Abstract
It was reasoned that technologies that increase the reproductive rate of males and females in dairy cattle would realize higher responses to selection. The authors tested this hypothesis using deterministic simulation of breeding schemes that resembled those of dairy cattle in Kenya. The response to selection was estimated for four breeding schemes and strategies. Two breeding schemes were simulated, based on artificial insemination (AI) and multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) reproductive technologies. The strategies were defined according to the use of conventional semen (CS) and X-chromosome-sorted semen (XS). The four strategies therefore were AI with CS (AI-CS) and XS (AI-XS), and MOET with CS (MOET-CS) and XS (MOET-XS). The four strategies were simulated based on the current dairy cattle breeding goal in Kenya. A two-tier closed nucleus breeding programme was considered, with 5% of the cows in the nucleus and 95% in the commercial. Dissemination of superior genetic materials in the nucleus was based on all four breeding strategies, while in the commercial only the AI-CS strategy was considered. The strategies that increased the reproductive rates of both males and females (MOET-CS and MOET-XS) realized 2.1, 1.4, and 1.3 times more annual genetic gain, return and profitability per cow, per year, respectively, than strategies that increased the reproductive rates only of males (AI-CS and AI-XS). The use of CS or XS, however, did not affect response to selection in the two schemes. The findings demonstrate that reproductive technologies such as MOET maximize response to selection in dairy cattle breeding. Keywords: artificial insemination, conventional semen, deterministic simulation, multiple ovulation and embryo transfer, X-chromosome-sorted semen
Highlights
Dairy cattle production plays an important economic role at household and national level in the tropics (Smith et al, 2013)
The strategies that increase the reproductive rates of males and females (MOET-conventional semen (CS) and multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET)-X-chromosome-sorted semen (XS)) realized 2.1, 1.8, and 1.8 times more annual genetic gain, return and profitability per cow, respectively, compared with those that increased only the reproductive rates of males (AI-CS and artificial insemination (AI)-XS)
These findings are supported by Kosgey et al (2005) and Pedersen et al (2012), who demonstrated that the adoption of MOET breeding schemes realized a higher response to selection compared with AI schemes using either CS or XS in dairy cattle
Summary
Dairy cattle production plays an important economic role at household and national level in the tropics (Smith et al, 2013). In the recent past there has been a rise in demand for dairy products in Kenya (Bingi & Tondel, 2015) This has been attributed to an increase in human population, urbanization, increased income per household and greater demand for milk products in East African countries (Bingi & Tondel, 2015). This demand could be met only through good management of dairy animals and breeding. The efficiency of this programme has been assessed based on the current breeding goal, the most effective way to disseminate genetic materials that are generated in the nucleus to smallholder farmers has not been investigated
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
