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Potential benefits of genomic pre-selection of candidate bulls for genetic superiority and inbreeding rate of dairy cows in a progeny testing program: a simulation study

Abbas Moazen1, Saeed Khalajzadeh*1 and Jafar Yadi2

1Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture, Saveh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Saveh, Iran; 2Department of Veterinary, College of Agriculture, Saveh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Saveh, Iran

 
Abstract

This study was performed to investigate the effect of pre-selection programme of young bull on genetic progress and inbreeding rate of dairy cows in a progeny test program. Dairy cattle population, consisted of 10,000 dairy cows across 5 parities, was simulated. Two scenarios including conventional progeny testing program (Con-PT) and genomic pre-selection of young bulls (Gen-PT) were compared. Genetic superiority and inbreeding were studied during 20 years of selection in four distinct paths of selection. Genetic superiorities of 62.5, 37.9, 27.3, and 89.5% were observed for active sires, young bulls, bull dams, and milking cows in Gen-PT relative to Con-PT scenario respectively. The result showed the large amounts of genetic gain are obtained via genomic pre-selection of young bulls in all paths of selection. Means of inbreeding were obtained 2.34±0.44 and 3.36±0.63% for Con-PT and Gen-PT scenarios respectively (P<0.001). The average annual rate of inbreeding increased at a constant rate from 11th to 25th year at annual rate of 0.38±0.01 and 0.54±0.004% in Con-PT and Gen-PT scenarios respectively. According to different generation intervals in scenarios (5 years in Con-PT versus 3 years in Gen-PT), inbreeding rates per generation were 1.9 and 1.62% respectively, indicating less inbreeding rate per generation in Gen-PT in comparison to Con-PT. In general, use of genomic values for pre-selection of young bulls can be applied as an effective tool to enhance genetic merit of cows in dairy cattle breeding schemes.

Keywords: Genetic gain; pre-selection; progeny test; genomic; dairy cow
 
To cite this article: Moazen A, S Khalajzadeh and J Yadi, 2014. Potential benefits of genomic pre-selection of candidate bulls for genetic superiority and inbreeding rate of dairy cows in a progeny testing program: a simulation study. Res. Opin. Anim. Vet. Sci., 4(9): 496-499.

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