Appropriate selection indices for functional traits in dairy cattle breeding schemes
Arash Chegini1, Navid Ghavi Hossein-Zadeh1, Seyed Hossein Hosseini Moghaddam1
1Department of Animal Science,Faculty of Agricultural Sciences,University of Guilan,P.O.Box:41635-1314, Rasht,Iran.
The Journal of Dairy Research
|December 7, 2018
Summary
Developing effective selection indices is crucial for maximizing genetic and economic gains in livestock. Combining production, reproduction, and udder health traits in a comprehensive index yields the best results, outperforming single-trait indices.
Area of Science:
- Animal Breeding and Genetics
- Quantitative Genetics
- Livestock Production
Background:
- Optimizing selection strategies is vital for enhancing genetic and economic performance in livestock populations.
- Balancing multiple traits, including production, reproduction, and udder health, presents a complex challenge in animal breeding.
- Existing selection indices may not fully capture the economic value derived from a holistic approach.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate various single and multiple trait selection indices for dairy cattle in Iran.
- To assess the impact of trait restrictions on genetic and economic gains.
- To compare the efficiency of selection indices based on different offspring record numbers.
Main Methods:
- Utilized selection index theory and a deterministic model via SelAction software.
- Constructed indices incorporating production, reproduction, and udder health traits.
- Analyzed genetic and economic gains with and without imposed restrictions on specific traits.
Main Results:
- The index integrating all traits (production, reproduction, udder health) maximized overall genetic and economic gains, surpassing single-trait or limited-trait indices.
- Imposing restrictions on selection indices led to a decrease in economic gain, with the magnitude dependent on trait heritability and correlations.
- Indices utilizing records from 200 offspring demonstrated a 4.819% greater economic genetic gain per generation compared to those using 100 offspring records.
Conclusions:
- A multi-trait selection index encompassing production, reproduction, and udder health is superior for maximizing overall genetic and economic progress in dairy populations.
- Trait restrictions negatively impact economic gains, underscoring the importance of a balanced breeding objective.
- Increasing the number of offspring records significantly enhances the efficiency of selection indices for economic genetic gain.
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