Genotype by environment interaction and breeding for robustness in livestock

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Genetics
• Sustainable Agriculture

Background:

• Rising global population necessitates increased meat production, yet societal concerns regarding animal welfare are growing.
• Intensive animal breeding for high production efficiency can compromise animal health, leading to behavioral, physiological, and immunological issues.
• Modern diets are shifting away from meat as the central meal component.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current animal breeding practices in livestock production.
• To explore methods for incorporating robustness traits into breeding objectives.
• To discuss the ethical implications of breeding for enhanced animal welfare.

Main Methods:

• Overview of genotype × environment interactions, including reaction norms, phenotypic plasticity, canalization, and genetic homeostasis.
• Analysis of reaction norms in livestock production systems.
• Examination of selection strategies for increased production and reduced environmental sensitivity.

Main Results:

• Selection for robustness traits can be achieved through reaction norms analysis or direct inclusion in breeding objectives and selection indices.
• Breeding for improved animal welfare is a critical component of sustainable food production.
• Current discussions highlight the importance of adapting animal breeding practices to ethical and production demands.

Conclusions:

• Integrating robustness traits into animal breeding programs is essential for improving animal welfare and ensuring sustainable livestock production.
• Genotype × environment interactions play a crucial role in understanding and enhancing animal resilience.
• Ethical considerations must guide the development of future animal breeding strategies to meet global food demands responsibly.