Economic evaluation of Hereford cattle breeding schemes incorporating direct and indirect measures of feed intake

2003 ◽  
Vol 54 (10) ◽  
pp. 1039 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. K. Kahi ◽  
S. A. Barwick ◽  
H-U. Graser
Keyword(s):  
Feed Intake ◽  
Genetic Gain ◽  
Selection Criteria ◽  
Serum Insulin ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Cattle Breeding ◽  
Indirect Measures ◽  
Hereford Cattle ◽  
Breeding Objectives ◽  
Breeding Schemes

A deterministic approach was used to evaluate the effect of incorporating direct and indirect measures of feed intake as additional selection criteria in breeding schemes for Hereford cattle. A 2-tier nucleus breeding scheme consisting of a nucleus and a commercial sector was assumed. Four breeding objectives specific to Australian Hereford cattle were considered. These addressed production systems that targetted 4 markets (Domestic Supermarket, 'Hereford Prime', Short-fed Export, and Long-fed Export). The breeding objectives differed especially in the feed cost involved for differing amounts of grain finishing and in the extent to which marbling is valued by the market (from none to quite a lot). The breeding schemes evaluated differed in the measures available for use as selection criteria. The schemes ranged from one that utilised growth, scanned carcass and fertility criteria currently available to Australian cattle breeders (Scheme 1) to one which also incorporated residual feed intake (RFI) and blood serum insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1) criteria (Scheme 5). The latter scheme included selection of sires for the nucleus using a 2-stage selection process, with a proportion of bulls selected after weaning for measurement of RFI. Schemes utilising either IGF-1 or RFI or both as criteria generated additional genetic gain and profitability for each breeding objective. Profit was optimal across all the Hereford cattle breeding objectives when the top 5% of bulls was measured for RFI after being selected on an index incorporating IGF-1 and other information available on the bull and its relatives at a young age. Further increase in the proportion of bulls measured for RFI for consideration in the second selection stage resulted in a slow decline in profit per cow in the population and a flat response in genetic gain. In the absence of more breed-specific information, these results may also have application in breeds other than Herefords.

Economic evaluation of beef cattle breeding schemes incorporating performance testing of young bulls for feed intake

2004 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 393 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Archer ◽  
S. A. Barwick ◽  
H.-U. Graser
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Genetic Gain ◽  
Selection Criterion ◽  
Performance Testing ◽  
Cattle Breeding ◽  
Commercial Unit ◽  
Base Scenario ◽  
Breeding Schemes ◽  
The Impact

A model beef cattle breeding scheme consisting of a breeding unit and a commercial unit was used to evaluate the impact on genetic gain and profitability of incorporating feed intake measurements as an additional selection criterion in breeding programmes. Costs incurred by the breeding unit were compared with returns generated in the commercial unit, with bulls from the breeding unit being used as sires in the commercial unit. Two different market objectives were considered — a grass-fed product for the Australian domestic market, and a grain-fed product for the Japanese market. Breeding units utilising either artificial insemination or natural service were also considered. A base scenario was modelled incorporating a range of criteria available to Australian cattle breeders. A second scenario incorporated selection of sires for the breeding unit using a 2-stage selection process, with a proportion of bulls selected after weaning for measurement of (residual) feed intake. Measurement of feed intake of bulls improved accuracy of breeding unit sire selection by 14–50% over the equivalent base scenario, and genetic gain in the breeding objective was improved for all scenarios, with gains ranging from 8 to 38% over the base scenario. After accounting for the cost of measuring feed intake ($150–450), additional profit was generated from inclusion of feed intake measurement on a proportion of bulls for all breeding schemes considered. Profit was generally maximised where 10–20% of bulls were selected at weaning for measurement of intake, with improvement in profit ranging from 9 to 33% when optimal numbers of bulls were selected for intake measurement.

scholarly journals AlphaMate: a program for optimising selection, maintenance of diversity, and mate allocation in breeding programs

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregor Gorjanc ◽  
John M. Hickey
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Genetic Gain ◽  
Selection Criteria ◽  
Selective Breeding ◽  
Conservation Management ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Plant Populations ◽  
Breeding Programs ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Gender Specific

ABSTRACTSummaryAlphaMate is a flexible program that optimises selection, maintenance of genetic diversity, and mate allocation in breeding programs. It can be used in animal and cross- and self-pollinating plant populations. These populations can be subject to selective breeding or conservation management. The problem is formulated as a multi-objective optimisation of a valid mating plan that is solved with an evolutionary algorithm. A valid mating plan is defined by a combination of mating constraints (the number of matings, the maximal number of parents, the minimal/equal/maximal number of contributions per parent, or allowance for selfing) that are gender specific or generic. The optimisation can maximize genetic gain, minimize group coancestry, minimize inbreeding of individual matings, or maximize genetic gain for a given increase in group coancestry or inbreeding. Users provide a list of candidate individuals with associated gender and selection criteria information (if applicable) and coancestry matrix. Selection criteria and coancestry matrix can be based on pedigree or genome-wide markers. Additional individual or mating specific information can be included to enrich optimisation objectives. An example of rapid recurrent genomic selection in wheat demonstrates how AlphaMate can double the efficiency of converting genetic diversity into genetic gain compared to truncation selection. Another example demonstrates the use of genome editing to expand the gain-diversity frontier.AvailabilityExecutable versions of AlphaMate for Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms are available at http://www.alpha-genes.roslin.ed.ac.uk/[email protected]

