Is there value in maintaining small populations ? Example of the Dual-Purpose Belgian Blue breed.

in Journal of Dairy Science (2011), 94(E-suppl.1), 664

Current status of thinking on genomic selection in dairy cattle is mostly major breed centric (e.g., Holstein) and only for traditional traits (e.g., milk yields). Once you depart from this, it becomes ... [more ▼]

Current status of thinking on genomic selection in dairy cattle is mostly major breed centric (e.g., Holstein) and only for traditional traits (e.g., milk yields). Once you depart from this, it becomes obvious that different, often related, issues appear (e.g., lack of large training populations, need for expensive recording of new phenotypes). Also, there is an urgent need to rethink issues that are important for sustainability of dairy production (e.g., added value foods, animal robustness). In this context, small populations (breeds/lines) could represent a potential source of extra information to justify their maintenance. As marker densities increase, efficient dissection of different selection histories of divergent breeds or lines, potentially identifying pockets of unexploited variability will increase. A current example from the Belgian (Walloon) perspective is the Dual Purpose (DP) line of the Belgian Blue Breed (BBB), with presently around 4500 breeding females, for historical reason of which only 1500 have good pedigrees, and which is present in Belgium and northern France. Recent research, done on this line, showed its tendency to produce less saturated milk fat and to have better fertility. Results indicated that it could stay competitive in specific markets, especially because of largely increased meat value. Currently, the myostatin mutation is largely used for breeding purposes. To assess the genetic diversity of the breed, recently, over 200 genotypes (SNP50K) for nearly all breeding bulls of the last 20 years became available. HD genotypes should be available in the near future, also allowing to access selection history of this breed as being in between the 2 extreme breeds: Beef BBB (with which it shares a recent history) and Holstein-Friesian (which is related through its geographic proximity over centuries). Finally, genomic selection for DP-BBB will need to consider a single step type approach without the need of reference population and potentially relying heavily on SNP3K of cows, also with the objective to recreate relationships between animals of interest. [less ▲]

Genetic variability in the Skyros pony and its relationship with other Greek and foreign horse breeds

in Genetics and Molecular Biology (2011), 34

In Greece, seven native horse breeds have been identified so far. Among these, the Skyros pony is outstanding through having a distinct phenotype. In the present study, the aim was to assess genetic ... [more ▼]

In Greece, seven native horse breeds have been identified so far. Among these, the Skyros pony is outstanding through having a distinct phenotype. In the present study, the aim was to assess genetic diversity in this breed, by using different types of genetic loci and available genealogical information. Its relationships with the other Greek, as well as foreign, domestic breeds were also investigated. Through microsatellite and pedigree analysis it appeared that the Skyros presented a similar level of genetic diversity to the other European breeds. Nevertheless, comparisons between DNA-based and pedigree-based results revealed that a loss of genetic diversity had probably already occurred before the beginning of breed registration. Tests indicated the possible existence of a recent bottleneck in two of the three main herds of Skyros pony. Nonetheless, relatively high levels of heterozygosity and Polymorphism Information Content indicated sufficient residual genetic variability, probably useful in planning future strategies for breed conservation. Three other Greek breeds were also analyzed. A comparison of these with domestic breeds elsewhere, revealed the closest relationships to be with the Middle Eastern types, whereas the Skyros itself remained isolated, without any close relationship, whatsoever. [less ▲]

Estimating myostatin gene effect on milk performance traits using estimated gene content for a large number of non-genotyped cows

in Animal (2011), 5(1), 43-47

Adding value to test-day data by using modified best prediction method

in ICAR Technical Series (2010, November), 14

Computation of lactation yields from test-day data has lost much of its importance for genetic evaluations as the use of test-day models is currently quite widespread. In the other hand its interest for ... [more ▼]

Computation of lactation yields from test-day data has lost much of its importance for genetic evaluations as the use of test-day models is currently quite widespread. In the other hand its interest for intra-farm management is increasing as a base for advanced management tools. The first and principal aim of this study was to develop a method which takes into account advantages and disadvantages of existing methods, and to test its potential to provide useful management tools to dairy farmers. A test-day model with modifications to able daily run and management tools was developed. Because of its similarities with best prediction, the method developed here was called modified best prediction. The second objective was to compare the accuracy of this new method with best prediction and test interval methods. Modified best prediction showed good results for predicting daily yields and was slightly better than best prediction for lactation yields prediction. Management tools obtained with modified best prediction are explained. [less ▲]

Short communication: Genetic variation of saturated fatty acids in Holsteins in the Walloon region of Belgium

in Journal of Dairy Science (2010), 93

Random regression test-day models using Legendre polynomials are commonly used for the estimation of genetic parameters and genetic evaluation for test-day milk production traits. However, some ... [more ▼]

