Population structure and inbreeding of Holstein cattle in southern Brazil

Michelli De Fátima Sieklicki,Victor Breno Pedrosa,Altair Antônio Valloto,Luís Fernando Batista Pinto,Henrique Alberto Mulim

doi:10.37496/rbz4920190052

Abstract

ABSTRACT The present investigation aimed to evaluate the population structure and inbreeding of Holstein herds in southern Brazil. To carry out the analysis, the Associacao Paranaense de Criadores de Bovinos da Raca Holandesa (APCBRH) in Brazil provided the data, which consisted of a pedigree file of 206,796 animals born between 1970 and 2014. Results regarding the following parameters were determined: pedigree integrity, effective number of founders, effective number of ancestors, generation interval, inbreeding coefficient, realized effective population size, and average [...]

Highlights

Data monitoring is beneficial for maximizing profits and improving the application of selection methods to provide genetic progress in dairy herds (Silva et al, 2016)
According to the level of inbreeding observed, it could be noticed that genetic diversity remains elevated, which will be important to the genetic progress in the Holstein breeding program in Southern Brazil
To carry out the present investigation, the Associação Paranaense de Criadores de Bovinos da Raça Holandesa (APCBRH) in Brazil provided the data, which primarily consisted of information about Holstein animals from herds located in southern Brazil

Summary

Introduction

Data monitoring is beneficial for maximizing profits and improving the application of selection methods to provide genetic progress in dairy herds (Silva et al, 2016). Rigorous pedigree control is essential for the correct identification of relationships between the animals, which will help prevent possible high rates of inbreeding in the long term. Inbreeding is caused by the mating of individuals that share one or more common ancestors. High inbreeding rates cause undesirable outcomes, such as a decrease in genetic variance and, should be avoided (Hinrichs and Thaller, 2011). More careful analyses of the structural genealogy of populations are required (Pedrosa et al, 2010). The population structure is typically determined by calculating the allelic frequencies of the different individuals. Possible changes in the distribution of genetic variability should be constantly monitored (Barros et al, 2017)

Methods

Results

Conclusion