Appropriate selection indices for functional traits in dairy cattle breeding schemes

2018 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arash Chegini ◽  
Navid Ghavi Hossein-Zadeh ◽  
Seyed Hossein Hosseini Moghaddam ◽  
Abdol Ahad Shadparvar
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Gain ◽  
Deterministic Model ◽  
Selection Index ◽  
Index Theory ◽  
Multiple Trait ◽  
Cattle Breeding ◽  
Udder Health ◽  
Selection Indices ◽  
Dairy Cattle Breeding ◽  
Breeding Schemes

AbstractThe objective of this study was to establish different single or multiple trait selection indices to calculate genetic and economic gains by combining some production, reproduction and udder health traits in a population similar to the overall practical situation in Iran, with and without imposing restrictions on genetic change for some traits. The SelAction software was used to perform the analyses based on selection index theory through a deterministic model. Results indicated that among established indices, the index that showed the highest genetic gain for milk yield did not maximize the total genetic and economic gains. Rather, the index that included all production, reproduction and udder health traits yielded the highest genetic and economic gains. When we placed restriction on the selection indices, the economic gain decreased and the amount of reduction depended on the heritability and the correlation of restricted trait(s) with other traits. Generally, regarding the economic genetic gain per generation, the indices based on records of 200 offspring were 4.819% more efficient than those that used information of 100 offspring.

scholarly journals PSXII-18 Autophagy may contribute to variation in residual feed intake in Hereford cattle.

2018 ◽  
Vol 96 (suppl_3) ◽  
pp. 428-428
Author(s):  
J Michal ◽  
H Neibergs ◽  
J Mutch ◽  
J Kiser ◽  
J Taylor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Feed Intake ◽  
Residual Feed Intake ◽  
Hereford Cattle

Genetic variation in net feed efficiency in Hereford cattle and its association with other production traits

1999 ◽  
Vol 1999 ◽  
pp. 47-47
Author(s):  
R.M. Herd ◽  
S.C. Bishop
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Feed Consumption ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Performance Measurements ◽  
Hereford Cattle ◽  
Rate Selection

Net feed efficiency refers to variation in feed consumption between animals net of requirements for maintenance and production, and may be measured as residual feed intake (RFI). Because RFI is independent of liveweight (LW) and growth rate, selection for improved net feed efficiency is likely to reduce feed intake with little change in growth. The purpose of this study was to establish whether there exists genetic variation in RFI in young British Hereford bulls, and to determine the phenotypic and genetic correlations of RFI with key production traits.The data consisted of performance measurements on 540 bull progeny of 154 British Hereford sires, collected over ten 200-day postweaning performance tests conducted between 1979 and 1988. The traits analysed were food intake (FI), 200 to 400-day daily gain (ADG), 400-day weight (W400), predicted carcass lean content (LEAN), lean growth rate (LGR), food conversion ratio (FI/ADG) and lean FCR (LFCR; FI/(ADG x LEAN), described by Bishop (1992).

scholarly journals Breeding schemes in reindeer husbandry

Rangifer ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars Rönnegård ◽  
J. A. Woolliams ◽  
Öje Danell
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Gain ◽  
Mass Selection ◽  
Effective Population ◽  
Selection Programme ◽  
Breeding Schemes ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Genetic Contributions ◽  
Parameter Values ◽  
Open Nucleus

The objective of the paper was to investigate annual genetic gain from selection (G), and the influence of selection on the inbreeding effective population size (Ne), for different possible breeding schemes within a reindeer herding district. The breeding schemes were analysed for different proportions of the population within a herding district included in the selection programme. Two different breeding schemes were analysed: an open nucleus scheme where males mix and mate between owner flocks, and a closed nucleus scheme where the males in non-selected owner flocks are culled to maximise G in the whole population. The theory of expected long-term genetic contributions was used and maternal effects were included in the analyses. Realistic parameter values were used for the population, modelled with 5000 reindeer in the population and a sex ratio of 14 adult females per male. The standard deviation of calf weights was 4.1 kg. Four different situations were explored and the results showed: 1. When the population was randomly culled, Ne equalled 2400. 2. When the whole population was selected on calf weights, Ne equalled 1700 and the total annual genetic gain (direct + maternal) in calf weight was 0.42 kg. 3. For the open nucleus scheme, G increased monotonically from 0 to 0.42 kg as the proportion of the population included in the selection programme increased from 0 to 1.0, and Ne decreased correspondingly from 2400 to 1700. 4. In the closed nucleus scheme the lowest value of Ne was 1300. For a given proportion of the population included in the selection programme, the difference in G between a closed nucleus scheme and an open one was up to 0.13 kg. We conclude that for mass selection based on calf weights in herding districts with 2000 animals or more, there are no risks of inbreeding effects caused by selection.

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