Random regression test-day models using Legendre polynomials are commonly used for the estimation of genetic parameters and genetic evaluation for test-day milk production traits. However, some researchers have reported that these models present some undesirable properties such as the overestimation of variances at the edges of lactation. Describing genetic variation of saturated fatty acids expressed in milk fat might require the testing of different models. Therefore, 3 different functions were used and compared to take into account the lactation curve: (1) Legendre polynomials with the same order as currently applied for genetic model for production traits; 2) linear splines with 10 knots; and 3) linear splines with the same 10 knots reduced to 3 parameters. The criteria used were Akaike’s information and Bayesian information criteria, percentage square biases, and log-likelihood function. These criteria indentified Legendre polynomials and linear splines with 10 knots reduced to 3 parameters models as the most useful. Reducing more complex models using eigenvalues seemed appealing because the resulting models are less time demanding and can reduce convergence difficulties, because convergence properties also seemed to be improved. Finally, the results showed that the reduced spline model was very similar to the Legendre polynomials model. [less ▲]

Genetic parameters of mastitis-correlated milk components in first parity dairy cows

Conference (2010, August 06)

Ind. of lactoferrin content, ind. of Na content, and lactose content were the three most correlated milk components with somatic cell score among available milk components predicted by mid-infrared ... [more ▼]

Ind. of lactoferrin content, ind. of Na content, and lactose content were the three most correlated milk components with somatic cell score among available milk components predicted by mid-infrared spectrometry on 590,083 test-day records from Walloon Region of Belgium collected between 2007 and 2009. Mean daily heritabilities and mean genetic correlations of these four traits were estimated using Gibbs sampling methodology applied to a multi-trait random regression test-day model with a subset of these records. Mean daily heritabilities of ind. lactoferrin content (0.34), ind. Na content (0.37) and lactose content (0.42) were higher then SCS (0.16) and mean genetic correlations were moderate (from -0.18 to -0.73), showing that these traits could be used together to describe udder health in genetic evaluations instead of SCS alone when clinical mastitis data are not available. [less ▲]

Estimation of Genetic Parameters for Test Day Milk Yields of Moroccan Holstein Cows Using Random Regression Test Day Model

in Proceedings of the 9th World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production (2010, August)

Genetic correlations among body condition score, yield and fertility in multiparous cows using random regression models

in Proceedings of the 9th World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production (2010, August)

Genetic correlations between body condition score (BCS) in lactation 1 to 3 and four economically important traits (days open, 305-days milk, fat, and protein yields recorded in the first 3 lactations ... [more ▼]

Genetic correlations between body condition score (BCS) in lactation 1 to 3 and four economically important traits (days open, 305-days milk, fat, and protein yields recorded in the first 3 lactations) were estimated on about 12,500 Walloon Holstein cows using 4-trait random regression models. Results indicated moderate favorable genetic correlations between BCS and days open (from -0.46 to -0.62) and suggested the use of BCS for indirect selection on fertility. However, unfavorable genetic correlations between BCS and yields (from -0.16 to -0.71) indicated that selection on BCS would have deleterious effects on milk, fat, and protein yields, especially in lactation greater than 1. [less ▲]

Longitudinal effects of muscular hypertrophy allele on milk production traits during the lactation using a novel equivalent model when molecular information is limited

Conference (2010, August)

Given that the mh allele causes the double muscling phenotype, this allele could also influence milk production traits of the dual purpose Belgian Blue cattle. However, all dual purpose Belgian Blue ... [more ▼]

Given that the mh allele causes the double muscling phenotype, this allele could also influence milk production traits of the dual purpose Belgian Blue cattle. However, all dual purpose Belgian Blue animals could not be genotyped. So, a new alternative strategy for the prediction of gene effects and especially their smooth integration into genetic evaluations based on an equivalent method was developed from existing theory. Developed equations were modified to allow that not all animals were genotyped. As expected, the mh allele had negative effects on milk production traits. For the first three lactations, the average estimated allelic substitution effects were -0.074 % fat content and -158.7 kg milk per lactation (305 days). Moreover, effects of mh allele were not constant during the lactation. [less ▲]

Female fertility expression in Walloon dairy cattle

Poster (2010, August)

A useful method to express female fertility of the Walloon dairy cattle using direct and indirect female fertility information was considered. Data were based on results of the genetic evaluation of ... [more ▼]

A useful method to express female fertility of the Walloon dairy cattle using direct and indirect female fertility information was considered. Data were based on results of the genetic evaluation of pregnancy rate for 606,328 Holstein cows and on INTERBULL proofs of female fertility for 88,496 bulls. A direct female fertility index (DFF), using INTERBULL proofs, was developed from results of a principal component analysis carried out on 6 published foreign female fertility indexes. An indirect female fertility index (IFF) was also developed from ten other traits evaluated in Walloon Region. Theory of selection index was used to combine DFF and IFF in a global index called combined female fertility index (CFF). This index allowed young bulls to have better reliabilities with an average increase of 12% leading to extra 4,019 of publishable bulls for female fertility. [less ▲]