Abstract
The objective of this study was to define the main principles when the economic weights of traits are defined to be applicate in dairy cattle breeding. The competitive farming is a function of additive genetic values of traits weighted with economic values. For the calculation of economic values, the bio-economic models are mostly used. These models should reflect the production circumstances of evaluated production systems and be flexible to fit other production situations. Except of the production traits, the functional traits and traits for feed intake utilization are very important for the sustainable production. The environmental benefits (e. g. reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, welfare) should be mentioned as well. Results based on the bio-economic models provide the first information whether the breeding goal for cattle would be redefined. Moreover, flexibility of the bio-economic models enables to evaluate the breeding goals for different customer groups and for different cattle breeds. They are beneficial tools for comprehensive evaluation of the economic values for the most important traits in cattle and in sheep.
Highlights
From the breeding point of view, the competitive farming is a function of additive genetic values of traits weighted with economic values (Wolfová et al, 2007)
The need to improve feed efficiency in dairy production might increase in the near future due to continuously increasing requirements to mitigate the environmental impact of livestock production. It has been connected with a reduction in greenhouse emission through lower methane and manure outputs of animals, reflected in residual feed intake (RFI) traits (Hietala et al, 2014)
Clinical mastitis incidence is the major source of loss in dairy farms and in this term, somatic cell count (SCC) is used to monitor health status of the herd and can be used as an indirect selection tool for reducing mastitis incidence (Kahi and Nitter, 2004)
Summary
From the breeding point of view, the competitive farming is a function of additive genetic values of traits (breeding values) weighted with economic values (Wolfová et al, 2007). Selection for milk production traits has traditionally received most emphasis in breeding programs of dairy cattle in many countries At present, breeding values and economic values for milk carrier, milk fat and milk protein yield of cows and bulls are the key breeding parameters in the Slovak dairy cattle population (Candrák and Lichanec, 2007). Based on the actual calculations of Krupová et al (2016), current breeding objective and selection index for Slovak Pinzgau cattle should be redefined. The objective of this study was to define the main bio-economic principles when the economic weights of traits are calculated and implicated in dairy cattle breeding
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