Index-in-retrospect and breeding objectives characterizing genetic improvement programmes for South African Nguni cattle

The goals of this research were to document the historical selection applied by Nguni breeders that contributed to the national genetic evaluation scheme, and to offer prospective breeding objectives to guide future selection practices. Genetic selection differentials, weighted by number of offspring, and unweighted, were calculated for the recorded traits, and were used to quantify differences between natural and imposed selection. Index-in-retrospect methods were used to quantify differences between the traits in selection that were applied. Economic values for the prospective breeding objectives were derived through simulation. Results indicate that relatively little directional selection has been applied to Nguni as a breed, and that historically bulls and heifers were selected according to divergent criteria. Breeding objectives indicated that production, profitability and sustainability goals were largely complementary, but reflected a change from past selection practices. Breeders are advised to be intentional and consistent in the application of selection criteria.

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Main Authors: Matjuda,L.E, MacNeil,M.D, Maiwashe,A, Leesburg,V.R, Malatje,M
Format: Digital revista
Language:English
Published: The South African Society for Animal Science (SASAS) 2014
Online Access:http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0375-15892014000200002
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spelling oai:scielo:S0375-158920140002000022014-07-24Index-in-retrospect and breeding objectives characterizing genetic improvement programmes for South African Nguni cattleMatjuda,L.EMacNeil,M.DMaiwashe,ALeesburg,V.RMalatje,M Breeding goals production systems selection sexual dimorphism simulation The goals of this research were to document the historical selection applied by Nguni breeders that contributed to the national genetic evaluation scheme, and to offer prospective breeding objectives to guide future selection practices. Genetic selection differentials, weighted by number of offspring, and unweighted, were calculated for the recorded traits, and were used to quantify differences between natural and imposed selection. Index-in-retrospect methods were used to quantify differences between the traits in selection that were applied. Economic values for the prospective breeding objectives were derived through simulation. Results indicate that relatively little directional selection has been applied to Nguni as a breed, and that historically bulls and heifers were selected according to divergent criteria. Breeding objectives indicated that production, profitability and sustainability goals were largely complementary, but reflected a change from past selection practices. Breeders are advised to be intentional and consistent in the application of selection criteria.The South African Society for Animal Science (SASAS)South African Journal of Animal Science v.44 n.2 20142014-02-01journal articletext/htmlhttp://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0375-15892014000200002en
institution SCIELO
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country Sudáfrica
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region África del Sur
libraryname SciELO
language English
format Digital
author Matjuda,L.E
MacNeil,M.D
Maiwashe,A
Leesburg,V.R
Malatje,M
spellingShingle Matjuda,L.E
MacNeil,M.D
Maiwashe,A
Leesburg,V.R
Malatje,M
Index-in-retrospect and breeding objectives characterizing genetic improvement programmes for South African Nguni cattle
author_facet Matjuda,L.E
MacNeil,M.D
Maiwashe,A
Leesburg,V.R
Malatje,M
author_sort Matjuda,L.E
title Index-in-retrospect and breeding objectives characterizing genetic improvement programmes for South African Nguni cattle
title_short Index-in-retrospect and breeding objectives characterizing genetic improvement programmes for South African Nguni cattle
title_full Index-in-retrospect and breeding objectives characterizing genetic improvement programmes for South African Nguni cattle
title_fullStr Index-in-retrospect and breeding objectives characterizing genetic improvement programmes for South African Nguni cattle
title_full_unstemmed Index-in-retrospect and breeding objectives characterizing genetic improvement programmes for South African Nguni cattle
title_sort index-in-retrospect and breeding objectives characterizing genetic improvement programmes for south african nguni cattle
description The goals of this research were to document the historical selection applied by Nguni breeders that contributed to the national genetic evaluation scheme, and to offer prospective breeding objectives to guide future selection practices. Genetic selection differentials, weighted by number of offspring, and unweighted, were calculated for the recorded traits, and were used to quantify differences between natural and imposed selection. Index-in-retrospect methods were used to quantify differences between the traits in selection that were applied. Economic values for the prospective breeding objectives were derived through simulation. Results indicate that relatively little directional selection has been applied to Nguni as a breed, and that historically bulls and heifers were selected according to divergent criteria. Breeding objectives indicated that production, profitability and sustainability goals were largely complementary, but reflected a change from past selection practices. Breeders are advised to be intentional and consistent in the application of selection criteria.
publisher The South African Society for Animal Science (SASAS)
publishDate 2014
url http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0375-15892014000200002
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