cattle production. Keywords: breeding objective, economic values, genetic evaluation, milk quality, traits, udder health

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Derivation of economic values for dairy cattle in Iran and comparison to other countries

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s175275620001975x ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 2007 ◽

pp. 72-72

Author(s):

Ali Sadeghi-Sefidmazgi ◽

Mohammad Moradi-Shahrbabak ◽

Ardeshir Nejati-Javaremi ◽

Abdolahad Shadparvar ◽

Han A. Mulder

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cattle ◽

Milk Fat ◽

Selection Index ◽

Selection Strategy ◽

Index Selection ◽

Production Traits ◽

Economic Values ◽

Breeding Goal ◽

Effective Selection ◽

National Selection

Index selection is the most effective selection strategy to improve total merit. Index selection requires the economic values (EVs) of the traits in the breeding goal and the genetic parameters of the traits in the breeding goal and in the index (Hazel and Lush, 1942). According to this theory, in most countries a national selection index has been developed for dairy cattle (Miglior et al., 2005). In Iran a national selection index has not yet been developed. The first objective of this study was, therefore, to estimate economic values for production traits (milk, fat and protein yield) and longevity for Holsteins in Iran. The second objective was to compare the proposed Iranian selection index with selection indices of other countries in the world.

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