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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #292044
Title: Genetic improvement of dairy cattle

Author
item DUCROCQ, V - Institut National De La Recherche Agronomique (INRA)
item Wiggans, George

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2014
Publication Date: 1/1/2015
Citation: Ducrocq, V., Wiggans, G.R. 2015. Genetic improvement of dairy cattle. In: Garrick, D.J., and Ruvinsky, A., editors. The Genetics of Cattle, 2nd edition. Oxfordshire, UK: CAB International. p. 371-396.

Interpretive Summary: Breeding goals are determined by the traits that contribute to profit or efficiency of dairy production. Selection toward the breeding goal is on an index of traits that can be measured and subjected to genetic evaluation. Accuracy of selection depends on the correlation between the index and the breeding goal. Evaluation procedures used to establish genetic rankings based on observations on related animals or on genomic information. Rapid progress in genetic improvement of dairy cattle has been achieved and the fast adoption of genomic selection portends an even more rapid increase.

Technical Abstract: Breeding goals are determined by the traits that contribute to profit or efficiency of dairy production. Selection toward the breeding goal is on an index of traits that can be measured and subjected to genetic evaluation. Accuracy of selection depends on the correlation between the index and the breeding goal. Evaluation procedures used to establish genetic rankings based on observations on related animals or on genomic information. Rapid progress in genetic improvement of dairy cattle has been achieved and the fast adoption of genomic selection portends an even more rapid increase. In recent years, the focus has shifted somewhat from yields of milk and components, to fitness and fertility traits to better track the total economic value. The investment of producers in milk recording and artificial insemination organizations in genotyping a large number of young bulls each year have been important contributions to this success. Data collection is somewhat easier with dairy cattle than some other farm species because of the intensive nature of production and the relatively high value of the individual animals. This situation has led to a highly developed system of data collection, genotyping and genetic evaluation. Further developments in genomic evaluation methods, mating programs and breeding plans hold promise for further increases in the rate of a more sustainable genetic improvement.